Yesterday, I was driving home from work and received a phone call from an old colleague and a great friend. We caught up on work and life. She ended with the conversation with "I love you" Three, little words I haven't heard in a long time. I'll dismiss the fact that she might have been drinking a little, but it's amazing the profound effect these words have on someone's life. For those of you who haven't told the special people in your lives how you feel, please do. You never know if it will be your last chance. I guarantee, in some capacity, it will brighten that person's day.
-J
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Random acts of kindness...
Cole Phillips, lead pastor at The Connection Church in Kyle, TX sent me this email last week.
Yesterday, I drove through the Whataburger in San Marcos for lunch. I was watching in my rear-view mirror and a black Volvo pulled up behind me. I told the girl at the window I wanted to pay for the meal in the car behind me and asked her to hand him a card. As I got my food and drove off, there was a definite rush of excitment. I felt like I had gotten away with something. What was the guy thinking? I may never know. But what a fun and simple way to brighten someone's day and connect it back to God's love.
I hope you get to experience the same joy that I did. So go ahead, eat some fast food, maybe a McSalad, and make someone's day. Let me know how it goes.
Making the Connection,
Cole Phillips, Lead Pastor
Today on the way home from work, I passed a stalled car on Southbound I35. I've felt ill all day and really wanted to go home to a shower and some rest. Suddenly, I decided to exit, loop around and find the motorist to see if I could help. As I took this lengthy detour (and I say that because there are almost no exits and ramps between Onion Creek and Buda), I started to think, why do I not normally do this? I remembered all of the excuses why not to stop: I'm tired. I have an appointment. I'm running late. Everybody has a phone these days anyways, right? Then, I thought of all the reasons why I should stop. Remember the story of the good samaritan? Wouldn't God want me to stop? At the risk of bragging: Has God not blessed me with above-average vehicular intelligence? This is a gift that I can use to help other people!
I finally made my way to the vehicle and pulled over. I got out of my truck and started heading towards the stranded car. I think my first thought was, "making sure not to get maced as a scary-looking guy with a shaved head and piercings makes his way to a stranded motorist." However, this little joke of mine quickly subsided and I continued down the shoulder as 18-wheelers went whizzing past me. The driver got out of the car and looked at me like a deer in headlights. She was absolutely puzzled that anyone had stopped. It was probably at that moment that I felt the best about what I did. Fortunately, the car had simply overheated and her friend was on the way with a gallon of coolant. A simple solution, already solved. She shook my hand and extended the most genuine smile that I've seen all week.
As I headed back to my truck, a sense of joy came rushing over me. I've been sick all day and instantly felt 10-times better. But there was something more. I, like Cole, experienced that "rush of excitement" and felt "like I had gotten away with something." Then I realized, it's not what I got away with - it's what I took away through "a fun and simple way to brighten someone's day and connect it back to God's love."
I've recently felt my heart cry out to be used by God instead of just blessed by God. Today I got a small taste of what that means, through a random act of kindness. Pass it on...
God bless,
-James
Yesterday, I drove through the Whataburger in San Marcos for lunch. I was watching in my rear-view mirror and a black Volvo pulled up behind me. I told the girl at the window I wanted to pay for the meal in the car behind me and asked her to hand him a card. As I got my food and drove off, there was a definite rush of excitment. I felt like I had gotten away with something. What was the guy thinking? I may never know. But what a fun and simple way to brighten someone's day and connect it back to God's love.
I hope you get to experience the same joy that I did. So go ahead, eat some fast food, maybe a McSalad, and make someone's day. Let me know how it goes.
Making the Connection,
Cole Phillips, Lead Pastor
Today on the way home from work, I passed a stalled car on Southbound I35. I've felt ill all day and really wanted to go home to a shower and some rest. Suddenly, I decided to exit, loop around and find the motorist to see if I could help. As I took this lengthy detour (and I say that because there are almost no exits and ramps between Onion Creek and Buda), I started to think, why do I not normally do this? I remembered all of the excuses why not to stop: I'm tired. I have an appointment. I'm running late. Everybody has a phone these days anyways, right? Then, I thought of all the reasons why I should stop. Remember the story of the good samaritan? Wouldn't God want me to stop? At the risk of bragging: Has God not blessed me with above-average vehicular intelligence? This is a gift that I can use to help other people!
I finally made my way to the vehicle and pulled over. I got out of my truck and started heading towards the stranded car. I think my first thought was, "making sure not to get maced as a scary-looking guy with a shaved head and piercings makes his way to a stranded motorist." However, this little joke of mine quickly subsided and I continued down the shoulder as 18-wheelers went whizzing past me. The driver got out of the car and looked at me like a deer in headlights. She was absolutely puzzled that anyone had stopped. It was probably at that moment that I felt the best about what I did. Fortunately, the car had simply overheated and her friend was on the way with a gallon of coolant. A simple solution, already solved. She shook my hand and extended the most genuine smile that I've seen all week.
As I headed back to my truck, a sense of joy came rushing over me. I've been sick all day and instantly felt 10-times better. But there was something more. I, like Cole, experienced that "rush of excitement" and felt "like I had gotten away with something." Then I realized, it's not what I got away with - it's what I took away through "a fun and simple way to brighten someone's day and connect it back to God's love."
I've recently felt my heart cry out to be used by God instead of just blessed by God. Today I got a small taste of what that means, through a random act of kindness. Pass it on...
God bless,
-James
Friday, November 17, 2006
The worst week ever?
Already feeling blue...
Truck speedometer fails.
Insomnia.
Monday = bad.
Traffic.
Insomnia.
White spray-paint + dress clothes and shoes = STUPID.
Hands are semi-permanently white.
Got some bad news... A friend has a death in the family.
