Fast Times...Oct. 13, 2008

It has been brought to my attention that I have been spending so much time doing so many things that I have allowed any real time with God to slip away. It's time to get back on the "fast" track!

No, this will not be a food fast but a "things that take Greg's attention from God" fast; i.e.: TV, books that are just for fun reading, etc. I do this from time to time and it is no easier than a food fast. It's too easy for me to get caught up in the things I like doing and now it's time for me to make some sacrifices.

This week is going to be  a busy one outside of work. Donating plasma tonight at 1930;  tomorrow we start our SEEDS training, a new evangelism method we're employing at church starting at 0630; Wednesday is Men's Fraternity, 0600; Elder's Meeting at 1700; 1930 is another plasma donation; and last but not least, Friday at 0600 I meet with my friend and accountability partner, Jim. Oh yeah, on Saturday at 0930 I get to meet with H&R Block because this year we used them for our taxes and for the first year the State of Iowa has sent us a letter saying we owe more than what H&R Block said we did.

This looks even worse on "paper"! WOW! Oh well, that's a part of life.

Well, I'd better go! It looks like it could be a long week!

Bye for now!

Homecoming Weekend -- Oct. 10, 2008

The crisp nip of Fall is in the air. Not quite chill enough to put on heavy clothing yet but enough so to remind you that colder weather is not far off.

Leaves are crisping on the branches and float to the ground to be crunched by passing walkers. The fall weather seems to bring the walkers to life. The smell of Fall, the fading light of the year gone by, seems to revive one's heart. Strange, since Fall is the twilight of the year; the fading of the old and the promise of the new.

Sports fans of all type turn their hearts to football this time of year and not more so than during Homecoming! And Homecoming is what we have in Marion this week. The activities for the students have been many and varied From Super hero day to Red and Gold day. (Suspiciously like ISU Cyclone colors but the kids deny this fact.) The air is full of peppy energy! Go INDIANS!

They have a tough assignment tonight as they face the the Knights of Union. This team is supposed to be very good but Marion is tough and prepared! They are scrappy and it's HOMECOMING!

Though Kim and I will not be attending the game tonight we are sending a great delegation consisting of: Alyssa, Logan, and Kyle! They will add their energy to the crowd which will be huge as it always is during Homecoming. I wouldn't mind going but tonight is Friday and I have $36.00 of Barnes and Noble gift cards that may find the end of their life tonight. Gone but not forgotten.

Whatever your Friday hold for you, Homecoming or travel, or just an evening of relaxation, enjoy the time God has given you! Relax and forget the past week; look to tomorrow where once again, God's grace is renewed!

Get out and crunch through some leaves this weekend!

Bye!

I have a Twitter... Oct. 9, 2008

No, this is not something inappropriate for younger viewers nor is it a disease...To tell you the truth, I'm not really sure how to classify it. It is just kind of fun.

I guess I would call it a mini blog. Each entry can only be 140 characters long and it's meant to be used to answer the following question, "What're you doing today?" I really like to consider it a mini-blog or an minute by minute, "What's up?".

Here's the link if you want more info:

http://twitter.com/

Check it out for yourself and let me know what you think. It is being used in a lot of different ways including on-line marketing. No, you can't put a whole marketing scheme in Twitter but you can inform your clients of new material in 140 characters or less. Or point them to your updated web site etc.

The jury is still out as to its practicality but it is kind of fun and it would be even better if a bunch of you would jump on my "Follower" list. (If you join, I'll become one of YOUR followers as long as you let me know you joined!)

Stress Alert!! -- Oct. 8, 2008

There are times in my life when all of the stresses begin to accumulate to a point where nothing seems to help. It's at this point where I know God is the only answer and to take some time to just sit back and do nothing except maybe read. I must say that in some strange manner writing helps. Though this is certainly not one of those moments of revelation, I have known this for a LONG time, it's just that it's hard to motivate myself to write when I find myself in this place.  It's a cruddy place but it does bring me to me my knees which is a good place to be, proving that the tough times are the times God cherishes most because they are the times that draw us to Him.

I don't know what this means for this weekend. I get off of call and that is always a good thing. It's homecoming for Marion so there are a number of activities planned including, odd as it may sound, a football game. The Indians play the team from Union, a very tough opponent I am told. We'll see what our guys are made of this week.

I will say that if it's nice, a walk is another welcome distraction. 

All in all God knows me, wants me to know to know Him better and He can use things like this to draw me closer. Keep this in mind because He wants YOU to get to know Him better too! :-)

Go with God on your way the rest of this week.

The Poems – Oct. 4, 2008

Here are two poems I wrote the other night. These are not to make you laugh so, if after reading them you feel like busting out, please remember that I am not a poet and not really trying to be one I'm just "tinkering". These things just come to me once in a great while and it feels good, somehow, to write them down. I posted one a LONG time ago on this very blog so this is not the first time.  Hold on, here we go!

A pearl of wonder

A pearl of great price

Locked deep inside

Sealed, out of sight

 

A lamp aglow

Beneath the basket

No light does show

Seeming dead, a casket

 

Unlock the depths

Unleash the light

Into the darkness

Glorious sight

 

 

Number two:

 

First bite so sweet

Now eyes opened wide

Shameful faces flushed

Longer to abide

 

Naked they fled

Running to hide

Seeking them out

Surely to chide

 

In pain and sweat

Now to live

Love sought them

Still willing to give

 

The price to be paid

He knew in his heart

In darkness wad laid

But soon to depart

 

 

Poetry Unleashed -- Oct. 3, 2008

I do not yet have them ready but once again I have tried my hand at a little poetry. I have NO IDEA really, how to write a poem properly so I will spruce them up and place them out here sometime this weekend. I like them but my taste is usually way different than other peoples' taste. :-)

See you soon!

Leadership Unveiled -- Oct. 2, 2008

Today started out early because I had an upgrade to do on our retail pharmacy system. Due to their odd schedule I had to do this at 0500 this morning. Once I got out of bed it was not too hard, but...0500?? YAWN!

That really doesn't have anything to do with leadership but it was just a "fun fact" about my day.

I have become a student of leadership. I think I enjoy it so much because I really enjoy people. I look at leadership as a way to help people grow. My boss has come along side me in my desires to get into management and has taken a direct hand in mentoring me.

He has put me into all sorts of situations and given me all sorts of extra tasks to accomplish. I have found it an exhilarating experience that has brought new life to my once hoo-hum job. It is so cool to once again be excited about the new day! Even Mondays have been better.

I have been ready books, listening to tapes, going to seminars, and, the most important part in my opinion, observing people. I like to see how people react in certain situations and then I take what I see and see if I can apply it to my life. I want to apply what they do that is good and verify and change in my own life, anything that I see in others that I don't like. It is so cool! I am really excited to see what god can do with this!

Keep leaning on the Lord and keep learning! The day you stop learning is the day your life ends. Keep up the curiosity!

Bye for now!