A page in the life...

When was your last "I-exam"?

2009-09-07T00:13:00.003-05:00

Roast of the Day: Medium Roast

I still remember the day in the fourth grade when I received the news that I needed to get eyeglasses. Our class had just taken the mandatory eye exam given by the school nurse, and I guess I failed (I should have been listening closer to the person reading off the chart in front of me). Anyway, I remember coming home from school in tears, realizing that this one event was going to change my life forever. Sure, I may have been a bit over dramatic at the time, but, come on, I was in the fourth grade....what can you expect.

What I failed to realize at the time was that my eyeglasses would vastly improve my vision. It wasn't until I put on my new glasses that I truly understood how bad my vision had been. For any of you that have experienced this phenomenon, you know what I'm talking about. Everything instantly became clearer and crisper. I could make out all of the jagged edges on the leaves of the trees, my perspective of things seemed so much clearer, and even the colors seemed more vivid. At the time, it was hard for me to believe that I hadn't noticed what I was missing earlier.

I believe there is quite a parallel here to our faith. Many of us are walking through our daily lives in a blur and we don't even know it. We are so used to 'seeing' things from our current perspective and we are missing out on the perfect 'vision' that God can provide. When we make the decision to put our faith in Christ, it's like putting on those eyeglasses for the first time. Our 'vision' becomes so much clearer and crisper, which transcends all areas of our lives.

However, as I am learning, we cannot simply put on our first pair of eyeglasses and be done with it. Over the past 30 some odd years, I've had to continually get my eyes re-examined - because over time, my eyes grow lazy and my vision slowly deteriorates. Without those eye examinations and my new prescriptions, I would slip back into settling for vision that is less than perfect. So, I believe, it is with our faith walk.

If we want to continue to make a difference and 'see' things through God's perspective, we must take the time for our own 'I' exams. These 'I-examinations', as I have coined them, should be things that challenge us in our walk, such as getting involved in a local church, becoming part of a small group, a commitment to read God's word, a mission trip, any number of things that will push us to 'see' the heart of God with more clarity and get His perspective.

So, I will leave you with this last thought to ponder, "When was your last 'I-exam'?"

Coffee and Blogging: More Similarities

2009-08-06T00:04:00.002-05:00

Roast of the Day: Light

Okay...thanks to the one new soul that took time to read my blog, I've been given new inspiration to try to update on a more regular basis, but we'll see...:)

It occurs to me that coffee and blogging have much more similarities than I first envisioned. Like coffee, the best blogs are fresh. No one wants to sift through and read blogs that have been growing stale sitting out here in cyberworld. Being a coffee connoisseur, I can tell you that similarly old, stale coffee grounds produce a very poor tasting brew. Thus, I am going to try my best to 'grind up' some fresh ideas on a weekly basis (no need to over commit) and share them once again. I plan to continue my 'Roast of the Day' rating to provide readers with a quick insight into the content, thereby determining if the posting is worth a read. A 'Light' roast will indicate a fun or light read. The 'Medium' roast will be more of a thought for the day - maybe something to ponder, while a 'Dark' roast will indicate a much more thoughtful or deeper insight....call it robust.

I hope those of you who take the time to read this blog will find some thought provoking, insightful nuggets that can lift your spirits - or in coffee terms, provide some much needed caffeine for your day.

Wisdom comes in small bites...

2008-11-17T21:40:00.003-06:00

Roast of the day: Medium

What is wisdom? Can one equate intelligence to wisdom, or is wisdom something more? I believe wisdom is the discipline of choosing the right path every time we are confronted with a decision. Sure, intelligence can play a major role, but it is by no means synonymous with wisdom.

