things that brighten my life

if i am going to gripe about television commercials that suck then i must give equal time to those that don't. if you watched the academy awards show last sunday night you might have seen this ad for truenorth snacks. it smoked anything i've seen in a long time! here is a company not trying to sell you on their product but to show people doing inspirational things and the 60 second "inspiration cafe" spot did that. to me, that is what image and branding is all about. i would rather support something that brings good things to life and truenorth snacks have shown me that their brand is far superior to any other. thank you truenorth snacks.

inside the lines

i saw this video on espn's "outside the lines" and the message of it really says a lot. a very interesting point made by one of the inmates is how in the game of tennis - just as it is in life - you need to stay inside the lines - outside the lines is out.

give me a break

so the headlines in the sports world read that manny ramirez and his agent have turned down a one-year, 25 million dollar contract offer with the los angeles dodgers - what?! how much are these idiots going to offer players? when are the sports fans going to mutiny? in the financial times we are in, when will people wake up - sports fans in particular - and say, "we're just not that into you". i hope manny can't find another offer. i love sports but i am getting very weary of the prices demanded and paid to these self-centered egomaniacs. we are getting close to that famous phrase from the movie, "network", "i'm mad as hell and i'm not gonna take it anymore!!" give us a break!

what's going on?

i read yesterday where a man in southern california under the stress of job loss and money issues shot and killed his wife, their five children and then himself. it haunts me. how low do things have to get that murder-suicide becomes an option. this morning while reading the daily devotional "my utmost for his highest" by oswald chambers, he refers to matthew 11:29; "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls". things must have been so dark and unbearable that this man could not even find his way to God for help - how tragic. in the midst of mounting and crippling credit card debt over five years ago did i find God through His Son Jesus Christ who reached out and said to me in matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest". i was in serious credit card debt and while the words of Jesus did not make the debt go away, they did provide an immediate peace that washed over me and gave me the ability to see things more clearly. i don't have the answers, He does though. i can honestly say that He has lead my life ever since. to this day i do not carry any credit cards, just a debit card so if there is no money there is no purchase. He has given me new eyes for the "wants and needs" in my life. i do not want for the things that i used to. i am more content with what i have - no more "keeping up with the jones". what others think of me is of no consequence, only what He thinks of me is important. this murder-suicide in california is not the first nor the last but it should be. we have got to help each other. now is the time to stand up and make a difference. what's going on with you? are you weary and in need of rest? take a moment and read matthew 11:28-30;
28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
now that is real peace

lost

the tv show "lost" began its fifth season on abc network last night. it is a maze to navigate as they swap places in time. the "oceanic six" are needed to return to "fantasy island" to save the others. it can be very confusing as john is in one scene under the plane in the trees and above it in another scene depicted as years later. this whole lost thing has been a part of my life even after fully committing my life to Christ over five years ago. i find myself lost in the question, what does God want me to do with my life? in that i miss the simple answer, love God and love one another. but how do i do that? how do i love this God that i do not physically see, hear or touch? i guess that is where faith takes over. i have the faith that He is always there no matter where i am. i have confidence that He will give me the directions when i am lost for in Him i am found. it may not be directions that i understand but if i keep asking, seeking, knocking on His door, He always answers. that trust in Him keeps me from the fear of being lost no matter the darkness that surrounds me.
but how do i love others? people that i do physically see, hear and touch? how do i love the unlovable? i guess it is that matthew 7:7 thing again, ask, seek. knock. if i continually take it to Him, He will show me how. forgiveness is a big part of this. forgiving myself and forgiving others. letting go of what i want and reaching out, grabbing a hold, and hanging on to what He wants. no easy deal, but who said life would be easy?
peace

remember me

i have been reading tony dungy's book "quiet strength" and i found a few words i wanted to share. in chapter 11, defining success, dungy writes,"what will people remember us for? are other people's lives better because we lived? did we make a difference? did we use to the fullest the gifts and abilities God gave us? did we give our best effort, and did we do it for the right reasons? God's definition of success is really one of significance - the significant difference our lives can make in the lives of others. this significance doesn't show up in win-loss records, long resumes, or the trophies gathering dust on our mantels. it's found in the hearts and lives of those we've come across who are in some way better because of the way we lived." so well spoken - a true champion. thanks tony