Note: The following is excerpted from the March/April 2008 RELEVANT Magazine. It is by Cameron Strang, founder of the Relevant Media Group. I highly recommend this magazine. I am going to make a valiant effort to not merely live by these, but inspire others as well.
Nugget 1: If your dream is to start something like a company, non-profit, etc., take time and do your research. I get emails all the time from college students looking for shortcuts. There aren't any. RELEVANT's first issue rolled off the press when I was 27. Do that math-that's eight years after I actively started pursuing it. In hindsight, every one of those years played a pivotal role in what RELEVANT ultimately became. Bottom line, don't be impatient.
Nugget 2: Surround yourself with people who will challenge you. If you're surrounded by small thinkers, pessimists and people who just float through life, guess what, you will too. Likewise, if you surround yourself with people who live outwardly, are passionate about God, dream big and want to make a difference, guess what, you will too. Are the people you surround yourself with going the direction in life you want to go? If not, as hard as it may be, you might need to make some changes.
Nugget 3: If God puts a dream in you, by all means go for it--but on the journey, don't lose sight of Him. It's easy to get so busy doing things for God that we sometimes lose our relationship with Him. If that happens, drop everything and get your life focused back on the only thing that matters.
Nugget 4: Seek wise counsel, but don't just do what people think you should. Listen to advice with one ear, and then evaluate it against what God called you to do. You'll quickly learn that everyone has an opinion, but it's only you who has your unique vision. At the same time, be teachable. You don't know everything.
Nugget 5: Whenever possible, write in nugget form.
Nugget 6: Always keep tomorrow in mind, but never lose sight of the season God has you in today. If things aren't going as planned, could God be trying to get your attention about something? (That's usually the case with me.) Never be so focused on tomorrow that you don't fully appreciate and take advantage of the season you're in.
Nugget 8 [sic]: You're either moving toward something or away from it. If you have a dream you'd like to see happen one day, what are you tangibly doing today to pursue it? It won't happen on it's own.
Nugget 9 Be OK with failing. When you remove that fear, it gets a lot easier to take risks on God. If you're not worried about the landing, would you be more willing to make the jump?
Nugget 10 Marry up. It helps.
So you see, these are some great things to keep in mind as you and I dream. Never forget to keep your eyes on God and your head out of the clouds.
To all my fellow dreamers. Never give up.
26 February 2008
14 February 2008
Feminism, Godly Leadership, and Valentine's Day...would you like tea with that?
It's Valentine's Day. Time to celebrate love, right? Time for us men to come out of our proverbial doghouses and make up for our misdeeds. In a way, it's our day of jubilee, in reference to Israel, where every 50 years, slaves were freed, debts were forgiven, and people were given a clean slate.
Well, at least that's the way it works in 21st-century America.
We live in a society that glorifies women to the point of ridiculousness. Yes, that's a word. Where men are made out to be bumbling fools, instead of the godly leaders we were created to be. This is tragic and untrue.
From the beginning, God has designed men to be in charge of things. In a combination of societal femininity on the rise and normal men screwing up, we have become a culture that often makes men out to be weak and feeble while the females now brandish Beretta's and kick alien ass. Think: Resident Evil. Perhaps a history lesson is in order to explain the beginnings of how God intended it to be.
Last night at the Boundaries in Dating class at Oasis, Pastor Jeff reminded us of the story of Adam. This guy had to prove he could be trusted alone, with the affairs of operating a world by himself before he could be trusted with a wife. Note that his lonely state was only remedied after he had proven himself worthy to lead the animals and take care of the wonderful garden of Eden God created.
Some days I wish we were back there.
In a way we are. Once we become independent of our parents in life, we men must prove that we can be trusted with a few things (bills, rent, groceries, car payments) before we (should) look for a wife. Of course, to say that we have attained these things would be a gross miscalculation of our plentiful shortcomings. I'll call them that because mistakes occur after we have the same shortcoming again, the point being we are supposed to learn from our mistakes. Proverbs is ripe with wisdom on such matters.
No, it is not about perfection, but about the tenacious pursuit of righteousness (Philippians 3:12). Forget the past, look to what is ahead.
