Daily Blogs

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No glory hogs allowed 

Taking all the glory for yourself is selfish. 

And no one likes a glory hog…

I was watching Cake Wars today and not one chef thanked the other people who helped him or her throughout the competition.

You can’t go through life alone. 

We all are surrounded by a network of people who help us accomplish great things. 

Maybe you’re a business owner with cutting edge ideas. 

Maybe you’re a manager navigating the employees beneath you and the corporate officials above you. 

Whatever the situation maybe, teamwork is crucial. And too often the people who are helping get no credit for their work. 

Look at what I did!

See how great my work on this project turned out?

Meanwhile, all the other workers are catching their breath from going nonstop to ensure your success. 

Don’t forget to thank  your helpers and encouragers. 

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Our true provider

I’m amazed at how much of the Bible is spent explaining the Father’s ability to provide for us. 
Do not worry about tomorrow…

Consider the lilies and the ravens…

And He shall supply all your needs…

Seek ye first the kingdom and all these things (our needs) will be added to you…

God will take care of you!

Learning to trust His promises will take you far. 

Whenever a thought tries to get your mind away from His loving provision, do not let it run loose in your brain!

Stay focused on the promises, on His love and not on the circumstances before you. 

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Library Love

I feel like a citizen of Tulsa now because I have a library card!

The library cooperative here is a good one and I’m pleased with how well it’s run. 

It’s amazing how at home I feel in a library. There’s just something about being surrounded by information that makes me happy. 

Even as a first time visitor the atmosphere was so inviting. 

I’m not doing any heavy duty reading until school starts, but I couldn’t leave without checking out a few books. 

Graphic novels are a genre that I haven’t paid much attention to in the past. 

I was able to find some books that interested me and they make for such a quick read that I decided to give the genre a chance.

Kudos to the Tulsa County-City Library Cooperative. I look forward to being a patron.  

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The trouble with being famous

I watched American Idol tonight for the first time in about 5-6 years. 

Most of the people auditioning were teenagers around 15-18.

They were good, though, I am shocked that their parents are allowing them to be thrust into the public eye at such an early age. 

No pile of money is retribution enough for the microscope of celebrity status. 

Of course, American Idol is a wonderful way to get discovered as well.

Maybe I should call this post “The Pros and Cons of American Idol”….

Let me ask some questions that I hope do a better job at explaining why I’m not sure how I feel about the whole thing:

  • What motivates someone to seek out the spotlight?
  • Can nationwide approval truly offer validation?
  • Is he or she prepared to pay the high cost of fame?

There’s a possibility that I am overthinking, but these are the questions that came to my mind as I watched the show. 

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If left alone

An object at rest tends to stay at rest and an object in motion tends to stay in motion unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. 

Newton’s First Law of Motion can teach us a lot about our habits and thought life. 

Another way of defining this law is: An object will keep doing what it’s doing if left alone. 

Aren’t we all the same way?

  • I would eat cheeseburgers everyday if left alone. 
  • I would be a negative person if left alone. 
  • I would still be scared of my own shadow if left alone. 

Wallowing in the past and running toward destruction are both unhealthy responses that lead to nowhere. 

Why is it so hard to get unstuck?

Why is it so hard to go in a different direction?

Newton’s Laws of Motion talk about much more than physics. 

  • Stepping on the scale again was my unbalanced force. 
  • Missing out on deeper, more meaningful relationships was my unbalanced force. 
  • Waking up at 24 and having a mile long wish list of dreams was my unbalanced force. 

Imagine a game of pool.
Nothing would change if  the cue ball (the unbalanced force) didn’t crash into the other balls. 

The best way to get moving again or to change directions is to be hit with an unbalanced force. 

Change is scary, but staying stuck is even scarier. 

And to think no one likes physics…

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The adventure ahead

My first Monday in Tulsa went well.

I had a job interview and took care of a few other things that needed to be done. 

Getting established takes time, so I’m happy that I drove out a week early. 

