Sunday, July 27, 2008

Big Dream

For a while...okay...for a few years I've wanted to design and produce t-shirts. I have a journal of ideas that I've kept for a while.

A couple of weeks ago, I felt released to start this business so I finally registered a website name and landed on a brand name for my shirts & gear.

I am now working on the business plan, designing some shirts, and researching the best ways to produce these shirts.

So stay tuned to learn more about...

Lighten Up Gear
www.lightenupgear.com

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

The Shack

Have you heard of William P. Young yet? My wife and I like to refer to him as Willie P after watching a video interview of him on the 722.org website.

William Young is the author of The Shack which is currently featured on the NY Times best selling lists. There’s also this great article about Willy P and The Shack on the NY Times website.

I first heard about this book from my friend April, who has to be one of the most well-read persons I know. So when she tells me it's one of her favorite books, I DON'T take it like a grain of salt. Instead, I rush out and snatch up the book. In this case, I ordered a copy from my local library which ironically had two people on the waiting list when I returned it.

This book messed with me in a good way but it also opened up my eyes to some of my faults. The two major themes I took away from this book are: 1) I don’t trust God as much as I think I do and 2) I haven’t figured out what total surrender looks like for me yet. I am slowly trying but it’s not something that happens overnight. Case in point: I am struggling why our house hasn’t sold when we think it’s God’s plan that we’re supposed to live near our church in Ankeny. It’s hard to let go of control and trust God with this decision…and to be at peace with it completely.

So I keep trying to give it over to Him but the control freak in me has issues with that. I think that's why I always drive instead of my wife. ;)

Anyway, if you haven't read The Shack yet, please do yourself a favor and check it out. And definitely check out the video on the 722 site.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Self-Medication

Facebook. The guitar. MySpace. Email. Video games. Television. CNN. ESPN. Music. . .

They are all obstacles that prevent me from feeling fulfilled. Yet I still chase after THOSE. They serve as self-medication to what I think is the prescription to helping me not feel stirred up. But if I would just pause for a second, I would realize that none of those things are calling. No. It's really God's Word that is calling.