No one will accomplish their life’s masterpiece without being intentional. Malcolm Gladwell proposes a 10,000 Hour Rule. He believes that 10,000 hours of “deliberate practice” are needed to become world-class in any field. If you Google the “10,000 hour Rule,” you will find both adherents and detractors from this idea. Whether Gladwell is completely correct or not, consider devoting 10,000 hours to following Jesus’ teaching.

Remember, this is what Jesus taught to be the supreme activity for humankind.  Also, remember that Jesus was the most successful and joyful person to ever walk the earth. Continue reading “Be Intentional” →

What is the masterpiece that you are creating with your life? That was the question I asked in last Tuesday’s blog post. As I sought an answer, I turned to Jesus’ teaching.

Jesus was asked, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22.36-40).

With a fair amount of intentionality I focused last week on fully loving God and giving love and only love to other people.

Success and Failure Continue reading “Masterpiece Mondays: Is Your Life a Masterpiece?” →

The Orthodox Church includes Psalm 5 in their daily liturgy. Imagine the value of praying and meditating on the words of the Psalmist on a regular basis.

God personally hears our prayers, sighs, and cries.

God is not an impersonal force, but he is a personal being. As such, he hears all of the ways we bring our thoughts to him. The prayer begins with a bold and confident appeal for God to hear the prayer.

Psalm 5.1-2 – Give ear to my words, O Lord; give heed to my sighing. Listen to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you I pray. Continue reading “A Morning Prayer” →

Every Tuesday night I meet with a few spiritual friends. These people are important providers of security for children’s events at Maywood. Each Sunday and Wednesday night these kind people check in children for the children’s programs at our church. We meet on Tuesdays to visit, pray and talk about random topics that I propose to them.

Meeting Makers Make It

One slogan that is often used in AA meetings is that “meeting makers make it.” Our Tuesday night topic was to get the opinions of my friends about the value of AA, NA or church small group meetings. Continue reading “Spiritual Friends: Meeting Makers Make It” →

Tuesday, June 20, 2017 – Masterpiece Mondays

What is the masterpiece that is your life?

In Jon Gordon’s book, “The Carpenter,” the question is asked, “What is the masterpiece of your life?” Gordon invites the readers of his excellent book to consider what kind of masterpiece should be their life’s purpose. One of my spiritual friends and I are both asking this question of ourselves. We are prayerfully considering what the masterpiece, the remainder of our life, should be. Continue reading “Your Life’s Masterpiece” →