It’s My (Peachtree) Jam!
It's Peachtree time again!
If you know me, you know that music is a huge part of my life. Like one of my fellow bloggers, John Saddington, I listen to music while I blog. One of my favorite times to listen to music is when I run. Music helps me get in the zone and clear my mind while I exercise.
Once again this year, I will be running in the Peachtree Road Race on July 4. This will be my fourth year running the race (I ran it in 2008, 2010, and 2011) and I am really excited. Last year, I started creating a playlist for my iPod for the race. With the race right at three months away, I decided to do the same thing this year. Unfortunately I have an infected toenail right now, so I cannot test out the playlist until it is better (it’s almost there – probably just a couple more weeks).
Here are the songs on my 2012 Peachtree Road Race playlist:
- Hello Good Morning (radio edit) – Diddy – Dirty Money
- It’s Tricky – Run DMC
- Here Comes The Hotstepper – Ini Kamoze
- Who Stole The D.J. – DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
- Showstopper (Capital Kings Remix) – TobyMac
- Radiate – Andy Hunter
- Party On The Floor (Capital FM Summertime Ball Mashup) – DJ Earworm
- Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)(7th Heaven Club Mix) – Kelly Clarkson
- Jump Jump (Dubstep Remix) – Kriss Kross
- Rolling In The Deep (Dubstep Remix) – Adele
- You Make Me Feel – Cobra Starship ft. Sabi
- Like A G6 – Far East Movement
- Enth E Nd (Album Remix Version) – Linkin Park
- 4 Minutes – Madonna ft. Justin Timberlake and Timbaland
- Mary, Mary – Run DMC
- Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It – Will Smith
- Wind It Up – Gwen Stefani
- We Found Love – Rihanna
- Above All This – DJ Hans Solo (a.k.a. Hans Daniels)
- One Time – Earthsuit
- Pumped Up Kicks – Foster The People
- Moves Like Jagger – Maroon 5 ft. Christina Aguilera
- Some Like It Hot – The Power Station
- Umbrella – Rihanna
- Decode – Paramore
- Feed The Machine – Red
- Monster – Skillet
- Dark Horses – Switchfoot
- Discotheque – U2
- Save Me – Remy Zero
What songs are on the playlist for your next race?
Photo Credit: By Chris Fannin
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Follow The Leader?
This is something I recently found that I wrote back in 2001.
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Adults, do you play follow the leader?
Follow the leader — what a great game for preschoolers. Now that I am much older, I look back at those days gone by and wonder what I really learned from this harmless little childhood game. How can I apply these “lessons learned” to my life in the here and now?
First I learned to let others dictate what I do. I do not have to think for myself; just follow the crowd. Do not question the leader’s abilities or his/her qualifications as the leader. Lastly, do whatever you can, at any cost, to become the leader. Wait a minute! Are we still talking about a childhood game or life in general? Makes you stop and wonder, does it not?
As we get older these “rules” are essential to our survival in life. Exodus 20:12a tells us, “Honor your father and mother…” and Romans 13:2 warns us, “…he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against who God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” How do we prevent mindless following but not rebel against authority and also honor our parents? Our parents and those in authority over us when we were children instilled in us morals, a sense of right and wrong and general social etiquette. This is especially true if your parents took you to church on a regular basis. Mom and dad were the ones to lay down the law for you. There was no question of what you should do; the question was “Do I do it or do I face the consequences of not doing it?” Our parents definitely had the previous experience of leading us from their mistakes that they learned and they would not knowingly lead our infantile minds astray.
Pastors are authority figures that we take for granted. We often sit in the pews Sunday after Sunday like a sponge soaking up what we are told without question. I have been very fortunate to have had two wonderful Pastors, one at my home church and one at the church where I currently attend. I consider both of these gentlemen to be great men of God. One thing I admire about both of them is they have both said (from their respective pulpit) “Do not just accept what I tell you. Look it up and research it on your own. I am human and may unintentionally lead you astray. Please hold me accountable to assure that what I speak is the one and only God inspired truth.” I have a great deal of respect for someone like that who openly admits his faults and his limits. Romans 10:17 says, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” Notice it says “…through the word of Christ” and not “…through the word of the Pastor or Preacher.”
Matthew 16:24 tells us that life is not about us. “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me” (emphasis mine). If we follow the ultimate Leader, things will work out in the end. Taking the focus off of Christ and placing it on ourselves can cause utter chaos and can lead others astray. 1 Timothy 4:16 “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”
We will go through many times in our life where we question anything and everything. Make sure that your faith is your own and not your parents’, you Pastor’s, or anyone else’s. Questioning your faith makes you grow. Proverbs 14:15 informs us, “A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.” It is okay to play follow the leader, but make sure you are following the right Leader!
