The Class.
The Teacher.
The Grade.
The FUTURE.
The ART CLASS:
A class in which you learn ART
ART –
(7.) the principles or methods governing any craft or branch of learning: the art of baking; the art of selling . . . The Art of LOVE . . . THE ART OF WAR!
There is an ART to doing all things . . . ART is not about pretty pictures . . . . it’s about LIFE.
What you end up doing with it . . . can be ultimately beautiful . . . breath-taking . . .
FACTS:
In ART, one must learn TECHNIQUES.
In ART, the ART is based on the EYE of the Beholder.
LEARN the techniques . . . but MAKE THEM YOUR OWN.
The TEACHER:
There will be many in one’s lifetime – Some will teach what TO DO . . . others are there to teach what NOT TO DO.
See them for what they are and figure out how to interpret the lesson.
The GRADE:
Grades only count on PAPER.
SCORES only count to people keeping score.
Know this – While ONE does not live by someone else’s grade – the WORLD always keeps score. Figure out a way to REMAIN in the GAME . . . but do not allow someone’s score card to dictate one’s own worth.
The FUTURE:
WHEN does one stop learning? If one spends all their time trying to just GET OUT of class, one will never appreciate the journey of LEARNING.
There is an ART to doing ALL THINGS . . . figure out how to stay IN CLASS.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
‘TV Reality Shows . . . Nothing New under the Sun’
Ecclesiastes 1: 9 ' . . . so there is nothing new under the sun.'
By now, I don’t believe there’s a person out there who doesn’t recognize the name of the very famous TV show ‘Survivor’. One internet search claims that it ‘launched a cultural phenomenon’ – that is to say that it is claimed to be the BEGINNING of an extraordinary example of the accepted values of a society (well, if you put all those definitions together).
The premise of 'Survivor':
Basically, 16 strangers are REMOVED from the comforts of their everyday life to ENDURE hardships – hardships that ultimately make them STRONGER PEOPLE - for a period of time (oddly enough almost 40 days), risking JUDGEMENT in an effort to RECEIVE the coveted REWARD at the end of their ‘MISSION’ Trip.
Jesus says to give up the comforts of our life and endure hardships for a time (ultimately refining us) in order to have life and life more abundantly.
Another one . . . 'the Amazing Race’.
The Premise of this show:
Basically, a group of 11 people are to PARTNER with one (who will help them) as they are WILLINGLY manipulated through a series of journeys which have them leaving behind the comforts of their life to SEEK CLUES and greater understanding of the PATH they are to take in an effort to receive the coveted REWARD at the end of their ‘mission’ trip.
Paul says in Hebrews 12: ‘ . . . to run with endurance, the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus . . .’
Another one . . . “Extreme Makeover Home Edition”
The premise of this show:
This one’s a bit different – a take on helping the home-LESS where one deserving family has their DISTRAUGHT home LEVELED, and another amazing home is built with the finest ingredients by the hands of MASTER CARPENTERS . . . all done in seven (7) days.
In all cases – and trust me when I say that I could name many more – but, in all cases – the program viewer SITS on the sidelines week after week for the duration of the show and literally WATCHES as others actively participate in the desired mission. Many cheer on favorite contestants and most CRY several times during the course of ‘Makeover’, many of us just needing to ‘FEEL’ again.
ALL the contestants – not just the winners – usually GAIN so much for merely having experienced the mission.
Many who engage in these shows regularly, do so to simply be a PART of something BIGGER than themselves – bigger than their everyday routine allows.
OH . . . if only they knew . . .
My prayer is that you will CHOOSE to get into the REAL game of life . . . look a little deeper . . . seek a little further . . .
By now, I don’t believe there’s a person out there who doesn’t recognize the name of the very famous TV show ‘Survivor’. One internet search claims that it ‘launched a cultural phenomenon’ – that is to say that it is claimed to be the BEGINNING of an extraordinary example of the accepted values of a society (well, if you put all those definitions together).
The premise of 'Survivor':
Basically, 16 strangers are REMOVED from the comforts of their everyday life to ENDURE hardships – hardships that ultimately make them STRONGER PEOPLE - for a period of time (oddly enough almost 40 days), risking JUDGEMENT in an effort to RECEIVE the coveted REWARD at the end of their ‘MISSION’ Trip.
Jesus says to give up the comforts of our life and endure hardships for a time (ultimately refining us) in order to have life and life more abundantly.
Another one . . . 'the Amazing Race’.
The Premise of this show:
Basically, a group of 11 people are to PARTNER with one (who will help them) as they are WILLINGLY manipulated through a series of journeys which have them leaving behind the comforts of their life to SEEK CLUES and greater understanding of the PATH they are to take in an effort to receive the coveted REWARD at the end of their ‘mission’ trip.
Paul says in Hebrews 12: ‘ . . . to run with endurance, the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus . . .’
Another one . . . “Extreme Makeover Home Edition”
The premise of this show:
This one’s a bit different – a take on helping the home-LESS where one deserving family has their DISTRAUGHT home LEVELED, and another amazing home is built with the finest ingredients by the hands of MASTER CARPENTERS . . . all done in seven (7) days.