I once had the pleasure of hearing the well known author, Ken Blanchard, speak at a conference. He gave an amazing statistic regarding the number of decisions that each one of us make on a daily basis. Although a few of these decisions are very significant in nature, the vast majority of our daily choices could be labeled as mundane, or insignificant. If you are like me, you probably devote a great deal of energy and thoughtfulness into the major decisions that confront you on a daily basis - but what about the little choices? What about that car merging onto the interstate in front of you? Do you show courtesy and allow them to merge, or do you speed up to make sure you end up in front of them? What if we all took the time to consider every decision we make and ask the question, "Will this response make the world a better place, or a worse place?" I know this may seem like a trivial exercise in some circumstances, but I truly believe it is a discipline worth pursuing.

Through discipline and discernment, we can exercise our ability to make the right decisions - and with each right decision, grow incrementally in wisdom. One does not become wise overnight....wisdom comes in small bites...

Gotta Work on My 'IFs"

2008-10-14T20:35:00.002-05:00

Roast of the day: Medium

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will direct your paths." - Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)

Like many of you, I've read this particular passage countless times. A Scripture passage that is both a proverb and a promise. But today, God revealed some additional insight to me that I wish to share.

Like many of the promises found in Scripture, the passage can really be broken down into an IF-THEN statement. IF we....trust in the Lord with all our hearts, and we don't depend on our own understanding, and seek Him in all we do....THEN He will direct our paths. I think too many times I want the "then" without the effort of the "if." I find myself asking God to help guide me, or direct me in an upcoming decision without fully examining how I've been fulfilling my "if" requirements. Have I been trusting the Lord with ALL my heart? Is it possible that I've been leaning too heavily on my own knowledge and understanding? Have I truly been seeking His will in ALL I do?

Lord, help me work on my "IFs," before expecting the promises of Your "THENs."

My First Axiom for Leadership

2008-08-20T23:34:00.002-05:00

Roast of the day: Medium

I recently had the opportunity to attend the Leadership Summit which is hosted by Willow Creek in Chicago. Our church is a satellite site for this event each year, and I found the experience very inspiring. Bill Hybels was one of the keynote speakers at the event. During one of his addresses, he introduced his latest book, Axioms, which I promptly purchased.

Bill defines axioms as leadership proverbs. In his book, he outlines about 76 axioms that he has come up with over the past 3 decades that are key ideas or thoughts for effective leadership. Each of these axioms are captured in simple phrases or proverbs that can be easily remembered and repeated. The concept is quite powerful.

During his teaching at the conference, Bill outlined one leadership principle that really rang true to me for effective leaders. As I did not find an axiom in his recent book that succinctly relates this idea, I've decided to come up with my own axiom to describe this key point in effective leadership. It is as follows:

Success Shared. Blame Beared.

The basic idea behind this axiom, or leadership proverb, is that to be an effective leader one must be willing to share credit with his/her team while at the same time take personal responsibility when things don't go according to plan. My feeling and experience is that leaders mastering this skill will find themselves surrounded by a team that is 'sold out to their cause' (whatever that might be). In my opinion, this is a key factor in effective leadership.

Unfortunately, it seems that as leaders we mess this up far too often. It's so easy to want to pin the success of a specific outcome to our chest or place the blame on the team when something doesn't go right. If you find yourself in a leadership position, try to remember this little axiom. I think it will serve you well.

The Anticipatory Theory

2008-08-04T21:22:00.003-05:00

Roast: Medium

A colleague of mine and I recently returned from a business trip in Florida. Our local sales representative played host during our visit and we had the pleasure of meeting his wonderful family. While having dinner together one evening, I seized the opportunity to proliferate on my theories of time and LRPs (if you are unfamiliar with this term, please refer back to my previous posts). I was intrigued and pleased to hear some of the interesting ideas that both our sales representative and his wife had on the subject. I thought I'd share a bit from that discussion.

If you've been a faithful reader of my blog, you know that I have a few theories on why the passage of time seems to accelerate as we grow older. However, after my discussion with my friends in Florida, I must admit that there are probably quite a few other theories that deserve investigation. One of the main ideas we discussed during dinner last week revolved around child-like anticipation. Thus, I have coined this as the Anticipatory Theory of Time.