Cooler weather. Gloomy days ahead. Bed is cold, empty and lonely.
Insomnia.
Work is AWFUL. I want to quit.
Too much coffee. Way too much.
Insomnia.
I find out I have to wait a couple of years before I am eligible for the only job I've ever REALLY wanted. I am still paying for past mistakes.
Belittled by a complete stranger.
Pick up brake-parts for my truck that I've had to order numerous times in the last 2 weeks. Who keeps giving my parts away?
Break the idler pulley on my way home from O'reilly's.
Irony?
Truck is now completely useless. Finally make it home.
Make three trips to the store before I get the right parts.
Find out I don't get my son as I was supposed to.
Install idler pulley = slice hand open.
Continue to pray in hopes of understanding a relationship with a friend.
Insomnia.
Brake job = no fun and back pain.
Once semi-permanent white hands are now semi-permenantly black.
Ruin favorite pair of jeans.
Doctor says my condition is not under control as they had anticipated. Why? Because I don't use nicotine anymore. Who knew?
More prescriptions - one for nicotine patches.
A friend continues to blow me off.
Truck towed (no signs, of course).
Impound = $165.95
Ulcerative Colitis. Didn't I just get back from the doctor?
Irony?
Insomnia.
Ordinarily, my plan would be to take a day off and cry all day, or at least destroy something. I guess sometimes we start to see all the small blessings that underline all of our trials. Remember the friends that do stick with you and help you push through.
Truck speedometer fails.
Insomnia.
Monday = bad.
Traffic.
Insomnia.
White spray-paint + dress clothes and shoes = STUPID.
Hands are semi-permanently white.
Got some bad news... A friend has a death in the family.
Cooler weather. Gloomy days ahead. Bed is cold, empty and lonely.
Insomnia.
Work is AWFUL. I want to quit.
Too much coffee. Way too much.
Insomnia.
I find out I have to wait a couple of years before I am eligible for the only job I've ever REALLY wanted. I am still paying for past mistakes.
Belittled by a complete stranger.
Pick up brake-parts for my truck that I've had to order numerous times in the last 2 weeks. Who keeps giving my parts away?
Break the idler pulley on my way home from O'reilly's.
Irony?
Truck is now completely useless. Finally make it home.
Make three trips to the store before I get the right parts.
Find out I don't get my son as I was supposed to.
Install idler pulley = slice hand open.
Continue to pray in hopes of understanding a relationship with a friend.
Insomnia.
Brake job = no fun and back pain.
Once semi-permanent white hands are now semi-permenantly black.
Ruin favorite pair of jeans.
Doctor says my condition is not under control as they had anticipated. Why? Because I don't use nicotine anymore. Who knew?
More prescriptions - one for nicotine patches.
A friend continues to blow me off.
Truck towed (no signs, of course).
Impound = $165.95
Ulcerative Colitis. Didn't I just get back from the doctor?
Irony?
Insomnia.
Ordinarily, my plan would be to take a day off and cry all day, or at least destroy something. I guess sometimes we start to see all the small blessings that underline all of our trials. Remember the friends that do stick with you and help you push through.
Friday, November 10, 2006
One of the most beautiful poems ever written...
Have you ever heard of "love so deep that it hurts?"
Vide Cor Meum from Dante's La Vita Nuova
Chorus: E pensando di lei
Mi sopragiunse uno soave sonno
Ego dominus tuus
Vide cor tuum
E d'esto core ardendoCor tuum
(Chorus: Lei paventosa)
Umilmente pascea.Appreso gir lo ne vedea piangendo.
La letizia si convertia
In amarissimo pianto
Io sono in pace
Cor meum
Io sono in pace
Vide cor meum
Vide Cor Meum from Dante's La Vita Nuova
Chorus: E pensando di lei
Mi sopragiunse uno soave sonno
Ego dominus tuus
Vide cor tuum
E d'esto core ardendoCor tuum
(Chorus: Lei paventosa)
Umilmente pascea.Appreso gir lo ne vedea piangendo.
La letizia si convertia
In amarissimo pianto
Io sono in pace
Cor meum
Io sono in pace
Vide cor meum
Sunday, November 5, 2006
Enough is enough!
Alright. I don't know about you guys (users of myspace), but if I see another TRUE ad, I think I'm going to vomit on my keyboard. This will obviously require me to clean my desk and dispose of a piece of computer equipment. Disposing of this equipment will no doubt contribute to the pollution on this earth. Tomorrow, I will have to go to Best Buy (or some other mega-electronics retailer) and purchase a new keyboard. Why? - because keyboards do not work when there is vomit under the keys. This will also account for about a $20+ expense that was not budgeted in this week's paycheck. Consequently, I will be short on my bills this week and possibly be faced with the possibility of interrupted utility services (including my ISP) which enables me to use myspace in the first place. At this point, I will be delinquent on said accounts and possibly reported to a collections agency which will in turn, effect my credit rating. With the weight of importance that these bureaus have on your life in general, I may be denied for further lines of credit in the future. These lines of credit may be necessary for medical expenses in which case my health is now in jeopardy because I am not able to afford the treatment. This can also have a negative bearing on any current or future employment opportunities that I may have, thus endangering the welfare of myself and my family. Now that my family has been denied treatment for common ailments due to inhospitable living conditions and exposure, we shall expire and cease to live our lives on this earth. No matter what religion or set of beliefs to which you are committed, you cannot deny that our actions in some way influence the lives of others and the outcome of various scenarios on this planet. With our absence, the course of history and direction of the universe has undeniably been changed. I just wanted to illustrate the very first stages within a global chain of events that would unfold due to the stupid, spandex-clad, over-inflated anatomy advertising that takes place on this website. Thank-you and have a great day.
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