Photo Credit: By Ben Hoyt
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The Hunger Games – The Odds Are Definitely In Your Favor!
The adventures of Katniss Everdeen!
My oldest niece had been talking non-stop about a series of books that she had read. Not only had she read through all three books once, but she enjoyed them so much that she decided to read through them a second time. I decided that I need to check out this world of The Hunger Games created by author Suzanne Collins and I am glad that I did. This book is definitely a page turner that will keep you reading all hours of the night.
The story takes place in a futuristic world where North America has been replaced by the country of Panem. Surrounding the capital are twelve districts. Katniss Everdeen, a sixteen year old resident of District 12, shares through her eyes the experiences of the annual Hunger Games. Once a year each district selects (via raffle) a boy and a girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to compete against the other twenty-two “tributes” in a televised battle to the death.
This year, Katniss’ younger sister Primrose is selected to participate in the games but she volunteers to take her younger sister’s place. Katniss is partnered with Peeta Mellark, a boy she knows from her school. In preparation for her role, Katniss must leave her sister, mother, and her male childhood friend Gale Hawthorne and hone her skills by working with former Hunger Games District 12 champion Haymitch Abernathy. The problem with Abernathy – there is rarely a time when he is not drunk and he convinces Peeta to pretend he is in love with Katniss in order to get sympathy from those watching the games. Katniss begins to have feelings for Peeta and later finds out about Abernathy’s plot.
What I really like about this book is that it’s not gory in nature – yes, there are battle wounds and yes, you are told what happened but it is not graphic. You are just told what you need to know in order to keep the story flowing. The Hunger Games is a great book for both guys and girls – for the guys you have the battle of the games and for the girls you have the opportunity for potential romance between either Katniss and Peeta or Katniss and Gale. (Don’t worry guys, the romance isn’t so overbearing that you get sick of it.) The characters (even the minor ones) are believable and you actually care about them. Katniss is a strong young woman who can carry her own, but you also see her vulnerable side when she deals with her potential relationship with Peeta.
I highly recommend this book and can’t wait to see how the book translated into the movie!
Photo Credit: By Wikipedia
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Psalm 40 and U2
"I waited patiently for the Lord..."
This afternoon I had a coffee meeting with a friend from church. Before I met with her, I had few minutes to spare and so I opened my Bible to Psalm 40. For some reason I just found I could relate more to this passage right now. As I shared with my friend over coffee, I do not really feel like I have anyone against me…but I do feel like I’ve been through the muck and mire when it comes to things in my life lately – job search, SUV issues, and some personal matters.
I love how The Message version of the Bible translates several verses in this passage:
Psalm 40:1-2 “I waited and waited and waited for God. At last He looked, finally He listened. He lifted me out of the ditch, pulled me from deep mud. He stood me up on a solid rock to make sure I wouldn’t slip.”
I honestly feel like I am still in that “waiting for God” stage most days. I know eventually He will lift me out of the circumstances with which I am dealing and put me in a safe place, but right now I feel like He is using those circumstances to help grow me and to teach me something.
Psalm 40:11-15 “Now God, don’t hold out on me, don’t hold back your passion. Your love and truth are all that keeps me together. When troubles ganged up on me, a mob of sins past counting, I was so swamped by guilt I couldn’t see my way clear. More guilt in my heart than hair on my head, so heavy the guilt that my heart gave out. Soften up, God, and intervene; hurry and get me some help, so those who are trying to kidnap my soul will be embarrassed and lose face, so anyone who gets a kick out of making me miserable will be heckled and disgraced, so those who pray for my ruin will be booed and jeered without mercy.”
In some ways I can related to David (the author of this passage). I do feel like I’m waiting for God to intervene and do something – and do it quickly. However, I do not feel like anyone is intentionally trying to make me miserable or that anyone is praying for my ruin. The only things that I feel like I’m facing are circumstances that are brought on by the devil (and not in a “the devil made me do it…he’s in everything that I see as negative” type of way, but I do believe he is alive and well and orchestrating things behind the scenes to trip us up and denounce our faith — “spiritual warfare” as it is often called) and I would love to see him embarrassed, lose face, heckled, disgraced, and a whole lot more!
Psalm 40:17 “Let those who know what You’re all about tell the world You’re great and not quitting. And me? I’m a mess. I’m nothing and have nothing: make something of me. You can do it, You’ve got what it takes — but God, don’t put it off.”
This is a great reminder that God is not finished with me (or any of us for that matter) yet! I agree 100% with David – I am a mess on my own, but through Christ I have the strength to do all things (Philippians 4:13).