The basic logic of this theory is that time will seem to pass slower when we are anticipating something of significance to take place. Do you remember as a child when your parents announced that the family would be taking vacation to Walt Disney World during Easter break? The months leading up to that planned vacation always seemed to take forever. Why is that? Even as an adult, I have experienced this same phenomenon as we plan our annual family vacations to both Door County and the Wisconsin Dells. It seems as if the anticipation of the upcoming event acts as a catalyst for slowing down time, at least in our minds. Granted, I have only been introduced to this notion recently, so I have not taken the time to ponder the full effects of anticipation - but I am intrigued by this new theory.

Perhaps when considering your next LRP (Life Reference Point) event, you should consider planning it well in advance. By combining both the ideas of LRPs and the Anticipatory Theory, you may find that slowing the passage of time is seemingly possible - at least on a relative basis.

Living with A.D.D.

2008-07-28T22:47:00.003-05:00

Roast: Light

I guess I've got to work on creating some more LRPs (see previous posts for clarification) because time is certainly moving much too quickly. I can't believe its been well over three months since I've last posted. Sure, I could blame it on schedule or bloggers block...but truth be told, I think I've just been lazy.

This year has been a difficult one for me as I have come to the realization that I have A.D.D. However, I'm not referring to the common acronym, Attention Deficit Disorder, that most of you are familiar with....no, mine is a much more serious affliction. Although admittedly a self-diagnosis, I am quite convinced that I am suffering from Age Denial Disorder.

It all started about 3 years ago, when I decided I would join the church softball team. I used to play quite often, but it had been about 16 years since I had last been on a competitive team. That year, I jumped right in...with the vigor of a twenty-something year old. The problem was (and continues to be) that my mind is telling my body to do things the way I used to do things. Diving for fly balls, showing up to the ball park to play a double-header without any stretching, trying to stretch a single into a double....and the list goes on and on. Needless to say, this past softball season is the first one in which I haven't been sidelined due to a sprained ankle or torn hamstring. And now, in retrospect, I can see that its all because of Age Denial Disorder, or A.D.D.

Turning 40 this past June has not helped matters. I stand in front of the mirror now and try to pluck the gray whiskers from my facial hair. I've even seriously considered purchasing anti-wrinkle cream....what is happening to me? Like many other fields, A.D.D. experts say that the first step in overcoming this affliction is admitting to yourself that you have a problem. I don't know that I'm ready for that step yet...but I do think that come next season...I'm joining the church golf league instead of softball.

Take time to sharpen...

2008-04-05T21:33:00.003-05:00

Roast: Medium Dark

I believe Spring is finally upon us. If you believe the calendar, the official first day of Spring was back in March, but it sure hasn't felt like it as of recent. However, today was different. Sure, the temperature reaching into the 60s for the first time this year was one indicator, but to me, there was a far greater sign of Spring - the return of the bird songs.

I decided to take advantage of the warm weather today and do my jogging outside (versus the treadmill in our basement). As I stepped outside this morning, I was amazed at the chorus being sung. I couldn't believe how loud the bird songs seemed to be...it was as if hundreds of birds were busy announcing their return and it was wonderful.

As I took the time to listen and enjoy the moment, it occurred to me that these same birds probably sing their choruses throughout the Summer, only I don't ever remember hearing them like this come June, July and August. I think its probably because with all the added activities, commotion and other noises that come with the warmer weather, we become dull to hearing these beautiful songs. Its only after the long and quiet Winter months that our senses are sharpened such that when a day like today comes around the music is overwhelming.

This is not unlike the Christian walk, where - over time - we can become dull to many different facets to which we were once sharp. I don't want to be dull. I want to hear the birds singing their songs throughout the summer, and I want to be prepared for whatever God has instore for me. Thus, I want to make sure I take time to sharpen....

Don't let the mundane pass you by...

