You know what I'm not really a big fan of? The use of the term "people." Not that I don't like "people" in of itself, but I don't like the usage of that term in a specific context.
One thing that always gets me is when "people" say the word "people" when describing a general tendency, behavior, or attitude. For example, "people say that they don't like spaghetti because its too noodlely." "People are not happy with the way things are going." "People have not have had a good response to the speech."
Here's a question? Who are these "PEOPLE"?!?!
I say it with a bit of light-heartedness, but genuinely trying to make a point, that term always gets me. I posit that usually when one says the word "people" they are asserting their own personal opinion, rather than a true general observation about how everyone is. One uses that term to add some more legitimacy to their assertion or generalization. After all, if someone said, "I'm not happy about ____," that would seem to carry less weight than "People are not happy about ______." When one says the world "people," perhaps that would be something that needs to be addressed, thereby advancing the position without ever really having to lay oneself out there on the "idea island."
Something else that the word "people" is used to achieve is to create the appearance of "consensus" when there really isn't any. For example, sitting in a business meeting of upper level staff, one staff member says, "people want to move in this direction" when in fact, only he and a couple of others want that policy change. The rhetorical fluff is the way for a minority to impose its views on a majority.
It's an intellectually dishonest way of supporting one's position. I'd much rather make an assertion, support that with evidence and a well thought out position. Sure, it takes a little more courage and accountability for what one has to say, but isn't that a good that can be achieved? Not to hide behind rhetorical fluff, but to have a statement parsed and proposition analyzed for truthfulness is not a bad thing. It's good for those who share an opinion with AND good for you. There's no harm in having an observation critically analyzed. If one's opinion is correct, then a deep introspective observation will help that to be taken into account in a more effective way. If one's observation has no basis, it can be corrected. It's not "bad" to be told you're wrong sometimes.
My advice. You have an opinion? That's great! It's awesome! It's good to think critically, objectively, and express that! But when you do, make sure you're being straightforward about how you go about expressing that. Have a general observation? Just say, "I have an observation, it seems like..." That way, we all can learn to think and express ourselves in a much more effective and productive way.
Showing posts with label reflections. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reflections. Show all posts
Monday, March 9, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
A Time of Reckoning
I've been reading through the book of Genesis and have come upon the story of Joseph. Such an amazing fellow, he is. There are a couple of things to note.
The first comes from Joseph's run-in with Potiphar's wife. A beautiful and powerful woman, she invited him to have sexual relations with her, but he ran away lest he sin. Thinking about it, that just doesn't make much sense. Joseph - servant. Potiphar's wife - beautiful, rich. Joseph - handsome, maybe hormones raging. Yet he ran from sin.
I wonder myself how easy it is to keep sin so close and to indulge it. Maybe not even necessarilly in the area of lust/sexual sin. How easy it is to merely admire the beauty of things that we know are wrong, but like to keep around because they satisfy some desire in our life.
The second point that I really found encouraging is something that Joseph said in response to Pharaoh. Pharoah had some dreams that he did not understand and summoned Joseph to interpret them. However, in Genesis 41:16, Joseph says, "I cannot do it," Joseph replied to Pharoah, "but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires."
Wow... There are a couple of points I glean from that statemement. Joseph first recognizes his own ability to interpret divine revelation. He recognizes his own inadequacy and lack of wisdom to do so. This, despite having every reason to be self-confident. He had interpreted dreams before. Now, the Pharaoh of all of Egypt was seeking HIS counsel. Yet, he was humble throughout all of this. Second, Joseph recognizes that God is the source of revelation and the wisdom gained from it. God is the interpreter and the giver of wisdom, and Joseph merely the conduit through which God speaks.
That's pretty amazing to me, and such a good lesson. Though we may have every earthly reason to be self-confident and assured in our intelligence, that confidence is sorely misplaced. However, recognition of God first allows us to be used by Him, ultimately for HIS glory.
The first comes from Joseph's run-in with Potiphar's wife. A beautiful and powerful woman, she invited him to have sexual relations with her, but he ran away lest he sin. Thinking about it, that just doesn't make much sense. Joseph - servant. Potiphar's wife - beautiful, rich. Joseph - handsome, maybe hormones raging. Yet he ran from sin.