Each time I read this passage, I immediately think of U2’s song “40.” Enjoy a live rendition of this song in the video below.
Photo Credit: By Chris Yarzab
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4 Things I’ve Recently Learned About Leadership
Four things for leaders to remember
The topic of leadership can come up in various ways in daily life. For me there have recently been four recurring leadership themes.
1) As a leader, you can’t force someone to follow you – You can provide the environment and the resources for someone, but you just can’t make them follow your lead. The decision has to come naturally from the follower in question otherwise it is not a true “followship” and they will resent you.
2) Leading with others can be a challenge, but it is not impossible – When you are not the only leader in an environment you have to learn to “play well with others.” You may have personality clashes, but you have to look at it as a positive experience. What can you learn from the other people with whom you are leading? What can you improve on or do differently having seen them do the same thing? Make it a point to listen and hear them out when it comes to their ideas of how to do things.
3) You cannot prepare for the unexpected – No matter how much you prepare, things will happen that you cannot control. People may not show up on time (or at all). Technology may not cooperate. You can only do the best you can given whatever circumstances may occur. Do not take it personally. It is also therapeutic to be able to step away from the situation and just laugh about it.
4) You need a sounding board – You need to have that person (or people) that you can go to and just share your ideas. It is also okay to have them there to listen to your frustrations as well. Keep in mind that not only should you be able to talk with them, but you also need to be willing to listen to them. They may be able to give you a new perspective you might not have previously considered.
What are some things you have learned recently about leadership?
Photo Credit: By Jukka Zitting
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Dragon Tattooed Girl – Don’t Believe The Hype
Don't believe the hype!
Have you ever finished reading a book and thought to yourself – “If I had known from the start what I know now after reading it, I probably wouldn’t have read it in the first place?” That is how I felt about the Stieg Larsson book “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.” The only thing I knew going in was that it was a book about a murder and there was a computer hacker involved in some way. First off, this book was by no means an easy read – the author is from Sweden and the spelling he used as well as the character names were alone enough to give me a headache. Add the fact that there was tons of foul language and a lot of sex (neither of which really added anything to the story in my opinion) and you end up with a book that just made me feel like I needed to take a bath after each read to get rid of the filthy feeling that consumed me.
The premise of the book starts with Mikael Blomkvist (a journalist) being sentenced for libel. Once he is set free, he is hired by Henrik Vanger, a well-to-do retired CEO, to write the history of the Vanger family. Blomkvist later finds out that writing the book is a cover, as Vanger really wants him to solve the mystery of the death of his great niece Harriet. When Blomkvist decides he needs a research assistant, he finds out that Vanger had used a young computer hacker outcast by the name of Lisbeth Salander (the dragon tattooed girl in the title of the book) to do a background check on him. Blomkvist is so impressed with what she found out about him that he hires Salander to help him solve the mystery. Salander has her own problems (including those with her legal guardian who rapes her multiple times). There are many twists and turns through out the book, but the characters feel very one dimensional to me. When Salander sleeps with Blomkvist and then discovers he only wants to see her as a friend and coworker – I just had no sympathy for her…I just wanted to shake her and say “How could you be so stupid to sleep with him?!”
I really wanted to like this book with all the hype that came with it, but I just couldn’t force myself to do it. I think the foundation of the story dealing with Harriet’s murder/disappearance is well written, but when you throw in all the side stories of Blomkvist sleeping with just about every female with a pulse…it just takes away from the story instead of adding to it. I originally wanted to see the American version of the movie when I started reading the book, but after the first couple of chapters I quickly decided against it. One thing for certain, based on this book alone I will not be reading the other two books in this series.
Photo Credit: By Amazon.com
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Strange Interview Questions
Interview questions can be weird.
Job interviews can be stressful – what to wear, what to say, and just trying to find out if it is a place where you would like to work. You can prepare like there is no tomorrow and still not feel ready. One of my biggest fears is that I will be asked a question that I will have no idea how to answer. I was reading an article the other day about unusual questions people have been asked on job interviews. I have definitely been asked my fair share of strange interview questions.
One interview question that stands out in my mind is “How do you make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?” It was for a Quality Assurance position and I later found out they were looking for the most detailed answer I could possibly give them. I guess a question like that does kind of make sense given the context of the job for which I was interviewing. I think the most bizarre question I’ve been asked at an interview was “If you had to choose between being a ninja, pirate, or spaceman what would you be and why?” My response was a pirate, because they are able to work independently or in a team environment. I think this question was just about being creative with your response (plus I was told I was the only person they interviewed who said pirate…by the way I got the job).