2008-03-29T00:35:00.002-05:00

Roast: Medium Dark

Okay, I'll admit it. I'm never going to be an everyday blogger. There, I've said it. Try as I might, I find it difficult to take the required time to scratch down my thoughts for you on a regular basis. That said, I will commit to try harder at posting a bit more often. However, you must understand that this is coming from an ENFP (for those of you that are Myers-Briggs aficionados). In other words, my intentions will be to blog more often, but my follow through may be a bit lacking.

Now, onto the mundane.

If any of you have a lengthy drive into work, you can probably relate to the idea that it can become rather mundane. Every morning, Monday through Friday, I drive virtually the same route to and from work. The commute takes roughly a half-an-hour each way. Many times, if I'm on the phone or listening to the radio, I can arrive at my destination seemingly on autopilot.

This morning was typical. I was driving my regular route, listening to the radio, busy with the thoughts of the coming day. When suddenly, I received a tap on my shoulder...."Look around you. My beautiful creation is all around you - and you are just passing it by." Obviously, this wasn't a physical tap on the shoulder - but the feeling was just as real. I turned off the radio and just began taking in all of the wondrous beauty that nature was displaying around me. The sun, the trees, things that I've driven by hundreds of times seemed new and fresh. I was amazed at how much I miss everyday on my drive into work...just because I'm busy in the mundane.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not advocating that we not pay attention what we're doing behind the wheel and drive with our heads out the window. But there is something to that old adage that we need to "stop and smell the roses." Take some time and notice all of the amazing creation around you. Don't let the seemingly mundane pass you by...

Blimey, its windy...

2008-03-13T16:18:00.004-05:00

Roast of the Day: Light

Sorry for my lack of posts recently. My job has kept me traveling over the past few weeks, making it difficult to find the time to provide a new entry. I look forward to returning home tomorrow, but today...I blog from my hotel room in Manchester, UK.

If any of you have been watching the weather reports as of late, you may know that we've been experiencing hurricane type winds here in the UK and Ireland. On Wednesday, my colleague and I flew from Manchester to Waterford, Ireland. Trying to land a plane in 65-70 mile-an-hour winds (especially when its a small twin turbo prop airplane) can be quite an adventure. Needless to say, I'm sure I was not the only person on board that was offering up a few prayers during our descent. The Lord is faithful.

I'm looking forward to getting home...and I will hopefully be able to get back into a grove with regards to my blogging. Until then...

Coffee is like blogging...

2008-02-28T00:33:00.002-06:00

It has occurred to me that blogging can be like coffee. Just as there are different types of roasts (light vs. dark), there are also different types of blogs (whimsical, humorous vs. contemplative, thoughtful). Thus, I am going to endeavour to categorize my future blog entries for those of you who share in my ramblings (if there are any of you out there).

From this point forward, you will find a "Roast" description at the beginning of each entry. A Light Roast will refer to an entry that is, as I have stated earlier, on the lighter side - more carefree and perhaps even humorous. On the contrary, a Dark Roast will indicate an entry that is a bit more contemplative or thought provoking. My hope is that this will provide a quick glimpse of the content matter for the reader (if there are any).

If you have read any of my previous blog entries, you have no doubt realized that I'm partial to more reflective type ramblings (Dark Roasts), but I will do my best to mix things up a bit in the coming months. I enjoy writing - so this outlet has proven to be a fun and interesting means of sharing some of my random thoughts. I also enjoy reading the comments of those who have stumbled upon my blog - so I encourage your feedback.

Grab a mug and settle in...I'll do my best to keep posting.

Getting the right perspective...

2008-02-23T21:43:00.003-06:00

Perception is reality. Think about it. Although I could argue that truth is absolute, it seems to me that one's perception of a truth, or a situation, defines that person's reality.

There's a new movie that just opened at local theaters called Vantage Point. Although I have yet to see this movie, I have been fortunate enough to view some of the trailers - and I believe the movie's premise illustrates my point. The characters of the movie all witness the same event, but from different "vantage points." Because of their differing perceptions of what has taken place, each character's reality of the situation is a bit different.