I wonder myself how easy it is to keep sin so close and to indulge it. Maybe not even necessarilly in the area of lust/sexual sin. How easy it is to merely admire the beauty of things that we know are wrong, but like to keep around because they satisfy some desire in our life.
The second point that I really found encouraging is something that Joseph said in response to Pharaoh. Pharoah had some dreams that he did not understand and summoned Joseph to interpret them. However, in Genesis 41:16, Joseph says, "I cannot do it," Joseph replied to Pharoah, "but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires."
Wow... There are a couple of points I glean from that statemement. Joseph first recognizes his own ability to interpret divine revelation. He recognizes his own inadequacy and lack of wisdom to do so. This, despite having every reason to be self-confident. He had interpreted dreams before. Now, the Pharaoh of all of Egypt was seeking HIS counsel. Yet, he was humble throughout all of this. Second, Joseph recognizes that God is the source of revelation and the wisdom gained from it. God is the interpreter and the giver of wisdom, and Joseph merely the conduit through which God speaks.
That's pretty amazing to me, and such a good lesson. Though we may have every earthly reason to be self-confident and assured in our intelligence, that confidence is sorely misplaced. However, recognition of God first allows us to be used by Him, ultimately for HIS glory.
Friday, February 20, 2009
The Petty Depravity of Man
Yesterday, I was filling up at the gas station and had a rather interesting observation.
In the pump right across from mine, a gentleman had pulled up to the pump, but discovered that he was on the wrong side and needed to turn around. He passed the pump and started to make a three point turn to get on the right side. At that moment, a "lady" had turned into the station area, and quickly accelerated to steal the pump away from him. He saw this, and explained to her that he was trying to turn around and that he had been waiting for the pump. She looked at him with one of those "F*** You" looks, shook her heard, and started filling up. I found this to be so interesting and mind-wracking. I thought to myself, "How could someone be so inconsiderate and selfish? It's only a gas pump. All you have to do is wait maybe 2 more minutes."
The depraved and sinful nature of man permeates all areas of life. Usually we think of manifestations of depravity in the "major" things. For example, someone commits a gruesome murder and we think, "what is this world coming to." We hear stories about financial advisers stealing from their clients and say, "well, that's because the world is getting worse." Such examples are evidence that we live in a fallen world, but the extent of depravity is not only seen in our most "extreme" examples.
Rather, total depravity is exemplified in the "little things." The extent of the sinfulness of man most often does not lie in extremes, but in subtle widespread permeation. To have a grasp of the concept, we must understand that depravity does not lie in the fact that we CAN be AS bad as we can be, but in the understanding that EVERYTHING within us IS bad. Depravity is petty. I would submit that the depravity of man is MOST OFTEN manifested in examples that are not very extreme, but instead, somewhat petty. 99% of the people in the world will never physically kill someone, but 100% will, at one point in their life, harbor hatred. Few people will ever go rob a bank, but 100% will lie or cheat. Very few people would randomly assault others, but everyone treats others with contempt in some instances.
Getting back to the gas station. I found myself wanting to confront the young woman at the pump. You know, give her a piece of my mind in a confrontational and aggressive way. But something held me back. It was cold outside, and I was wearing my CCM sweater that had "Galatians 2:20" prominently on the front. Right when I was going to say something, the immediate thought was, "dang, I don't want to make Christians look bad." Honestly, if I did not have the sweater on, I would have confronted her. Looking back, I'm glad that I didn't do so because confrontation would have been much more self-gratifying than God-glorifying. In this particular instance, it was more difficult to walk away than to confront the situation.
This is not a self-righteous, self-indulgent attempt to say, "oh, look at me overcoming temptation." I think that this provides such an interesting real-life model for what the spiritual reality in the Christian life. Despite our own shortcomings, our desire to continue to act sinfully and to meet our selfish desires, we are no longer abandoned to such a life. God has given us the Holy Spirit, through the work of Christ, to be able to overcome such temptations to sin. Christians are, in a sense, "clothed" with a restraint. We being faillible and still very sinful people, continue to fail. We must continue to seek to live more and more "by faith" and in consistent understanding that the life we live, is not our own. We have been bought with a price and the "buyer" will not abandon us to live a life without His guidance. What we must do is to seek Him in everything we do, with the understanding that in the times that we fail (all too often, we find that the case), He has the grace to forgive.