So ladies, when you see what we are doing right, let us know, throw us a proverbial bone once in awhile.
Too often in society we mention the flaws around us rather than noticing the good. The news media is chock full of bad news because, truthfully, bad news sells. That is the unfortunate hand we have been dealt.
I cannot speak for all men, but as for me, when I get a compliment, I shall try to reciprocate. I will notice when you ladies exemplify godly characteristics. After all, in all things we are to be grateful. No matter if you have a girl, a guy, or neither, remember that we all can acknowledge each other when we see the good. Happy Valentine's Day.
Well, at least that's the way it works in 21st-century America.
We live in a society that glorifies women to the point of ridiculousness. Yes, that's a word. Where men are made out to be bumbling fools, instead of the godly leaders we were created to be. This is tragic and untrue.
From the beginning, God has designed men to be in charge of things. In a combination of societal femininity on the rise and normal men screwing up, we have become a culture that often makes men out to be weak and feeble while the females now brandish Beretta's and kick alien ass. Think: Resident Evil. Perhaps a history lesson is in order to explain the beginnings of how God intended it to be.
Last night at the Boundaries in Dating class at Oasis, Pastor Jeff reminded us of the story of Adam. This guy had to prove he could be trusted alone, with the affairs of operating a world by himself before he could be trusted with a wife. Note that his lonely state was only remedied after he had proven himself worthy to lead the animals and take care of the wonderful garden of Eden God created.
Some days I wish we were back there.
In a way we are. Once we become independent of our parents in life, we men must prove that we can be trusted with a few things (bills, rent, groceries, car payments) before we (should) look for a wife. Of course, to say that we have attained these things would be a gross miscalculation of our plentiful shortcomings. I'll call them that because mistakes occur after we have the same shortcoming again, the point being we are supposed to learn from our mistakes. Proverbs is ripe with wisdom on such matters.
No, it is not about perfection, but about the tenacious pursuit of righteousness (Philippians 3:12). Forget the past, look to what is ahead.
So ladies, when you see what we are doing right, let us know, throw us a proverbial bone once in awhile.
Too often in society we mention the flaws around us rather than noticing the good. The news media is chock full of bad news because, truthfully, bad news sells. That is the unfortunate hand we have been dealt.
I cannot speak for all men, but as for me, when I get a compliment, I shall try to reciprocate. I will notice when you ladies exemplify godly characteristics. After all, in all things we are to be grateful. No matter if you have a girl, a guy, or neither, remember that we all can acknowledge each other when we see the good. Happy Valentine's Day.
10 February 2008
An Industry of Death
Today, Nicole and I visited the world-famous museum of psychiatry in Hollywood. Some of this information I already knew, whether due to my questioning nature or by by personal experience with various medications over the years. However, I had no idea of the complexity and deception that is the psychiatry world. It is a pseudoscience based on nothing but theories. Interviews from the world APA convention held in Toronto in 2003 showed that even psychiatrists themselves, while medicating patient after patient, reveal that their own occupation has no cures documented whatsoever and admit that there is no actual laboratory proof of any of their methods.
The museum is located on Sunset Boulevard in the heart of Hollywood and is international headquarters of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, an organization that was started by the church of Scientology, a rather dangerous cult if I dare say. Nonetheless, it is promoted by influential members of Hollywood's elite, most notably John Travolta and Tom Cruise, and miscellaneous other lesser-known characters behind the scenes. But I digress...
The exhibit itself was shocking and further solidified my convictions in being substance-free.
Let me back up a bit.
I was diagnosed with ADD or ADHD when I was in high school. I had the typical symptoms: inattention, lack of organization, restlessness. So we took the appropriate action, prescribing medication after medication including Paxil, Wellbutrin, Lexapro, and ultimately, Adderall. Yes, Paxil, that same drug that was linked to depression and ultimately suicide in several people, and Adderall, virtually a legalized version of speed. Luckily, I survived my time on these medications, but others aren't so lucky, as the exhibit graphically portrays. From patient abuse in nursing homes and psych wards and accidental overdoses to psychiatry's link to schools of thought that eventually led to Nazi Germany. And don't think America is exempt in this. Oh no, au contraire my friends.
