My friend Vicky has recently started her own blog. She's a quality person and has a lot of good things to say, so am looking forward to seeing what kind of stuff she comes up with on her page.
As I was at a loose end this afternoon, I came up with the relatively geeky concept of seeing exactly how many clicks it would need on the 'next blog' icon at the top left hand of the blogger page before I got linked onto Vicky's blog.
It sounded like a fun game in theory, but after about ten minutes I was bored and had been to the blogs of many, many people. Blogs about business, about their children, their sporting prowess, their failures, some stuff in Chinese I didn't understand, some weird photos of cats in funny outfits and some commenting on the news stories of the week.
What I learnt was that there are lot of blogs out there that you could be reading.
But you are reading this one rather than looking at ones with weird photos on, and I just want to say thank you.
It's humbling to know there's a lot of competition for your attention out there, and to send out some thanks for spending a few minutes in my world.
I've just sent Vicky a text message to ask if she doesn't mind having her blog linked from this site. Until then, you'll have to keep using the next blog button.
But remember I cannot be held responsible for what you may find on your journey into the depths of the weird, wacky and wonderful world of weblogs.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Potential Breakthroughs And Film Recommendations
I went on a course last year through work where I was encouraged into taking steps to fulfilling the dreams that would make you feel alive. One of the things that I mentioned was the enjoyment I get from writing. The concept of me writing a book was mooted about with the facilitators of the course, so I purchased a blank notebook from Paperchase.
Apart from the NASA-like title of 'Project One' on the inside cover, the notebook has remained blank since November. But I think I've finally got an idea that I'm interested in enough to dedicate time and energy researching, as well as thinking about wanting more than a couple of people to read. It might end up a book, it might be an article. But I want to do it, and it's the motivational battle I've lost frequently since November.
So now I have the motivation, I just need some creative genius from somewhere to get it all together.
Speaking of creative genius, those of you stuck for something to do this weekend, go and see Hot Fuzz. It's great and I haven't laughed so much in a long time.
Apart from the NASA-like title of 'Project One' on the inside cover, the notebook has remained blank since November. But I think I've finally got an idea that I'm interested in enough to dedicate time and energy researching, as well as thinking about wanting more than a couple of people to read. It might end up a book, it might be an article. But I want to do it, and it's the motivational battle I've lost frequently since November.
So now I have the motivation, I just need some creative genius from somewhere to get it all together.
Speaking of creative genius, those of you stuck for something to do this weekend, go and see Hot Fuzz. It's great and I haven't laughed so much in a long time.
On Speaking, Listening And Being Angry
We're nearly a month down the line from my last post, so feel it appropriate that there should be an apology to my select readership about the delay in posting anything new.
I have been busy running around here, there and everywhere as usual, but have also been revisiting the topic for my BA dissertation in my Bible study over the last few days. My topic intended to look at the media and see whether it could relate to the New Testament book of James and the challenge to be wary of the power of our words. I'm not going to post any of that dissertation here, so don't worry. It was soundly panned, so no need to inflict it on a wider audience than has already been exposed to it.
But over past days I have been pondering again on the challenge in James 1:19 to be slow to speak, quick to listen and slow to become angry.
I don't just want to add more words to the internet just for the sake of being able to do so. Hence the slow to speak and slow to blog for the month of February.
The second part of the challenge is to be quick to listen. I've made it my business to listen a lot this month. I have heard a lot. Problems from colleagues. Disappointment towards me from other Christians. Friends who are over the moon. Friends who feel they are facing down into an abyss.
The point I've realised in amongst all the words I have heard is that all of them have have a profound impact on my month, and in some cases, my life as a whole.
Having realised afresh the power of the words of others, I've been more determined to be slow to speak and appreciate the power of my words on others.
For me, this stems from a paranoia that I have nothing of any benefit to say to those who look to me for words. My team, the young people I work with, my church, my family, my friends all look to me for words. Yet for all my worries that I've got no idea of the right thing to do or say, I never stop to say 'I don't know'. Which would be preferable to saying some words to fill a silence and actually then finding that those careless words have had an impact far beyond their original intention and made something worse.
It's a tough challenge. I spent a year living with these speech ethics in James running around my head for the disseration, and I still feel I've not got them sorted out, five years down the line.
I hope it doesn't take another five years to realise I should be faster to listen than I am to respond with words.
And I know what you are thinking. He's not addressed the third part of the challenge, about being slow to become angry.
I'll get round to that as soon as I have mused on it some more.
But don't push me on it. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry.
I have been busy running around here, there and everywhere as usual, but have also been revisiting the topic for my BA dissertation in my Bible study over the last few days. My topic intended to look at the media and see whether it could relate to the New Testament book of James and the challenge to be wary of the power of our words. I'm not going to post any of that dissertation here, so don't worry. It was soundly panned, so no need to inflict it on a wider audience than has already been exposed to it.
But over past days I have been pondering again on the challenge in James 1:19 to be slow to speak, quick to listen and slow to become angry.
I don't just want to add more words to the internet just for the sake of being able to do so. Hence the slow to speak and slow to blog for the month of February.
The second part of the challenge is to be quick to listen. I've made it my business to listen a lot this month. I have heard a lot. Problems from colleagues. Disappointment towards me from other Christians. Friends who are over the moon. Friends who feel they are facing down into an abyss.
The point I've realised in amongst all the words I have heard is that all of them have have a profound impact on my month, and in some cases, my life as a whole.
Having realised afresh the power of the words of others, I've been more determined to be slow to speak and appreciate the power of my words on others.
For me, this stems from a paranoia that I have nothing of any benefit to say to those who look to me for words. My team, the young people I work with, my church, my family, my friends all look to me for words. Yet for all my worries that I've got no idea of the right thing to do or say, I never stop to say 'I don't know'. Which would be preferable to saying some words to fill a silence and actually then finding that those careless words have had an impact far beyond their original intention and made something worse.
It's a tough challenge. I spent a year living with these speech ethics in James running around my head for the disseration, and I still feel I've not got them sorted out, five years down the line.
I hope it doesn't take another five years to realise I should be faster to listen than I am to respond with words.
And I know what you are thinking. He's not addressed the third part of the challenge, about being slow to become angry.
I'll get round to that as soon as I have mused on it some more.
But don't push me on it. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry.
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