Verses of the Day:
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
- Galatians 2:20
In the same way, count yourselves dea to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
- Romans 6:11-14
In the pump right across from mine, a gentleman had pulled up to the pump, but discovered that he was on the wrong side and needed to turn around. He passed the pump and started to make a three point turn to get on the right side. At that moment, a "lady" had turned into the station area, and quickly accelerated to steal the pump away from him. He saw this, and explained to her that he was trying to turn around and that he had been waiting for the pump. She looked at him with one of those "F*** You" looks, shook her heard, and started filling up. I found this to be so interesting and mind-wracking. I thought to myself, "How could someone be so inconsiderate and selfish? It's only a gas pump. All you have to do is wait maybe 2 more minutes."
The depraved and sinful nature of man permeates all areas of life. Usually we think of manifestations of depravity in the "major" things. For example, someone commits a gruesome murder and we think, "what is this world coming to." We hear stories about financial advisers stealing from their clients and say, "well, that's because the world is getting worse." Such examples are evidence that we live in a fallen world, but the extent of depravity is not only seen in our most "extreme" examples.
Rather, total depravity is exemplified in the "little things." The extent of the sinfulness of man most often does not lie in extremes, but in subtle widespread permeation. To have a grasp of the concept, we must understand that depravity does not lie in the fact that we CAN be AS bad as we can be, but in the understanding that EVERYTHING within us IS bad. Depravity is petty. I would submit that the depravity of man is MOST OFTEN manifested in examples that are not very extreme, but instead, somewhat petty. 99% of the people in the world will never physically kill someone, but 100% will, at one point in their life, harbor hatred. Few people will ever go rob a bank, but 100% will lie or cheat. Very few people would randomly assault others, but everyone treats others with contempt in some instances.
Getting back to the gas station. I found myself wanting to confront the young woman at the pump. You know, give her a piece of my mind in a confrontational and aggressive way. But something held me back. It was cold outside, and I was wearing my CCM sweater that had "Galatians 2:20" prominently on the front. Right when I was going to say something, the immediate thought was, "dang, I don't want to make Christians look bad." Honestly, if I did not have the sweater on, I would have confronted her. Looking back, I'm glad that I didn't do so because confrontation would have been much more self-gratifying than God-glorifying. In this particular instance, it was more difficult to walk away than to confront the situation.
This is not a self-righteous, self-indulgent attempt to say, "oh, look at me overcoming temptation." I think that this provides such an interesting real-life model for what the spiritual reality in the Christian life. Despite our own shortcomings, our desire to continue to act sinfully and to meet our selfish desires, we are no longer abandoned to such a life. God has given us the Holy Spirit, through the work of Christ, to be able to overcome such temptations to sin. Christians are, in a sense, "clothed" with a restraint. We being faillible and still very sinful people, continue to fail. We must continue to seek to live more and more "by faith" and in consistent understanding that the life we live, is not our own. We have been bought with a price and the "buyer" will not abandon us to live a life without His guidance. What we must do is to seek Him in everything we do, with the understanding that in the times that we fail (all too often, we find that the case), He has the grace to forgive.
Verses of the Day:
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
- Galatians 2:20
In the same way, count yourselves dea to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
- Romans 6:11-14
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
The Truth, Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth...SO HELP ME GOD!
"The problem with the world is me. The problem is the fact that I do not acknowledge the supremacy of Christ in truth. The problem is that I start with myself as the measure of all things. I judge God based upon how well he carries out my agenda for the world, and I believe in the supremacy of me in truth. As a result, I want a God who is omnipotent but not sovereign. If I have a God who is omnipotent but not sovereign, I can wield his power. But if my God is both omnipotent and sovereign, I am at his mercy."
- Voddie Baucham, Jr., "Chapter 2: Truth and the Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World", The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World, ed. John Piper and Justin Taylor
Thoughts
I've started reading the book, The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World, it has been very challenging and thought provoking. If you want to read the book, you can download it in PDF form HERE. I'm still processing my thoughts around these concepts: it is very philosophical and, frankly, I feel like shutting the mind down sometimes.