I know this truism also plays a role in my life. As I perceive different situations at home and at work, I'm sure that I react according to the reality I've created. But what if my reality is not shared by others involved, what then? I submit that this is how many misunderstandings and conflicts get started. How then, can one be better equipped to handle such situations?

Getting the proper perspective is essential, both in life and in specific situations. If our perception is indeed our reality, it would follow that we should take great measures to insure that our perspective is accurate. If our 'vantage point' were different, would we react in the same manner...?

Time: Predator or Companion...

2008-02-11T00:01:00.000-06:00

Recently, I've taken some time to catch up on some movies - one of the advantages of Netflix. A dialogue towards the end of one of these movies really resonanted with me and some of my recent posts, so I thought I'd share a few of these thoughts.

One of the characters in this particular film made the statement that "time is a predator that stalks us all of our lives." My initial response after hearing this statement was to agree with the character's evaluation. It seemed to make sense to me. Time, the ultimate antagonist, stalking each one of us, moving ever so quickly, while we try our best to slow its pursuit.

However, in a later scene in the movie, another character offers his view point on the forementioned subject. "Time is a companion that goes with us on the journey. It reminds us to cherish every moment, because they will never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we've lived." What a sharp contrast this is to the first character's seemingly dark outlook.

It's amazing to me how God can speak to our hearts, even through secular entertainment media. Most of you would probably laugh if you knew the source of these two statements, but I am thankful for the perspective they provided.

Are you living as if time is your predator, or your companion?

A stitch in time...

2008-02-05T23:11:00.000-06:00

If you've read my post dated January 21st, you were introduced to something I refer to as Life Reference Points, or LRPs. The basic premise of this thought process is that as we get older, we tend to have fewer reference points in our lives by which we can recall events and/or memories. This blurring of time causes us to feel as though time is passing by faster and faster. The remedy to this phenomenom, as I have stated, is to create Life Reference Points (LRPs) which can help the mind better segment the events of our life, and thus virtually slow down the passage of time (in theory).

In my previous post on this subject, I outlined a suggestion for how one might create LRPs. However, after further thought on the subject, I wanted to elaborate on my suggestion. It seems to me that simply taking more family vacations (or whatever you decide to do) in and of itself is not the answer. I believe there is a missing element to this line of thinking, mainly our senses.

God has given us five senses: hearing, sight, smell, taste, and touch. Integral to each of these senses is the mind. As I have stated before, I am in awe of how a specific song I hear can transport me back to a previous point in time, flooding me with memories of that event. Similarily, I believe a specific aroma or taste has the power to do the same thing. Thus, our senses can work to create virtual time stamps in our minds - which I believe are a required element in creating effective LRPs.

Obviously, this is just a theory I am exploring, but I am under the impression that for a Life Reference Point to be effective, it must be tied to one or more of our senses. Whether this be a visually awesome event, such as viewing the Grand Canyon, or simply hearing a specific song on the radio while driving through Door County, it is these virtual time stamps that will allow your mind to easily recall the event (LRP).

Go ahead....try it. See if you can use your senses to create a "stitch in time."

A small thing...

2008-01-30T22:52:00.000-06:00

On Monday of this past week, I was on a flight to Columbus, Ohio, when I noticed a man in my row reading the Bible. As I travel quite a bit, I always find it encouraging to see others reading Christian literature - especially the Bible. Many times, I will try to strike up a conversation with these individuals. However, as I watched this particular person, it struck me that he seemed very distant and almost unapproachable. His body language and the permanent scoul on his face made me wonder about my own demeanor.

I never did manage to speak with the gentleman, so I do not know context of his situation. Perhaps he was going through a very tough ordeal and looking for encouragement or comfort in his reading. However, the experience made me ponder about how others see me.

Granted, we all have those days when things are not going well - but its tough to be a "light in the darkness" if we can't show a bit of joy in even the mundane. It may seem like a small thing...but I for one believe that a smile can be very powerful. It has the ability to welcome others into conversation, and it can even help lift one's own spirits.

