seriously, how awesome would it be to see this in person? so neat!
st. basil's cathedral / moscow, russia (by j. cobb)
Monday, December 08, 2008
the amazing grace
in o holy night. one of my favorite christmas songs. i can almost never make it through the song without tearing up. ridiculous, but awesome! the words are so powerful and so amazing.
O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
'Til He appear'd and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! O, hear the angels' voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born;
O night divine, O night, O night Divine.
Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here come the wise men from Orient land.
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friend.
He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King, Behold your King.
Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
Friday, November 21, 2008
if you need to reach me, i'll be under that rock over there
this guy, karl fisch, puts these information videos together. sony adapted one for their executive meeting in rome this past year. wowzers!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Thursday, November 06, 2008
guilty as everything
one of my biggest pet peeves is dishonesty. of all sorts. there is one that particularly hurts my feelings. that is the partial truth conversation. when someone tells you what they think you want to hear so as not to hurt your feelings. or they only tell you what will place him/her in the best possible light by leaving out specific details/information. problem is, we all know when people do this. a pause. a look. a tone. an avoidance. i know...i've done it too. and probably not that long ago.
that said...one of my biggest admirations is when people are honest no matter the desired outcome. i was talking with a friend last night about this. we had both been in situations when honesty was hard. BUT each time, those relationships were made stronger. built sturdier. surrounded by a trust that only a true friendship can reveal.
nothing major to report here. was just thinking about this today since the conversation last night. i like it. :D
proverbs 24:26 "an honest answer is like a kiss on the lips"
that said...one of my biggest admirations is when people are honest no matter the desired outcome. i was talking with a friend last night about this. we had both been in situations when honesty was hard. BUT each time, those relationships were made stronger. built sturdier. surrounded by a trust that only a true friendship can reveal.
nothing major to report here. was just thinking about this today since the conversation last night. i like it. :D
proverbs 24:26 "an honest answer is like a kiss on the lips"
Monday, October 20, 2008
ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
have you ever noticed that life changes? i find that i contradict myself a lot when it comes to change. i love change! i hate change! change is good! change is bad! i have actually caught myself saying both in the same day (almost hour). so, what's the difference between good change and bad change? or is there?
maybe we just roll with the punches. adjust. enjoy the ride. take notes. highlight the important stuff.
i think i'll make chili tonight. decision made.
maybe we just roll with the punches. adjust. enjoy the ride. take notes. highlight the important stuff.
i think i'll make chili tonight. decision made.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
fair game
I found this on a blog. Thought it was interesting. They pulled it from the book, "No Greater Joy. Vol. 1" by Michael and Debi Pearl. A parenting book, of all things.
"There is a universal tendency to try to make life fair. 'You had your turn, now it is mine.' 'You already have two balls and I have none, so you should be fair and share with me.' 'Daddy gave Johnny one, so Suzy should get one also.' We tend to think of legislated fairness as equality, when in fact it is inequality. This is so ingrained in us that we equate fairness with justice. The communist system is built on a principle of forced fairness. In contrast, the American system of government is based on individual rights.
"Pure fairness is as unlikely and as undesirable as making all mountains the same height. It is unnatural and can only be achieved through forced injustice. When it is a rule handed down by 'Big Brother' it will never be carried out with benevolence on the part of the one being stripped of his abundance, nor can it be received with thankfulness on the part of the one expecting legislated equality.
"This indulgent demand for fairness begins at the earliest age. You can know you have already cultivated self-centerdness in your children when Grandma must buy gifts of equal value for each grandchild in order to keep feelings from being hurt. Trying to keep equal accounts, whether in things, privileges, or discipline, is not wise. It trains children to believe they have the right to weigh and balance, to demand equal share, or to veto the good fortune of another. They are turning selfishness into a childhood occupation. Evil covetousness is being rewarded. Parents are missing one of the greatest opportunities to teach their children to rejoice in the good fortune of another.
"It should never be our intention to show favoritism, but circumstantial inequality is not only just but essential to the very foundations of individuality. Some are naturally tall, while others are short. Some are gifted in many areas, whereas others appear to be gifted in little. One farmer receives rain while another suffers drought. One is born into a family of opportunity while another is born into social bondage. One gets a promotion while another loses his job. Many run the race, but only one takes first place.
"When your child gets knocked down, don't reward his whining of unfairness. Teach him how to get up and walk away with dignity. If the other children run off and leave him, teach him how to organize play that will cause them to want to be a part of his activity. But never make your child the unwelcome tagalong of despising peers. When rain falls on his neighbors' crops but not his, teach him how to irrigate. When his wages are lower, teach him how to manage his finances. When someone else gets the job, teach him how to start a company that provides better services. If he has fewer gifts, teach him how to expect nothing and to make little into abundance. Rather than whine for equality, teach him how to give until others are blessed above himself."
"There is a universal tendency to try to make life fair. 'You had your turn, now it is mine.' 'You already have two balls and I have none, so you should be fair and share with me.' 'Daddy gave Johnny one, so Suzy should get one also.' We tend to think of legislated fairness as equality, when in fact it is inequality. This is so ingrained in us that we equate fairness with justice. The communist system is built on a principle of forced fairness. In contrast, the American system of government is based on individual rights.
"Pure fairness is as unlikely and as undesirable as making all mountains the same height. It is unnatural and can only be achieved through forced injustice. When it is a rule handed down by 'Big Brother' it will never be carried out with benevolence on the part of the one being stripped of his abundance, nor can it be received with thankfulness on the part of the one expecting legislated equality.
"This indulgent demand for fairness begins at the earliest age. You can know you have already cultivated self-centerdness in your children when Grandma must buy gifts of equal value for each grandchild in order to keep feelings from being hurt. Trying to keep equal accounts, whether in things, privileges, or discipline, is not wise. It trains children to believe they have the right to weigh and balance, to demand equal share, or to veto the good fortune of another. They are turning selfishness into a childhood occupation. Evil covetousness is being rewarded. Parents are missing one of the greatest opportunities to teach their children to rejoice in the good fortune of another.
"It should never be our intention to show favoritism, but circumstantial inequality is not only just but essential to the very foundations of individuality. Some are naturally tall, while others are short. Some are gifted in many areas, whereas others appear to be gifted in little. One farmer receives rain while another suffers drought. One is born into a family of opportunity while another is born into social bondage. One gets a promotion while another loses his job. Many run the race, but only one takes first place.
"When your child gets knocked down, don't reward his whining of unfairness. Teach him how to get up and walk away with dignity. If the other children run off and leave him, teach him how to organize play that will cause them to want to be a part of his activity. But never make your child the unwelcome tagalong of despising peers. When rain falls on his neighbors' crops but not his, teach him how to irrigate. When his wages are lower, teach him how to manage his finances. When someone else gets the job, teach him how to start a company that provides better services. If he has fewer gifts, teach him how to expect nothing and to make little into abundance. Rather than whine for equality, teach him how to give until others are blessed above himself."
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