However, one of the themes that I have been dwelling upon is the true philosophical nature of the postmodern world that we live in today. For Christians to be truly effective messengers of the Gospel, it will take understanding the philosophical roots and the many manifestations of the modern postmodern mindset. Its not JUST about the abandonment of objective truth and a sort of "kumbaya," "embrace everyone" culture. It is also about what REPLACES objective truth and reason. Ultimately, it is the embrace of subjectivity. Subjectivity in finding "the answers" within yourself, through your own thought processes, your own values. Because everyone's processes and values are different, a different truth.
We have to ask ourselves, how does this mindset affect views of God? How does it affect views of man? How does it affect how this world is to be fixed? These are deep issues, but ones that must be addressed.
It is alarming that this mindset is subtley (or not so subtley) creeping into the modern evangelical Christian culture (more on that later). The truth battle must not only be fought outside the four walls of the church, but on the pulpit, pews, and meeting rooms within.
We know that postmodern subjectivity cannot be the answer. God IS the Truth. He mas made it clear that we know the truth, if we know Him. God is a God of reason, and reason is connected to knowing the truth. He has made man in His own image with the capacity for reason (As a note, when talking about reason, I am referring to man's capacity to deductively or inductively determine truth, not "intelligence."). We can know the truth, and be certain that it is not just "our truth," but THE truth.
Verse of the Day:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
- John 1:1-3
- Voddie Baucham, Jr., "Chapter 2: Truth and the Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World", The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World, ed. John Piper and Justin Taylor
Thoughts
I've started reading the book, The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World, it has been very challenging and thought provoking. If you want to read the book, you can download it in PDF form HERE. I'm still processing my thoughts around these concepts: it is very philosophical and, frankly, I feel like shutting the mind down sometimes.
However, one of the themes that I have been dwelling upon is the true philosophical nature of the postmodern world that we live in today. For Christians to be truly effective messengers of the Gospel, it will take understanding the philosophical roots and the many manifestations of the modern postmodern mindset. Its not JUST about the abandonment of objective truth and a sort of "kumbaya," "embrace everyone" culture. It is also about what REPLACES objective truth and reason. Ultimately, it is the embrace of subjectivity. Subjectivity in finding "the answers" within yourself, through your own thought processes, your own values. Because everyone's processes and values are different, a different truth.
We have to ask ourselves, how does this mindset affect views of God? How does it affect views of man? How does it affect how this world is to be fixed? These are deep issues, but ones that must be addressed.
It is alarming that this mindset is subtley (or not so subtley) creeping into the modern evangelical Christian culture (more on that later). The truth battle must not only be fought outside the four walls of the church, but on the pulpit, pews, and meeting rooms within.
We know that postmodern subjectivity cannot be the answer. God IS the Truth. He mas made it clear that we know the truth, if we know Him. God is a God of reason, and reason is connected to knowing the truth. He has made man in His own image with the capacity for reason (As a note, when talking about reason, I am referring to man's capacity to deductively or inductively determine truth, not "intelligence."). We can know the truth, and be certain that it is not just "our truth," but THE truth.
Verse of the Day:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
- John 1:1-3
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Why I am Better than You
You might have noticed that the URL of this site is phariseeconfessions.blogspot.com. I realize that this name may give cause for inquiry.
A "pharisee" was a teacher of the Law in ancient Judea around Jesus' time. In a society based around religious hierarchy, they were at the very top of the political, social, and religious structures of that day. They were most well educated, most powerful, highly respected men, who were deemed the "cream of the crop." They were seen as "righteous" and "moral," and people understood them to be "holy men." In fact, knowing that everyone recognized the "goodness" of the pharisees, Jesus used this to make a very strong point. In talking about salvation, Jesus said, "For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:20), thereby making clear His point that He is the source of the righteousness needed, not human good works.
Many times in the Bible, we see Pharisees portrayed in a HIGHLY NEGATIVE light. When we hear the word "pharisee," we think of words like "hypocrite," "judgmental," and "proud."And to a certain extent, this is true. After all, Jesus said "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites ! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness" (Matthew 23:27). Because of these negative associations with pharisees, we tend to see them as a caricature for the ultimate self-righteous, angry, hypocritical, religious zealot. One who we can clearly know, and clearly oppose.