Thus, my thought for the day..."put on a smile, and see what happens."

My theory of time...

2008-01-21T23:25:00.000-06:00

Growing up, I always remember hearing my parents talk about how quickly time went by. But as a kid, time seemed endless to me. Days and weeks would pass by slowly and years felt like an eternity.

As an adult, I've quickly come to realize what my parents were talking about those many years ago. It feels like only yesterday that my wife and I were beginning our life together and starting a family. But the reality is that we have a daughter about to enter her teen years, and our baby is almost 8. Why is it that time seems to accelerate with age?

I'm sure many of you have pondered this same question. And sure, there are probably countless simple answers as to why this occurs. However, I have come up with my own theory to explain this phenomenom, which I will do my best to try to elaborate.

The premise of my theory revolves around something that I've termed as "Life Reference Points" or LRPs for short. Life Reference Points are defined as significant events that take place in ones life. As such, these LRPs become a time stamp or point of reference for your mind, allowing you to recall specific memories and relate them to a specific time. As children, we had the luxury of built-in LRPs in the form of schooling. We could reference almost everything that happened to us by what grade we were in during that particular time. However, as we get older, Life Reference Points are few and far between. Sure, there are weddings, graduations, births, etc., but it seems that the day-in and day-out of everyday living seems to all meld together. I believe its this "blurring" of time that causes us to feel as though time is passing ever so quickly.Thus, it is my conclusion that if we want to slow our perception of time, we must create new Life Reference Points in regular intervals. By doing so, this will effectively provide our minds a chronological perspective of time.

One of the best methods that I've found for creating LRPs as an adult is to plan yearly vacations as a family. Besides the intrinsinc value of spending time together as a family, I've found that these vacations can help segregate the years and create reference points for the other events in my life.

Obviously, this is just one person's theory, but I believe there is some validity to these thoughts. If you feel like time is moving too fast, maybe you need to create some LRPs.

Large is the new small...

2008-01-18T22:25:00.000-06:00

A former co-worker and I met up for lunch today. As most days, I wanted to keep it fast and simple, so we opted for Wendy's (I must admit, I'm addicted to their chili). Usually, when I eat at these places, I go through the drive-thru and only get a sandwich or chili and bring it back to work. However, today we decided to eat in, so I also ordered a salad and drink. When asked what size of drink, I immediately answered medium - as I did not want to over indulge and I thought a small would be....well, not enough fizzy beverage to satisfy my thirst.

To my utter astonishment, the woman behind the counter proceeded to dispense about a half gallon of diet pepsi into a cup about the size of a barrel and put it on my tray. I could barely lift the tray. Equally amazing was the fact that my friend, who ordered a small drink, received what appeared to be a large, in my opinion. At least that's the size I remember it being when I was younger.

I can't help but wonder when America made the decision that a medium soft drink at a fast food restaurant needed to be the size of a super big gulp (remember those from the 7-eleven days). I believe they were called Super Big Gulps for a reason.....nobody could finish them without feeling bloated.

Needless to say, I finished the soft drink, but you can bet I'll be previewing the cup sizes before I order next time. I cringe to think what would have happened had I ordered the large.....I'd probably still be drinking my soft drink while typing this post.

Coffee for dummies...

2008-01-17T21:40:00.000-06:00

I thought I'd take a little sabbatical from my normal reflective type posts to provide a bit of education. It occurs to me that many of you may not be versed in the finer points of coffee, which happens to be a passion of mine. Thus, I thought I would offer up a short course to the novices out there who may be confused over the wide array of drinks available at your local coffee shop.

