Unplugged

It has been a while since I was blogging regularly.  I was teaching a summer course that required more of my time than the regular semester.  Then I was on vacation.  Hopefully, I will now return to regularly blogging.

For a good portion of my vacation I was offline.  We spent some time at my mother’s lakefront cabin, and she does not have the internet. The nearest available source was about five miles away and I was not up there to sit in a McDonald’s.

I found that I got along just fine without facebook, email, or checking craigslist.

After leaving the cabin, we spent some time visiting with my in-laws.  We spent some time playing golf, and bowling on Wii (sp?)  As we were playing, I couldn’t help thinking that I would rather do those thing in the real world rather than electronically.  Although, the fact that you don’t have to pay for each time that you play, does appeal to me.

Finally, I heard a message about stewardship.  Stewardship of all of the aspects of our lives, not just our money.  It got me to thinking about how much time is spent on-line and whether that is truly a good use of my time.

Perhaps, I should unplug more often.

All or Nothing

About a month ago I decided that I was going to blog only on those days that I had something to write, already on my mind.  On the other days,  I would use that time to begin writing a book that I have long thought about writing.

That hasn’t worked so well.

There have been many days that I have passed on very noteworthy events.  There has been plenty to write about in the last few weeks.  Yet, I haven’t written anything.  I began writing the outline for the book and maybe got a paragraph or two, but writing that material in the morning just wasn’t working.  Then I quickly got out of the habit of writing anything at all.

I seem to be a creature of habit.  It is all or nothing.

I do think that blogging is a good idea so I am going to return to writing a post Monday through Thursday.  I am not sure just what it accomplishes, but I believe that it is an opportunity for self-expression that I need to take advantage of, for my own sense of well-being.

If God uses it to speak to someone else, so much the better.

Time to Begin

I have now been blogging for two years.  This will be my 375th post, there have been over 1000 comments.  For the most part, I have written something every morning Monday-Thursday.  It has simply become a part of my morning routine.

That is about to change. 

I will still blog on those morning when I wake up with something on my mind that I want to share with those in cyber-space.  On those morning when I do not have something to write about, instead of sitting at the computer until some idea strikes me, I am going to use that time to begin writing a book expounding on my philosophical views.  I have been thinking about doing this for over ten years and I am not getting any younger. 

It should be done in about ten more years.

If  you want to be notified of when I do post a new article you can subscribe by email and you will be contacted by the site.  

It’s not goodbye, it’s see you less often.

Want To

On my preceeding post, I presented that there are many, many things that require my attention on a daily basis.  There is not time enough for everything, so I am trying a different way of ordering my life. 

However, life is not just about what I need to do, and what I should do,  there should also be some room for what I WANT to do.  

Balance.

Choices.

I have found that I miss blogging.  I enjoy the opportunity to write out  my thoughts.   So I suppose that it is appropriate to make some choices about what I want to do with my time.

Need to or Should do?

I am a very good money manager.  I understand budgeting, planning and the difference between needs and wants. 

I am not as good at managing my time. 

For almost two years I have posted a new article Monday through Thursday pretty consistently.  That may now change.

I am going to try to apply the same reasoning to my time management that I do to my money management.  Need versus Want: that expresses my understanding of money issues.  It is translated into: Need To, Should Do and Want To when it comes to time matters.

I am going to do what I need to do first each day.

Then I will do as many of the things that I should do that I can find the time or energy to accomplish.

I will fit in the things I want to do when possible.

Writing new articles is something that I should do, as I feel that it is an extension of my ministry, but it is not something that I have to do, so there will be some days that it does not happen. 

We’ll see how it goes.

Indian Summer

Here in Iowa we are enjoying a wonderful stretch of Indian Summer.  (I wonder where that term came from, and how Native Americans feel about it?)  Indian Summer is when the temperatures warm up in the fall, after frost has arrived.  It is a wonderful time of year when we get to enjoy a few last days of warmth before winter settles in.  People do all kinds of outdoor activities.  They do yard work, go for walks, barbecue, go to the park,  it is like summer’s  last hurrah.  It is not too hot, nor too cold, the bugs have all but disappeared.  (Except, of course, the Asian Beetle!!)  The only drawback is that it gets dark so early.

Enjoy it while it lasts.  

You-know-what  is coming!!!

I think I’ll barbecue some chicken tonight:)

Just Back

We just got back from a week of vacation visiting our family in Minnesota.  It was a wonderful time together.  During the week we helped our son get settled in at his new home in central Minnesota.  It is an exciting time of life for him, as he starts fresh in a new community; new job, new church, meeting new people, and making new friends.

He does not have internet, and so I did not post anything while we were gone.  I started to write this morning a blog on the community of believers, but it was much too complicated for my brain to deal with on the first day back.   There is a lot to do, and only limited time so that post will have to wait for another day. 

Choices, you know are very important.  So today, I will keep it simple.  After all, I am just getting back.

Keep Talking

I have noticed that silence isn’t always golden. 

It is important to maintain communication going in relationships.  This is not something that comes naturally to me.  I have to put forth effort to engage in conversations.  As a general rule I am willing to let others talk, and I will listen, but communication is a two way street.  I am expected to contribute my share to the conversation. 

This point is illustrated to me by the way that I interact with other commenters on dissenting blogs.  I have noticed that it is more enjoyable when people of varying opinions keep the discussion going, as long as it is done in a civil manner.

If I can keep an interaction going with complete strangers, then certainly I ought to be able to converse with my family and friends.  Of course, on line the timing is different, and you can take as long as you need to take to sort out your thoughts, but the idea is still there. 

Interaction.

Discussion.

Putting forth what is in your thoughts.

I wonder how many of the problems that exist between people; whether it is a friendship, an employment situation, or entire communities, could be resolved if people would simply keep talking to each other until they come to an understanding and a peaceable solution.

I’ll keep working on it in my life.

How about you?

Pearls Before Swine

I have been wandering around the blogosphere recently and there is all kinds of stuff out there that one can read.  Some of it is very good and some of it… well… maybe not so good.  I like to read some stuff that is coming from a different perspective than my own.  It is interesting and challenging to consider different points of view.

I have noticed that there are a variety of different people who will make comments.  I recently read a response where someone mentioned that we were not to “cast our pearls before swine”  (Math 7:6) It got me thinking. 

I found the comment interesting because the comments are made to people and God loves all people.  It is important that we try to communicate the truth of God to all who will listen. 

There is however a point when we are wasting our time. 

When is it valuable to comment and when should we desist?  We will have to rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit to know the best response.

Happy Blogging.