However, I would submit, that the pharisees were not as far away from the truth as we would believe. Ultimately, what were their values? They were teachers of the Law, and were experts in the Old Testament scriptures. They were people who thought that through rigid obedience to the Law, God was pleased and His salvation would come to them as a result. I think at the core of a pharisee was a true and sincere desire to follow and obey God. How else would a pharisee survive the lifestyle that they had constructed for themselves? How could they remain motivated to a strict adherence to the Law, if it were not for the grand end of pleasing God?
When we see them in that light, we are a little more forgiving of the pharisees because we can see some of those very things in us. How many times do we have an attitude of pride because of what we do? How often do we "feel good" because we did something that was "for God" or "disciplined." When we learn more about the Bible, aren't we sometimes tempted show others how much we know? At some level, we all believe that we are "better" and somehow that we are more "lovable" because of what we have done and what we have accomplished.
The most damaging thing about a pharisee mindset is that it is such a perversion of what God has said. "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6). Having a pharisee mindset warps our thinking into believing that God somehow NEEDS us. It makes us believe that somehow WE have done something to deserve what God gives us. The focus of our lives becomes the continual greatness of our growth, motivated to increase our "rank" in the kingdom of God. WE, OURSELVES, become the focus of our spiritual lives. What a tragedy!
Rather, our lives, as God has desired, should be inherently GOD-Centered. Instead of focusing on what WE need to do, a God-centered attitude looks at what HE has done and continues to do. When we see God for who He is and what we has done, we cannot help being challenge, chastened, rebuked, encouraged, awestruck, and amazed, all at the same time. The focus of a Christian life is not WE MUST do. Rather, it's focus is on what GOD HAS DONE, through Christ's work on the cross, and the continual grace shown upon us, lowly, undeserving sinners.
Getting back to the title of this blog. The reason why I chose it as the title of this blog is that I am often guilty of a pharisee mindset. I am self-righteous. I am proud. Often times, I think I'm more talented, more knowledgeable, more gifted. I am holier than thou, smarter than though, and more interesting than thou. I am the lone prophet in the wilderness standing up for what is right: the only one who knows what God is really trying to say.
My use of the term "Pharisee Confessions" as a title is a reminder of the incompleteness of God's work in me. The moments I begin to think too highly of myself, God finds a way of knocking me off the pedestal located in my ivory tower. This title is my admission that I am a recovering pharisee. One who continually needs God's grace to chasten me, and to humble me; to remind me of who I am and how small I am compared to how grand and awesome HE is.
A "pharisee" was a teacher of the Law in ancient Judea around Jesus' time. In a society based around religious hierarchy, they were at the very top of the political, social, and religious structures of that day. They were most well educated, most powerful, highly respected men, who were deemed the "cream of the crop." They were seen as "righteous" and "moral," and people understood them to be "holy men." In fact, knowing that everyone recognized the "goodness" of the pharisees, Jesus used this to make a very strong point. In talking about salvation, Jesus said, "For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:20), thereby making clear His point that He is the source of the righteousness needed, not human good works.
Many times in the Bible, we see Pharisees portrayed in a HIGHLY NEGATIVE light. When we hear the word "pharisee," we think of words like "hypocrite," "judgmental," and "proud."And to a certain extent, this is true. After all, Jesus said "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites ! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness" (Matthew 23:27). Because of these negative associations with pharisees, we tend to see them as a caricature for the ultimate self-righteous, angry, hypocritical, religious zealot. One who we can clearly know, and clearly oppose.
Woe
to you, scribesHowever, I would submit, that the pharisees were not as far away from the truth as we would believe. Ultimately, what were their values? They were teachers of the Law, and were experts in the Old Testament scriptures. They were people who thought that through rigid obedience to the Law, God was pleased and His salvation would come to them as a result. I think at the core of a pharisee was a true and sincere desire to follow and obey God. How else would a pharisee survive the lifestyle that they had constructed for themselves? How could they remain motivated to a strict adherence to the Law, if it were not for the grand end of pleasing God?
When we see them in that light, we are a little more forgiving of the pharisees because we can see some of those very things in us. How many times do we have an attitude of pride because of what we do? How often do we "feel good" because we did something that was "for God" or "disciplined." When we learn more about the Bible, aren't we sometimes tempted show others how much we know? At some level, we all believe that we are "better" and somehow that we are more "lovable" because of what we have done and what we have accomplished.