Coffee 101
Let us start with coffee. Most of us know that coffee comes from beans that are harvested and roasted to varying degrees. It used to be that you only had to choose between regular and decaffeinated. However, today there are also choices dealing with roast - such as dark roast or light roast, and region - such as sumatra or columbian. In many ways, a coffee bean is to coffee as a grape is to wine. Even the descriptions of some coffee flavors (a smokey, robust flavor with hints of cherry) almost sound like something you would find on a wine list. Suffice it to say, if you're a coffee drinker and you've only tried Folgers, you need to expand your horizons. One last little note on coffee. Contrary to what many people believe, if you are looking for a stronger "pick-me-up" in the morning - get the light roast. Light roast coffee contains more caffeine than dark roast coffee. This is due to the fact that the roasting process actually extracts the caffeine out of the bean. Thus, the lighter the roast - the more caffeine (in most cases).

Espresso 101
Espresso is the term given to a "highly concentrated" coffee. It is produced by expressing (or quickly passing) water through a finer grind of coffee bean. Espresso is also the base to many of the other popular coffee drinks available today. When I started serving as a barista in the cafe' at our church, an explanation of the espresso drinks was given to me that I think is very helpful. Basically, all of the specialty drinks start with 1/3 espresso. Its what you add to the espresso that determines the drink. I've outlined a few of the most popular ones below:

Espresso - Nothing added
Latte - 1/3 espresso, 2/3 steamed milk
Cappuccino - 1/3 espresso, 1/3 steamed milk, 1/3 frothed milk
Breve - 1/3 espresso, 2/3 steamed half-and-half
Americano - 1/3 espresso, 2/3 water

There are obviously many variations on these drinks including mochas, macchiatos, flavored lattes, etc., but this is probably enough information for Espresso 101.

I hope this little foray into one of my passions provided a bit of knowledge and fun facts (if not, I'm sorry, but I couldn't think of anything else to write about today). However, if this post has managed to bore you to sleep - may I suggest a large mug of coffee (light roast, of course).

The power of music...

2008-01-16T21:55:00.000-06:00

On my way into work this morning, a familiar song came on the radio and..*poof*...just like that, I was transported back in time to a day this past October. It was a sunny, yet brisk, Autumn day and my wife and I were celebrating our 16 year wedding annivesary in beautiful Door County, Wisconsin. As I listened to the song, all of the fond memories of that October day flooded my mind. Thank goodness God created us to multi-task or I may have needed to pull over....

The experience made me ponder the overwhelming power that God created in the seemingly simple art of music. Think about it with me for a moment, if you will. Music has the ability to do, or be, so many different things. A song can be a prayer offered or a means of praise and worship. Music can also have the ability to motivate one during a work-out (especially if it has driving beat). Certain songs can comfort, encourage and even speak to the soul, while others are simply good for relaxing or meditating. And, as I have eluded to earlier, specific songs have the uncanny ability to draw the mind back in time to a specific place or event. What a treat we have been given by our Creator.

I think this is why I have such a strong draw to all different types of music. I've been told many times that with all the 'noise' in today's world - we need to sometimes separate ourselves and plan for silence. I still believe this is probably a good practice, but more often than not, you will find me with some sort of background music playing. Maybe its because on some sort of subconscious level my mind is trying to create 'virtual time stamps' so that I can experience moments like one I had on my way into work this morning.

Regardless, I'm thankful for the power of music.

Starting off slow...

2008-01-16T00:04:00.000-06:00

Well, I've finally made the leap. The peer pressure was getting unbearable. My friends, my wife, my co-workers...seems like everyone is blogging these days. So, here is my foray into the world of the bloggers. I can't promise anything profound or earth shattering, but I will try to at least be somewhat entertaining in the coming posts.

As my lame description reads, this blog will be dedicated to my ramblings. Currently, I don't have a specific outline or even a plan on what will be written in the coming days or months, suffice it to say, you will get a little glimpse into my world, thoughts and ideas. I've often shared with my wife that I would like to write a book someday...(like that will ever happen)...but as she has so eloquently pointed out, I probably don't have enough material. Thus, many of my future blog entries may prove to be 'mini chapters' of a book that will never be written.

So, for those of you who choose to follow me on this journey (i.e. read my blog), I welcome you.