Marc’s Musings

In a recent Fundraisingcoach.com blog post, I wrote, “Life’s Short. Live Passionately.”

That phrase really captured my attention.

Now, thanks to CafePress.com, it’s on lots of clothing and mugs!

Click here for the Life’s Short. Life Passionately. Store.

One of the very best things about Fridays is that it’s a dedicated evening with my family.

I look forward to it all day. Even all week.

Nothing fancy. But all family.

As an added bonus, I try to observe a Sabbath rest on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings. That especially means no work related computer activity tonight. And it’s often easier to simply stay unplugged.

I love it.

As a tither, I believe that God can take my 90% far further than I could take my 100%.

As a growing disciple, I’m moving to the point of believing that God can take my 6 days further than I can take my 7.

A whole day seems challenging as a bi-vocational person. The most obvious day is Saturday, but that’s the best day for connecting with people too. Interestingly, my rabbi friend thinks it’s amusing that Christian pastors wrestle with this. Apparently, Sabbath is Sabbath. Rabbinic worship leading isn’t “work” like we protestants see it. It’s just how they celebrate Sabbath.

I’m still working on getting a day.

I’m not there yet. But I’m getting closer.

And now I’m going home!

I’m playing with Facebook some more and have created and updated my Ask Without Fear! Facebook page.

If you’re on Facebook too, would you become a fan? The link is:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ask-Without-Fear/7433235241

While you’re there, feel free to become my friend! My profile is at:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=656587015

After much deliberation, the next showing of the Men’s Movie Kinship will be “First Night” starring Sean Connery, Richard Gere, and Julia Ormond.

Join us at my house at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5 for all the medieval-esque fun.

(We won’t make anyone run the gauntlet!)

I just posted my thoughts on The Big Give.

Bottom line? I like it.

For more of what I like and what worries me, go to:
http://fundraisingcoach.com/blog/2008/03/03/the-big-give/

Watched Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secretsyesterday with the kids. I like the movies. Not as good as the books but still quite good.

I loved Dumbledore’s comment to Harry in the infirmary at the end:

Harry, it’s not your abilities that make you what you are. It’s your choices.

Harry had the ability of a dark wizard to speak parseltongue (speak with snakes). But he chose to be in Griffindor at Hogwarts.

I’m a huge believer in using our natural abilities. But I once was told, “God’s giftings cannot take you any further than your character will keep you.”

It’s far too easy to rest in our abilities. “Hey, I’m just good at that. I always have been. And I always will be.”

But it’s such a great reminder that we need to keep making good choices. Are we doing our stuff to be seen by others? That’s not a good choice. We should be excelling in ways that are seen by others. Jesus clearly states that with the parable of the talents. But he also warns us to not do things in order to be seen by others.

If we’re praying for healing for one of our co-workers, we choose to do so simply because God wants to heal. Not to be seen as “God’s man for the hour.” Jesus makes the miracle, not us. We’re just the servants.

Jesus is the one that made the water into wine. The servants just brought the wine to the master of ceremonies.

I once had it described as getting a birthday gift delivered from UPS. We don’t hug and kiss and praise the UPS driver for bringing the package. He’s just the messenger. We save our thanks and adoration for the person that sent the gift.

So may it be for us.

May we excel at our natural abilities. But may we also be ever pressing in to the One that will give us the wisdom to make good choices on an ever consistent basis.

And may we daily deliver Jesus’ miracles to the people around us!