It’s also nice to have a bit of down time before school starts. The last several months have been busy with the holidays and my extra job and preparing to move. 

I am trying to not let my thoughts get to far ahead of me…

What will this be like?

I need to have this paid by this date.

My schedule is in free fall, which can make this recovering control freak nervous. 

Part of what I am learning now is to enjoy the ride.

Relax!

God is in control. 

He’s the provider and sustainer. 

I know all of these things, but keeping my thoughts in check is a full time job.

 You can’t let them stray too far or you’ll lose sight of the truth: God is faithful. 

I am so excited about school starting. Things are shaping up. 

I am choosing to focus on the adventure ahead instead of the minute details that don’t matter in the long run. 

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30 seconds or less

I just watched The Golden Globes for the first time. There were so many movies that I had never even heard of!

I’m not one to follow celebrities, but it was interesting to see the fashion and winners and the general hoopla surrounding the whole affair. 

I’m surprised at how little time they give the winners to say thank you. 

Only 30 seconds to express gratitude for projects that took a year or more to make?

I can’t even imagine what I would say or do under those circumstances, though, as a Christian, I’m often under the same pressure when asked questions about my faith. 

Short answers are hard to give, yet that is what many people demand. 

Explain God in 30 seconds or less…go!

Wow. 

How can I explain the love of the Father, the sacrifice of the Son, and the job of the Holy Spirit in that time frame?

We are instructed to have an answer ready for any occasion. 

We are also told that the Holy Spirit will tell us what to say. 

And most conversations about faith ebb and flow nicely between those to paradigms.

 The difficulty level, for me, comes in trying to express the fullness of joy I have found in my relationship with God. 

It’s rich and deep and intimate and fun and challenging and intentional (and I could keep going). 

I usually get really worked up in my explanations because there’s just so much I can say, which is why I can relate to all of the Golden Globe winners. 

Sometimes I can wrap up my thankfulness in 30 seconds or less, sometimes I can’t and I keep talking until the commercial break. 

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A training culture 

Moving to a new place definitely changes your perspective. 

I visited Tulsa back in October, but it wasn’t my city yet. I was merely a visitor. 

Now I’m a resident and there’s an increased eagerness to really pay attention to stores and directions and the culture. 

I think the same can be said of any new adventure in life. 

Eagerness and curiosity will help you learn more because both are great motivators.

Great things are happening here. I’m excited to see how I can contribute. 

There’s so much to learn, so much to do and I really want to soak it all up. Many have told me that the lessons learned at Rhema are more caught than taught. 

The school wants you to learn, yes, but more importantly they want you to put into practice what you’re learning. 

I can’t wait for classes to start! January 19th can’t come fast enough. 

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The fun has arrived

I made it to Tulsa!

It took me about 9 1/2 hours to get here. 

I drove for 5 straight hours, bought some gas, and then finished up the trip. 

Now to rest…

I’m looking forward to my first weekend in town and getting situated in my room. 

Did I mention that I had a companion?

  Meet Strawberry Goonhild. 
She was a gift from Savanna, which makes her the best road buddy. 

Here she is basking in the Arkansas sun:

  Strawberry likes classic rock and ’60s music. One time she wanted us to listen to hip hop, but that’s where I draw the line. 

There are several things ahead of me in the coming week. Right now, though, I’m just going to relax and thank God for getting me here.  

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Saying goodbye

I saw a sign today at Chick-fil-A:

Goodbyes are never easy…

It was followed by a mourning of (and recipe for) their cole slaw. 

Now, I’m not a serving of cole slaw–and neither are my friends and family–but Chick-fil-A got it right about goodbyes. 

I want to take everyone with me. I really do. Maybe it’s time for the entirety of Alabama to relocate….?

I am genuinely excited about the future. 

If I didn’t see you before I left, no worries. I will be back for visits. 

All of my contact information–minus my address–is the same. 

Let me know if you want my address. I love getting mail!