The most damaging thing about a pharisee mindset is that it is such a perversion of what God has said. "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6). Having a pharisee mindset warps our thinking into believing that God somehow NEEDS us. It makes us believe that somehow WE have done something to deserve what God gives us. The focus of our lives becomes the continual greatness of our growth, motivated to increase our "rank" in the kingdom of God. WE, OURSELVES, become the focus of our spiritual lives. What a tragedy!
Rather, our lives, as God has desired, should be inherently GOD-Centered. Instead of focusing on what WE need to do, a God-centered attitude looks at what HE has done and continues to do. When we see God for who He is and what we has done, we cannot help being challenge, chastened, rebuked, encouraged, awestruck, and amazed, all at the same time. The focus of a Christian life is not WE MUST do. Rather, it's focus is on what GOD HAS DONE, through Christ's work on the cross, and the continual grace shown upon us, lowly, undeserving sinners.
Getting back to the title of this blog. The reason why I chose it as the title of this blog is that I am often guilty of a pharisee mindset. I am self-righteous. I am proud. Often times, I think I'm more talented, more knowledgeable, more gifted. I am holier than thou, smarter than though, and more interesting than thou. I am the lone prophet in the wilderness standing up for what is right: the only one who knows what God is really trying to say.
My use of the term "Pharisee Confessions" as a title is a reminder of the incompleteness of God's work in me. The moments I begin to think too highly of myself, God finds a way of knocking me off the pedestal located in my ivory tower. This title is my admission that I am a recovering pharisee. One who continually needs God's grace to chasten me, and to humble me; to remind me of who I am and how small I am compared to how grand and awesome HE is.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Life...or Something Like It
The Routine: A Poem in 24 Parts
7:00 AM - Wakeup, Shower, Get Dressed
8:00 AM - Leave for Work
9:00 AM - Arrive at Work
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM - "Ease into" doing work by catching up on the news, checking emails, as well as social networking sites such as Facebook, Myspace, or if you are so inclined, E-Harmony
10:30-11:00 AM - Do some real work
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Take a "break" by conversing with coworkers
12:00 -1:00 PM - Start doing real work again
1:00 - 2:00 PM - Lunch Break
2:00 - 3:00 PM - Real Work
3:00 - 5:00 PM - Countdown the hours until the workday ends
5:00 - 6:00 PM - Commute Back Home
6:00 - 7:00 PM - Watch TV, usually a repeat episode of a comedy (The Simpsons, Friends, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Everybody Loves Raymond), News Programming, or game shows
7:00 - 8:00 PM - Dinner Time
8:00 - 10:00 PM - Evening Activity time. Usually a combination of watching TV and using the internet
10:00 - 11:00 PM - Prepare to go to sleep (take medicine, use revitalizing lotion, etc.)
11:00 PM - Sleep Time
(OPTIONAL)
Drinks with Co-Workers
Movies with Friends
Physical Activity Other than Walking
REPEAT THE PROCESS
THOUGHTS:
I think on some level, all of us can relate to this. We all live a variation of a repetitive routine, no matter what stage in life. As students, we have the pattern of studying (or NOT studying), relaxing, sleeping, going to class, hanging out. As working people, we have a pattern of going to work. Routine is not bad. As people, we need a level of predictability in life. We need the security and stability of normalcy in our lives. That is something we require and something we desire.
Why then are we so often dissatisfied in what we are doing? Why are we so quick to "try something new"? Why do advertisements pushing products that are "innovative" and "fresh" so appealing to us? Why are we always focused on the negatives of the repetitiveness of our lives, rather than seeing the constant positives that come our way, everyday?
I don't know if I can make a grand universal statement on why these things are so. But I would advance this as a possible theory:
We who struggle so much with being unsatisfied in our life routines have allowed WHO we are be defined by WHAT we do.
What does this mean? We do not like being "stuck" in a routine because we find it boring. Because we do boring things, WE must be boring. We don't want to be considered to be boring people, do we?
In order to break this cycle, we must find worth in something other than ourselves. To find satisfaction, not in our circumstances, in ourselves, or in things that come our way, that may or may not change. Instead, our satisfaction must come in something that is unchanging, constant, and wholly satisfying. Only one thing can give us such satisfaction.
REFLECTION:
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:21
When considering "satisfaction" with life, think about the implications of this seemingly paradoxical verse.
