Reading Recommendation

One of the beautiful things about a "staycation" is all of the reading i can get done! I just finished an excellent book entitled Life of Pi. I highly recommend this amazing story of faith and survival centered on a young Indian boy named Pi who survives a shipwreck on the Pacific Ocean. He is the son of a zoologist and let's just say that zoo animals play largely in this creative work of fiction. One of the better books I've ever read.

When I read I like to note quotes that stand out. Even in this work of fiction there were many quotes that were great. Here is a sampling:

* "The presence of God is the finest of rewards."
* "Evil in the open is but evil from within that has been let out."
* "The main battlefield for good is not the open ground of the public arena but the small clearing of each heart."
* "I have a story to tell that will make you believe in God."
* "Religion is more than rite and ritual. There is what the rite and ritual stand for."
* "I must say a word about fear. It is life's only true opponent. Only fear can defeat life."
* "To choose doubt as a philosophy of life is akin to choosing immobility as a means of transportation."
* "If you take two steps toward God, God runs to you."

Staycation

I am looking forward to some much needed down time over the next few days with my family. Fortunately you don't have to travel and spend money to get away. For me, it's as simple as turning off my cell phone and laptop. That will feel glorious this afternoon. My mom and dad are driving up even now from South Carolina. I'll get to see my sister and her family as well. And I have a big (rare) family reunion up north on Saturday. There's nothing like spending time with family and true friends - people who are true and with you through thick and thin - appreciating who you are, what you do, and want to see you grow and succeed - challenging and encouraging at every turn. It' has become surprising to me in the day to day grind how rare that is anymore. Anyway, I will return on Monday. I already have a great deal to write about - including "On Being Wrong" and "The GodBlocker". I will look forward to returning, but I'm not going to think about that now. :)

Peace.

- Lance

Just Do Something

I read this on Google Reader this morning and wanted to pass it along. A good blog and recommended:

Just Do Something

By C.J. Mahaney

7/13/2010 8:23:00 AM

To close out his Next 2010 conference message, “The Church,” Kevin DeYoung gave a list of suggestions for how to be a difference maker in the local church. He said:  

• Find a good local church. 

• Get involved.

• Become a member. 

• Stay there as long as you can. 

• Put away thoughts of a revolution for a while.

• Join the plodding visionaries. 

• Go to church this Sunday and worship in Spirit and truth. 

• Be patient with your leaders. 

• Rejoice when the gospel is faithfully proclaimed.

• Bear with those who hurt you. 

• Give people the benefit of the doubt. 

• Say “hi” to the teenager that no one notices. 

• Welcome the old ladies with the blue hair and the young men with tattoos. 

• Volunteer for the nursery. 

• Attend the congregational meeting. 

• Bring your fried chicken to the potluck like everybody else. 

• Invite a friend. 

• Take a new couple out for coffee. 

• Give to the Christmas offering. 

• Sing like you mean it. 

• Be thankful someone vacuumed the carpet for you. 

• Enjoy the Sundays that “click.” 

• Pray extra hard on the Sundays that don’t. 

• And in all of this, do not despise the days and weeks and years of small things (Zechariah 4:8–10).