The strangest question that I read about (but have not been personally asked) was “You have been shrunk down to the size of a peanut. Someone has accidentally put you in a blender. How do you escape?” I have three interviews coming up next week and I am praying that I do not get asked any questions like the last one.
What is the most unusual question you have been asked at a job interview?
Photo Credit: By Valerie Everett
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Take A Break – You Deserve It!
It's okay to take time to relax!
When life gets busy, other things have a tendency to fall by the wayside. What makes matters worse is we start feeling guilty as a result. It is okay to take time away from the people and things we love and enjoy. Returning to these things only reminds us how much we really appreciate them. Give yourself permission to take a break.
Some religions believe in what they call “Sabbath.” This is just dedicating time to yourself where you can turn off your phone, shut down the laptop, and just refocus for a day. If you don’t take this time, you can easily experience burn out and you will not be at your best in whatever you do – be it personally or professionally. How you spend this down time is up to you. I enjoy spending time with friends, listening to music, or reading something fun. Each person is different and how they “recharge their batteries” is just as unique.
I have several friends who work for a church and as result they are typically working on Sunday (when most people take their Sabbath). These friends usually have Friday off, so they make that their day of rest and refocus. It doesn’t matter when you do it, it just matters that you do it. Find time in your schedule that works best for you and permit yourself to just enjoy time away from your every day life.
Do you take a “Sabbath” day each week and if so, what do you do on that day?
Photo Credit: By lukey dargons
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Scars
This is something I recently found that I wrote back in 2001.
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Do you have any scars?
Webster’s Dictionary defines a scar as, “a marring or disfiguring mark on anything; the lasting mental or emotional effects of suffering or anguish.” Scars have been given a negative connotation in our modern times. Contrary to popular belief, there are many positive aspects of scars.
A scar can be an identifying mark. If you ever meet me, look closely above my left eyebrow. For you will see a scar, a unique mark that distinguishes me from others. John 20:27-28 gives an example of Biblical proportions. “Then He said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’ Thomas said ‘My Lord and my God!'” It was scars that allowed Thomas to identify the Son of God.
Our male species has a unique ritual of comparing scars. As strange as this may sound, it reveals yet another good thing about scars: they create a common bond. Isaiah 53:5 “But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” We as Christians have the commonality of knowing that the scars, pain, and suffering that we cause Jesus with our sin brings us peace and healing through His sacrificial gift, Himself.
The most important thing is that scars tell a story. Mark 15:17-19 – “They put a purple robe on Him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on Him. And they began to call out to Him, ‘Hail, king of the Jews!’ Again and again they struck Him on the head with a staff and spit on Him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to Him.” But wait, it gets better! Matthew 27:35, 39, 41, & 44 – “When they had crucified Him, they divided up His clothes by casting lots… Those who passed by hurled insults at Him, shaking their heads… In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked Him… In the same way the robbers who were crucified with Him also heaped insults on Him.” Praise God the story did not end there. Matthew 28:6 – “He is not here; He is risen, just as He said.” The ultimate scars (physical, mental, and emotional) tell the ultimate story.
I once heard someone say, “God will not search us for medals. He will look for scars,” to which one of my best friends jokingly added “He’ll probably want to start with my knees!” The more I thought about what my friend jokingly said, the more I thought he was actually right. Wouldn’t it be awesome when we meet the Lord face to face, if He sees scars and rug burns from where we have been constantly on our knees in prayer and humbling ourselves daily before Him? I long to have that kind of relationship with my Maker. How about you? May we never look at scars the same way ever again!
Photo Credit: By Lenore Edman
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Being Genuinely Genuine
How genuine are you?
Three simple words that form one common question – “How are you?” We’ve all asked it of someone and have probably had it asked of us. At least twice this week I have had someone ask me this question. Before I could get a response out of my mouth, both individuals had already left. I’m not going to lie, this bothered me. Society has taught us that it is polite to ask this question, but how would Mrs. Manners or Dear Abby want us to respond to the answer?
I found myself pondering this exact question the other day. I asked a friend how they were doing only to hear a diatribe of a response on how their life was currently falling apart at the seams. Where do you draw the line of politely listening and writing the person off as being over dramatic? I started asking myself a question – have I ever been the one who felt like their life was in shambles? Have I ever voiced this to others when they asked how I was doing?
One thing I strive for in all my relationships is to be genuine. I want others to know they can honestly count on me in their time of need. The problem with trying to be “everything to everyone” is you tend to have the life drained out of you. Is it possible to be genuine without losing yourself?
Do you really listen to someone’s response when you ask them how they are doing?
Photo Credit: By Aidan Jones
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Scott Couey 