7:00 AM - Wakeup, Shower, Get Dressed
8:00 AM - Leave for Work
9:00 AM - Arrive at Work
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM - "Ease into" doing work by catching up on the news, checking emails, as well as social networking sites such as Facebook, Myspace, or if you are so inclined, E-Harmony
10:30-11:00 AM - Do some real work
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Take a "break" by conversing with coworkers
12:00 -1:00 PM - Start doing real work again
1:00 - 2:00 PM - Lunch Break
2:00 - 3:00 PM - Real Work
3:00 - 5:00 PM - Countdown the hours until the workday ends
5:00 - 6:00 PM - Commute Back Home
6:00 - 7:00 PM - Watch TV, usually a repeat episode of a comedy (The Simpsons, Friends, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Everybody Loves Raymond), News Programming, or game shows
7:00 - 8:00 PM - Dinner Time
8:00 - 10:00 PM - Evening Activity time. Usually a combination of watching TV and using the internet
10:00 - 11:00 PM - Prepare to go to sleep (take medicine, use revitalizing lotion, etc.)
11:00 PM - Sleep Time
(OPTIONAL)
Drinks with Co-Workers
Movies with Friends
Physical Activity Other than Walking
REPEAT THE PROCESS
THOUGHTS:
I think on some level, all of us can relate to this. We all live a variation of a repetitive routine, no matter what stage in life. As students, we have the pattern of studying (or NOT studying), relaxing, sleeping, going to class, hanging out. As working people, we have a pattern of going to work. Routine is not bad. As people, we need a level of predictability in life. We need the security and stability of normalcy in our lives. That is something we require and something we desire.
Why then are we so often dissatisfied in what we are doing? Why are we so quick to "try something new"? Why do advertisements pushing products that are "innovative" and "fresh" so appealing to us? Why are we always focused on the negatives of the repetitiveness of our lives, rather than seeing the constant positives that come our way, everyday?
I don't know if I can make a grand universal statement on why these things are so. But I would advance this as a possible theory:
We who struggle so much with being unsatisfied in our life routines have allowed WHO we are be defined by WHAT we do.
What does this mean? We do not like being "stuck" in a routine because we find it boring. Because we do boring things, WE must be boring. We don't want to be considered to be boring people, do we?
In order to break this cycle, we must find worth in something other than ourselves. To find satisfaction, not in our circumstances, in ourselves, or in things that come our way, that may or may not change. Instead, our satisfaction must come in something that is unchanging, constant, and wholly satisfying. Only one thing can give us such satisfaction.
REFLECTION:
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:21
When considering "satisfaction" with life, think about the implications of this seemingly paradoxical verse.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Liftoff
As we start this New Year, it is appropriate for this to be the start of this blog. I used to write quite often on a different, but similar site However, I stopped as I let the business of life take its course. One benefit to writing is that it forces one to reflect, to pause and consider the course of one's life at any point in time. I believe as I had stopped writing, I likewise stopped reflecting.
I don't have any grand schemes or machinations for this journal. I do not seek notoriety. I don't hope for a wide range of readers. I do not offer any special expertise in any area. This blog will serve as a medium for reflection, and if you so find yourself inclined, I welcome you to follow me on this journey of life.
As for the subject matter of this blog, I will write on a whole range of things. Ranging from current events to sports. Politics to entertainment. Scientific to things spiritual. Frankly, whatever is on my thoughts at that particular moment. And I am resolved to update at least twice a week.For this entry, the real "meat" of the entry is rather short.
This being the start of the New Year, I have one primary resolution (more to come on that later):
Do all to the Glory of God!
I don't have any grand schemes or machinations for this journal. I do not seek notoriety. I don't hope for a wide range of readers. I do not offer any special expertise in any area. This blog will serve as a medium for reflection, and if you so find yourself inclined, I welcome you to follow me on this journey of life.
As for the subject matter of this blog, I will write on a whole range of things. Ranging from current events to sports. Politics to entertainment. Scientific to things spiritual. Frankly, whatever is on my thoughts at that particular moment. And I am resolved to update at least twice a week.For this entry, the real "meat" of the entry is rather short.
This being the start of the New Year, I have one primary resolution (more to come on that later):
Do all to the Glory of God!
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