Porclain Jesus

Sometimes I have these days that just seem like a blur. I can wake up in the morning and have a nice quiet time of prayer and devotions and then off to the races I go. My day blazes by with clients and projects and deadlines, oh my. The next thing I know I'm home, I see my bible on the coffee table which makes me stop and think, "hmm... I didn't speak to God at all today."

Have you ever had those days?... What? Am I the only one?!?!?! I didn't think so either.

We have been talking about spiritual discipline in our small group and one thing I remember is when Dave Nixon (guest VLI lecturer) said was to give yourself little reminders throughout the day to focus on Christ. He told a story of a woman who takes time during her day to go to the restroom and focus on Jesus. Uhh... I'm not exactly sure how all that works but it's a creative way to not let her day just whiz by without giving any time to attention to Jesus.

So, I guess that is something we all can do throughout the day to reconnect and focus ourselves on Christ. It could be just planting little post-it notes around your house, your desk, or in your car or even giving yourself a reminder everytime you make visit the loo (I think Americans should use this word more often). We can use creativity throughout our daily lives to focus on Christ and hopefully it will become second nature... even when nature calls.

Speaking of which...

Mentor and Womentor

I have a 3d computer animation business but I didn't study computer animation in school. In fact, the one class I took which actually taught me 3d computer animation I couldn't stand. I put the least amount of effort into the class to just scrape by and move on to more important things. While working at an architecture with my old roommate from college, Jonathon, I actually began learning how to build, light, and render a 3d computer model. I learned enough to leave the architecture job to begin working full-time at a computer animation company.

Once I was there I learned a wealth of information from a guy who took the time to teach me what he knew, which was a lot. He was a graduate of CCAD and was a skilled illustrator, computer programmer, and 3d computer animator. It was 4 years of working with him which gave me the skills I have now and use everyday at work. A year ago for Thanksgiving I looked up the guy who spent his time and energy teaching me and thanked him. It was an akward situation thanking him because my former boss, whom he was still working for, had filed a law suit against our business and he was even one of the people making accusations against our business. The lawsuit was eventually dropped but despite that I felt it was the right thing to do.

The value of a mentor probably isn't stressed enough. I know that we've all had someone mentor us to help us get where we are now. I also believe that each of us should have a mentor in our life to help us continue on. Spiritual mentors, art mentors, work related mentors, or whatever. Along the same lines, I believe that we should also be mentoring someone as well. So, take a good look at your life and see what you have to offer. If nothing comes to mind ask a good close friend. If that friend says, "you don't have anything to offer" you might want to move that person off your "friend" list... or just bribe them to say something nice.

Your uniqueness

"The Spirit has given each of us a special way of serving others." Enough of this self-deprecating "I can't do anything."

An enough of its arrogant opposite: "I have to do everything." No, you don't! You're not God's solution to society, but a solution in society. Imitate Paul, who said, "Our goal is to stay within the boundries of God's plan for us" (2 Cor. 10:13 NLT). Clarify your contribution.

Don't worry about skills you don't have. Don't covet strengths others have. Just extract your uniqueness. 'Kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you' (2 Timother 1:6 NASB). And do so to make a big deal out of God...

Max Lucado - "Cure for the Common Life"

Springtime in the City

Here I am again with my seasonal weather update. My last post was about snow and now spring is everywhere. I'm realizing how important the seasons are to me, another reason I'd never survive in Florida and California!
Last week when we had one of our first really sunny warm days of the year, I took a walk. I love the neighborhood around our office. (I love our neighborhood at home too, but that is another post.) When I get restless at work and can't stand looking at the computer screen I can just get up and go outside. I go to Dollar General and get a snack or just walk down High Street. This particular day I was struck with how awesome living and working in the city is. I love visual contradictions. The ugliness of the city becomes a work of art next to a beautiful piece of nature. With all the trees coming alive and blooming, the Short North is full of these strange pairings. I feel blessed that I live and work in a place that I can just walk out my door and see some of my favorite art everywhere I turn!

Links

I am a design junky. By design junky I mean that I love things that are well designed and it really doesn't matter what it is. If you've ever had a moment when you wanted to buy something just because it was well designed and not because you needed it then you know what I'm talking about. What can I say, I'm a visual person.

Anyway, here are two web sites that I frequent that do nothing but showcase pretty cool designs. Sure I'd have to sell my left kidney to afford some of the items but let's be honest, we both know it's worth it, right? Right.

http://mocoloco.com
http://swissmiss.typepad.com

Great Expectations

Have you ever been in a situation that you can saw God at work in a way that is completely different than you would have imagined?

In the Christian life we hear about the many ways the Lord is at work. How he moves in people's lives, in the church, through ministries, at conferences, through books we read and even His his work throughout history. Simply put, we should expect great things from God. He hears and answers our prayers.

I also believe that we shouldn't expect things to happen in the same way they did once before. I think sometimes we can spend our time expecting something to happen one way and we completely miss where God is really moving. God is infinitely more creative than just simply repeating the same process. Even things which seem "routine" still don't play out exactly the same way. The results might be similar but underneath the surface lies an intricate series of events we couldn't have imagined possible. With that said, I believe the key for us to remember is that God answers prayers but we don't know how He is going to respond or what He'll do. He might not even give you the answer you're hoping for. Through everything, wee must wait and pray with anticipation.