After several years switching from med to med, I began to grow weary of the side effects, particularly from Adderall. These included dry mouth, loss of appetite, bowel problems, trouble sleeping, a rapid heart rate at times, and the one that I cared about most, a stifling of my creativity, the very core of my personality. I lost weight because I had no appetite and the drug made my heart beat faster, burning more calories.
After some research, I made the decision to go cold turkey off the drug, against my doctors orders. The withdrawel was fairly severe. I was moody, it was extremely tough to wait it out, but it was worth it, because I got myself back. Like some had said all along, I didn't really need the drug. Sure, I had problems getting organized, who doesn't? Sure, I didn't manage time well, but there are classes for that. Yes, I had trouble concentrating, but with a willing heart to work at it, just a little more tenaciously than most, I overcame such obstacles.
I now carry a planner, just a faux leather, but it helps me organize my life...but only when I use it. Once I realized there is no shame in writing things down (this is a daily struggle, since I stubbornly continue to try and remember everything), my life becomes more organized and less chaotic.
Certainly at the forefront of this transformation is the One who created my brain so complex and unique, so vivacious, so utterly unfathomable-my Savior. Like the psalmist so truly spoke, God designed me that way, wired me to be all that I am! He knew my inner parts, and He created me to be who I am. May I be that man without fear that I am somehow inadequate because of my creative quirks. Thanks, Jesus, for my sound mind and a brain that functions well, for I never want to take for granted the mind that I have been given; there are many in the world who would gladly take what some may consider rubbish. Let us never forget that.
The museum is located on Sunset Boulevard in the heart of Hollywood and is international headquarters of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, an organization that was started by the church of Scientology, a rather dangerous cult if I dare say. Nonetheless, it is promoted by influential members of Hollywood's elite, most notably John Travolta and Tom Cruise, and miscellaneous other lesser-known characters behind the scenes. But I digress...
The exhibit itself was shocking and further solidified my convictions in being substance-free.
Let me back up a bit.
I was diagnosed with ADD or ADHD when I was in high school. I had the typical symptoms: inattention, lack of organization, restlessness. So we took the appropriate action, prescribing medication after medication including Paxil, Wellbutrin, Lexapro, and ultimately, Adderall. Yes, Paxil, that same drug that was linked to depression and ultimately suicide in several people, and Adderall, virtually a legalized version of speed. Luckily, I survived my time on these medications, but others aren't so lucky, as the exhibit graphically portrays. From patient abuse in nursing homes and psych wards and accidental overdoses to psychiatry's link to schools of thought that eventually led to Nazi Germany. And don't think America is exempt in this. Oh no, au contraire my friends.
After several years switching from med to med, I began to grow weary of the side effects, particularly from Adderall. These included dry mouth, loss of appetite, bowel problems, trouble sleeping, a rapid heart rate at times, and the one that I cared about most, a stifling of my creativity, the very core of my personality. I lost weight because I had no appetite and the drug made my heart beat faster, burning more calories.
After some research, I made the decision to go cold turkey off the drug, against my doctors orders. The withdrawel was fairly severe. I was moody, it was extremely tough to wait it out, but it was worth it, because I got myself back. Like some had said all along, I didn't really need the drug. Sure, I had problems getting organized, who doesn't? Sure, I didn't manage time well, but there are classes for that. Yes, I had trouble concentrating, but with a willing heart to work at it, just a little more tenaciously than most, I overcame such obstacles.
I now carry a planner, just a faux leather, but it helps me organize my life...but only when I use it. Once I realized there is no shame in writing things down (this is a daily struggle, since I stubbornly continue to try and remember everything), my life becomes more organized and less chaotic.
Certainly at the forefront of this transformation is the One who created my brain so complex and unique, so vivacious, so utterly unfathomable-my Savior. Like the psalmist so truly spoke, God designed me that way, wired me to be all that I am! He knew my inner parts, and He created me to be who I am. May I be that man without fear that I am somehow inadequate because of my creative quirks. Thanks, Jesus, for my sound mind and a brain that functions well, for I never want to take for granted the mind that I have been given; there are many in the world who would gladly take what some may consider rubbish. Let us never forget that.
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