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Tuesday, 22 December 2009

Saturday, 05 December 2009

  • What Are You Passionate About?

    If one takes a long, deep breath and gives more than just a cursory glance at their life, they will discover, I believe, a hidden passion; a feeling, a burning desire to do something or to make something, to be an agent of change, a soldier, an author, a teacher, a preacher, a peacemaker, a chef, an artist, etc...

    We all want to know that the world was different and better because of something we did, because of something we created, because of someone we helped.  In order to discover this passion, however, one must momentarily remove the everyday amusements that dull their senses and stifle their creativity and have a time of introspection.

    "What is it I do or want to do that when pondered gives me a serious sense of fulfillment and happiness?" This yearning will vary from person to person, but if you will permit me I would like to share some things that put joy in my life and are a passion in my heart.

    1. Inspiring and Educating Others:  If I, even in the most minute of ways, inspire someone within my sphere of influence to change their life for the better, it gives me great joy.  Perhaps they have always had the desire to write but never did and after seeing my blog decided to start one of their own, etc...

    2. Writing:  I love writing; I am certainly not the best at it, but taking ideas from my head and sharing them via the miracle of the written word is something that always puts a smile on my face.

    3. The Gospel: Simply put there is nothing more important than someone's eternal destination and the state of their soul here on Earth.

    4. Efficiency:  Each of us are only permitted 24 hours a day.  If I can discover a quicker, better, easier way to accomplish a task, than I get excited because I can be a better steward of my time; moreover, I get to show someone else how to use their time more wisely as well.

    5. Family: You only get one family, and you only get so much time to spend with them.  Even though mine is not perfect, I love them just as they love me despite my many flaws.

    6. Learning: I guess this one is tied to #4 in a way.  The more I learn, the better I will be at whatever I do.  As Honest Abe once said, "Whatever you are, be a good one"

    7. Cooking:  While I am nowhere near a gourmet chef, I am passionate about learning how to prepare better meals.  As Trent from The Simple Dollar says, meals prepared at home are cheaper, healthier and sometimes even more fun. 

    8. Frugality:  Before I met my wife I was terrible with money.  I blew through my Army bonus money on frivolous things and now I have nothing to show for it.  Now, thanks to my wife and her faithful reading of "The Simple Dollar" we are much better with our money and are able to contribute to more meaningful projects like sponsoring orphans and missionaries as they proclaim the message of Salvation and Hope throughout the land.

    9. The Truth:  I want to know the truth about events and people as well as myself.  People tend to wear masks because they feel they no one would accept them if they did not.  My desire is to truly understand and know people so that I may better serve them and edify them on a day to day basis.

    10. Transparency:  (Strongly tied in with #9)  I believe a transparent nature begets transparent relationships with those around you.  Doesn't it feel like a nice breath of fresh, clean, crisp air when you are around someone who you can just be yourself with?  I believe everyone deserves at least one person they can be themselves around and I pray each and everyday that I live my life in such a way that people feel that way around me.

Friday, 04 December 2009

  • Caffeine

    No, not the kind we drink to stay awake, this is a program for your computer. (Specifically this is the windows version, but there is a version for the mac as well)

    Caffeine is an innovative program that will temporarily suspend your screen saver / power saver settings.  Why is this useful?  Suppose you are snuggling up next to your loved one and watching Rudolph on your laptop and slowly sipping a nice cappuccino.  You notice your beloved has finished off her hot chocolate so you, being the good husband that you are, get up and go to the kitchen to make her some more;

    When All Of A Sudden There Arises A Clatter, You Pop Back In To See What’s a’matter.

    “The Screen Saver Came On,  I Need The Password; We Are missing Herbie’s Big Day This Is So Absurd”

    A Christmas Classic Ruined By A Machine; All  Could Have Been Saved By A Shot Of Caffeine.

    You see, changing your screen saver / power saver settings back and forth just to watch a movie can become quite cumbersome. (It requires somewhere between 5-7 clicks and usually 2-3 windows) 

    Enter caffeine.  A simple, FREE program that only requires one click to turn on and two clicks to turn off.  When it is on, your screen saver will not come on, once you are done with your movie or perhaps your business presentation, you simply turn it off and your screen saver settings are back to normal.

    Another handy use for this program is primarily for college kids living on campus.  Simply set your default screen saver time to 1 minute and turn the password feature on; run caffeine whenever you are using your computer. 

    If you need to walk away, turn caffeine off and you can rest assured your computer will go to your screen saver and be protected from Facebook hackers like Christina.  (right Laura?)

    So, give it a shot, come on your computer can’t drink coffee, so give it the next best thing…straight up Caffeine-(the legal alternative to cocaine)

Friday, 20 November 2009

  • Music to Pray By

    Not too long ago, I stumbled upon this blog.  The author is a musician who has a podcast where he releases what he calls “Music to Pray By” (which is also the name of the blog).  The music is piano based and I find it soothing and spiritual. 

    He also has an entire album you can download for free by clicking here (you can choose the entire album, specific songs, or you can download his podcast entries).  I highly recommend it. 

Thursday, 12 November 2009

  • That’s What Friends Are For

    Awhile back I found this sermon by Chuck Colson but have yet to share it on my blog…

    So, here is the link to the pdf of the sermon.  It is a good read that will only take about twenty minutes of your time.  The most interesting part of the sermon in my opinion was the “levels of friendship” that he discusses:

    And lastly,  Friendships come in varying degrees, some of whom play more
    significant roles in our life than others;

    Acquaintances are people we have sporadic contact with. We’re
    cordial and ask each other “How are ya?” but always answer “Just
    fine!” Acquaintances are a first-layer surface kind of friendship.


    Casual friends are those we have more contact with, or have
    common interests, and can have more specific conversations with. We
    may even ask a casual friend’s opinion on something once in a great
    while. But we keep a safe distance between us!


    Close friends share similar life goals and are those we discuss the
    hard questions with. Close friends do projects together, socialize
    together, and sometimes even vacation together.


    Intimate friends are defined by regular contact and a deep
    commitment! We’re open and vulnerable with one another! We
    anxiously await each other’s opinions. We are free to confront because
    we trust their love is genuine. Intimate friends know everything about us,
    and yet love us anyway!

    It is food for thought.

MPBOY229

  • Visit MPBOY229's Xanga Site
    • Name: Derek
    • Country: United States
    • State: Virginia
    • Metro: Lynchburg
    • Birthday: 2/25/1983
    • Gender: Male
    • Member Since: 4/15/2004

About Me

  • I am a son of God, a friend of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit dwells within me...Ask Me How.

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