Field Notes

Give me your view...

I'm talking about worship this weekend.

When you think of worship, what activity/action comes to your mind?

Repeats are ok...I'm looking for first reactions.

The Rhythm Thing

I'm not great at rhythm. 

Watch me clap sometime in church!

On the other hand, I am sensitive the rhythms of life.  I like to fall into a flow.

All this to say, I am not yet getting into the rhythm of my switch to the YouVersion daily Bible reading.

I've done the One Year Bible for a couple years.  I thought I needed a change, but I miss the daily dose of OT, NT Psalms and Proverbs.

Warning...I'm thinking about switching back.

Thoughts??

Thinking about Fear

I've been thinking a lot about fear lately. 

Fear is such a tricky human emotion.  It keeps us from doing things we want to do.  It prompts us to do things that are out of character.  Fear is so powerful.  I want to make sure that I control it and am not controlled by it.

So, one of my "fears" (a little "f" fear...not a big one) is driving in the city...no, not Joliet...
Chicago, St. Louis...basically, a place with lots of one way streets and monster buildings.

I've been trying to understand what this is all about.  I don't want to be one of those old people that is afraid to leave the house, allowing my world to grow smaller and smaller because of fear.

The GPS helps, until you end up in the canyons of the city...large buildings tend to block out the signal.

I'm not so bad once the driving part is done, but I am downright antsy thinking through the trip.

Last night we went to the United Center.  Not exactly downtown, but still Chicago and unfamiliar territory.

We were hunting for parking.  There are parking lots all around the place.  It was cold and we wanted to park close.  It was hard to see...dark, snow and cold people all around.  I saw what I thought was the parking entrance.  As I pulled in I felt a bump.  Then I heard lots of yelling.  Yep, it looked like I was trying to hop the curb to get into the $20 parking for free!

What did I do?  After pulling back out into the street I laughed.  In fact, we laughed about it on the way in, while at the game and on the way home again.

So before I take this any further, I want to hear from you.  This driving in the city thing...do you like it, hate it, fear it???  How do you get by it, through it, overcome it???  Some of you are scratching your heads wondering how anyone could even feel this way.  How have you mastered it?

BTW...there's my curb at the bottom of the image on a warm, sunny day.  Who knows, maybe they'll put a statue of my curb-jumping car someday!

Olympic Fever?

I'm curious...have you been following the Olympics? 

What events have you been watching, if any?

Are you into it or out of it?

Brett a Bear?

Yes or no??

this time thing

Yesterday I posted this box I found on a blog:

It's really got me thinking.  It's not new...countless time management resources will say basically the same thing. 

Here's what I wonder...two things actually:

Which do you do well and what are the positive results?

In which do you struggle and what are the consequences?

tour guide

The banner across the top of the blog has had me thinking. 

We live right next to Chicago yet seldom venture downtown. 

So, this prompted a fun blog project. 

List one or two things everyone has got to visit/do in Chicago. 

We can compose a top ten list of thing to do/places to see over the summer.

Have at it!

spring cleaning

Sunday we are starting a new series. 

It will be based in 1st john and take off on the theme of spring cleaning. 

We need seasons in our life to clean up...get in shape...clear out the clutter.

So, here's what I want to hear from you. 

What is your favorite rite of spring? 

What do you get out, clean or do that tells you spring is here?

Most of mine have to do with my lawn...trimming down decorative grasses, applying pre-emergent and the first cut of the lawn (just happened Monday)! 

How about you?

dilemma...well, not really

So yesterday was garage cleaning day. 

Got the snowblower put away, the bike tires pumped up...spring stuff.

You find funny things in your garage after a long winter.  After our Christmas Eve Serve, I brought home the wrapping paper box.  It was in my car taking up space before the trip to Bloomington (at Christmas), so I took it out with a well intended, "I'll take it to church next week."  Next week is finally here.

That's not the "dilemma."  In the box I found a Christmas gift that I thought I had delivered.  It is for someone who would never have any clue I was giving them something.

Now, I know what I am going to do, so in that sense there is no real dilemma, but I wonder, what would you do?  Options...give it with explanation, use it...they don't even know it's coming, save it until next year??  Re-gift it as a tax day surprise...it is after all nearly four months since Christmas.

decisions

Sunday I am teaching on making great decisions. 

I'd like your input on a few things:

• What principles do you follow for making decisions?
• What are the hardest kinds of decisions for you?
• Do you decide more on facts or gut feelings?
• What paralyzes you in decision making?
• Does making decisions energize you or drain you?
• What big decision are you wrestling over now?

Answer any or all. 

I will not refer to your answers by name publicly on Sunday, so you don't have to worry about being called out or asked to come up and explain your position!

I just sent an e-mail with a survey on this as well.  I value you and your input.

You can also take the survey here.