In all cases – and trust me when I say that I could name many more – but, in all cases – the program viewer SITS on the sidelines week after week for the duration of the show and literally WATCHES as others actively participate in the desired mission. Many cheer on favorite contestants and most CRY several times during the course of ‘Makeover’, many of us just needing to ‘FEEL’ again.
ALL the contestants – not just the winners – usually GAIN so much for merely having experienced the mission.
Many who engage in these shows regularly, do so to simply be a PART of something BIGGER than themselves – bigger than their everyday routine allows.
OH . . . if only they knew . . .
My prayer is that you will CHOOSE to get into the REAL game of life . . . look a little deeper . . . seek a little further . . .
Sunday, April 6, 2008
‘Chasing a Good Name . . .’
I often see many insights in movies . . . what can I say, I dig movies – great escapes that ultimately bring me back to a more insightful reality.
I have referred to the movie, ‘Sommersby’ a few times now. Richard Gere plays the character of one man who actually (because they could have been twins in appearance) steals the NAME of another man after this man’s death because his own was one of bad reputation. The GOOD in him wanted desperately to LIVE the life of that GOOD NAME.
So I began to think . . . What’s IN a name?
When I tapped into dictionary .com, I was shocked to see that there were 35 entries for this one little word – more reinforcement to what I already know – there is MORE to a name than many want to admit.
There were a few definitions that really struck me:
The Obvious:
1. a word or a combination of words by which a person, place, or thing, a body or class, or any object of thought is designated, called, or known.
We are KNOWN at first sight by something.
The Specific:
4. a reputation of a particular kind given by common opinion
We are KNOWN at first sight by something . . . and then BY COMMON OPIONION – by reputation – something GAINED after TIME, we are recognized by a more SPECIFIC classification based on our ACTIONS.
The Insight:
22. designed for or carrying a name
We are KNOWN at first sight by something . . . and then recognized by Reputation . . . BUT this reputation often grows out of something that we were actually DESIGNED to become.
We have a genetic make-up in the PHYSICAL REALM which is our body function. But we ALSO have a genetic make-up in the SPIRIT REALM – that which we were INTENDED to become.
And WHEN we live and ACT OUTSIDE of this SPIRITUAL genetic make-up – we often develop a NEGATIVE reputation . . . something we were never INTENDED to have.
In the movie, Richard Gere’s character NEEDED to BECOME the GOOD NAME that was inherently IN HIM. In the end, He was WILLING to DIE OFF in order to REMAIN the GOOD that that name carried.
~
You will not always understand what you are ‘chasing’ . . . but I can promise you that you will RECOGNIZE it WHEN you eventually ‘catch it’. . . because, like any good name, the things that ARE intended for you all along . . . WHEN you KILL OFF those things that were NEVER INTENDED to be . . . like a struggling plant that is freed from the tangle of weeds . . . it will eventually GROW YOU to good reputation . . .
Keep Chasing . . .
I have referred to the movie, ‘Sommersby’ a few times now. Richard Gere plays the character of one man who actually (because they could have been twins in appearance) steals the NAME of another man after this man’s death because his own was one of bad reputation. The GOOD in him wanted desperately to LIVE the life of that GOOD NAME.
So I began to think . . . What’s IN a name?
When I tapped into dictionary .com, I was shocked to see that there were 35 entries for this one little word – more reinforcement to what I already know – there is MORE to a name than many want to admit.
There were a few definitions that really struck me:
The Obvious:
1. a word or a combination of words by which a person, place, or thing, a body or class, or any object of thought is designated, called, or known.
We are KNOWN at first sight by something.
The Specific:
4. a reputation of a particular kind given by common opinion
We are KNOWN at first sight by something . . . and then BY COMMON OPIONION – by reputation – something GAINED after TIME, we are recognized by a more SPECIFIC classification based on our ACTIONS.
The Insight:
22. designed for or carrying a name
We are KNOWN at first sight by something . . . and then recognized by Reputation . . . BUT this reputation often grows out of something that we were actually DESIGNED to become.
We have a genetic make-up in the PHYSICAL REALM which is our body function. But we ALSO have a genetic make-up in the SPIRIT REALM – that which we were INTENDED to become.
And WHEN we live and ACT OUTSIDE of this SPIRITUAL genetic make-up – we often develop a NEGATIVE reputation . . . something we were never INTENDED to have.
In the movie, Richard Gere’s character NEEDED to BECOME the GOOD NAME that was inherently IN HIM. In the end, He was WILLING to DIE OFF in order to REMAIN the GOOD that that name carried.
~
You will not always understand what you are ‘chasing’ . . . but I can promise you that you will RECOGNIZE it WHEN you eventually ‘catch it’. . . because, like any good name, the things that ARE intended for you all along . . . WHEN you KILL OFF those things that were NEVER INTENDED to be . . . like a struggling plant that is freed from the tangle of weeds . . . it will eventually GROW YOU to good reputation . . .
Keep Chasing . . .
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