What's really Important?

Today has been one of those where you just catch yourself sort of spacing, not quite focused. Maybe only for a second or two and then you snap out of it, continue through your day, check things off that list and function as normal. Sometimes it is lack of sleep, contemplation, frustration, or just an off day. I haven't had to many of these lately, but then-bam-here it is. It took me literally from this morning until tonight to figure out why it was "one" of those days. I had this overwhelming feeling all day and I couldn't place it, not a weight, but just a sense. I pushed it aside and functioned as needed, came home and played with my son, enjoyed some time with my wife and relaxed. The feeling was gone. Disappeared somehow, then I had the realization. Everything inside of me was striving to be with my family, even if it was just "around" them, that is what seemed off today to me. As I lay in bed clicking around the Internet and feeling content I thought more about this feeling today and with a slight glance over to my wife sleeping next to me-bam-it was clear as day. I am blessed, I am so very blessed and I need to thank God for what he has given me and done in my life. A beautiful wife that I can confide in and love, someone to laugh with, play jokes on (ha), and just a special person with such an immense passion for life to just be "around" and spend my days with. A son that entered this world as a surprise and has remained as a gift. He has the ability to make me laugh hard and smile big with his crazy fun antics, to see him grow up before my own eyes is...well, nuts. This feeling of spaciness disappeared when I was home because they are what I was missing, they are what didn't feel quite right earlier, because I was striving to be around them, in their company and enjoying their presence. It is easy to get distracted in our lives filled to the brim with stuff. This stuff can help us function, learn, pay the bills or get frustrated. Most of the time it is essential to our survival but not to our fruition as a person. This stuff can't fulfill, heal, protect or even satisfy. Somehow though this stuff can start to fog up our true priorities in life, what really matters and fulfills. For me it is God, a true relationship with Him, based not on any denomination, religion or doctrine, but a real back and forth, sometimes upsetting, sometimes confusing experience where I can get mad and I can get excited. I can thank Him first for the grace his has given me in life, as I am not perfect nor will I ever be, and second for the people he has placed around me. Whether it be a family that astonishes me in our passions, goals, and accomplishments or a workplace where they have such a desire to see people find Jesus and everyone is continually growing, changing and adapting in new ways to help people connect to God and each other. In my life I have tried to grasp onto this fact and at times just try to remember it. When those days come where everything around me seems to falling and I can't figure out why, I just don't try. It may take me an entire day to remember what I need to, but I eventually look to God and the scriptures for reassurance, not always relief, but at least some support.

Death challenged

Abortion is what one person would describe as a "choice" and another would call an epidemic. In this heated election time the issue of abortion seems to take front and center for most Americans who share in a faith that something higher than themselves exists. I had the pleasure to experience a very unbiased, well-rounded sermon on this issue this morning. I heard strong words of conviction, personal stories of experience and Biblical truths in relation to abortion. So after ingesting this valuable information and taking the time to digest it, I have some questions, calls to action and definition's of what I see as the root of this tragedy in our society. I have heard it referred to as the spirit of abortion, but I say it is not just a spirit of abortion, but a spirit of poverty, neglect, prejudice, ignorance, lies and more. I argue that a president alone cannot change the fate of the babies future in our nation, but I argue that a renewed education on all the roots and causes of this issue is needed. I call people to stop acting on this epidemic every 4 or 8 years when it is election time. Not to say that we do not still share in the same conviction about abortion, but doesn't seem like the conversations over it, what causes it, and how to end it arise a lot more often when a presidential debate and campaign is happening? I call out to people to start researching and learning about everything that ignites this action to abort. We are at a time when thinking Pro-Choice and Pro-Life are at war with each other is a hindrance. We must start working together to change the tides of abortion, to pray, think and only vote on this issue is no longer enough. Americans and beyond must take action from the grassroots to the Government. I believe it starts in the cities and towns across America with a movement that unveils all of the causes that ignite the choice to abort. When the root causes and not just legislature are exposed we can really start to change the way America and the world views abortion. Then we can start to educate the world on what truly causes one person to deceive them self into this "choice". I truly believe that supporting local pregnancy centers, volunteering and educating yourself on the truths of abortion is only one step. We must continue to pray for repentance as a country and for the renewed actions of our government in supporting these centers, increase of adoptions, support for poverty stricken women, families and a fresh look at faith-based initiatives that actually work to improve our country (unlike this one). There have been steps made towards these goals (maybe with this one), but as usual the fog from other factors soon set in and the focus on the importance of this support for these initiatives shifts to other issues. I ask you, what can be more important than stopping the progress of abortion in our society today?

The Finale

Tonight was the last of the Presidential debates. I joined the fun 10 minutes late unfortunately (gotta hate traffic) and I was impressed at times by each candidate. I am a strong believer in researching and coming to your own conclusion. So here is the transcripts from the latest debate on October 15. You cannot be persuaded by any news station or fancy commentator. This is the real deal, what was said and who said it. Don't let Fox News, CNN, or MSNBC persuade the reality of this debate. Read for yourself on the realities of what was said and went on. I believe this election is one of the most important ones in America's history. Please vote and vote educated, not persuaded. Here is some quotes straight from the transcripts for you to chew on:

MCCAIN: I would never and have never in all the years I've been there imposed a litmus test on any nominee to the court. That's not appropriate to do.

SCHIEFFER: But even if it was someone -- even someone who had a history of being for abortion rights, you would consider them?

MCCAIN: I would consider anyone in their qualifications. I do not believe that someone who has supported Roe v. Wade that would be part of those qualifications. But I certainly would not impose any litmus test.

OBAMA: But there surely is some common ground when both those who believe in choice and those who are opposed to abortion can come together and say, "We should try to prevent unintended pregnancies by providing appropriate education to our youth, communicating that sexuality is sacred and that they should not be engaged in cavalier activity, and providing options for adoption, and helping single mothers if they want to choose to keep the baby."

Those are all things that we put in the Democratic platform for the first time this year, and I think that's where we can find some common ground, because nobody's pro-abortion. I think it's always a tragic situation.

(new subject)

MCCAIN: One of them happened just the other day, when a man I admire and respect -- I've written about him -- Congressman John Lewis, an American hero, made allegations that Sarah Palin and I were somehow associated with the worst chapter in American history, segregation, deaths of children in church bombings, George Wallace. That, to me, was so hurtful.

OBAMA: It absolutely is true. And, now, I think the American people are less interested in our hurt feelings during the course of the campaign than addressing the issues that matter to them so deeply.

And there is nothing wrong with us having a vigorous debate like we're having tonight about health care, about energy policy, about tax policy. That's the stuff that campaigns should be made of.

I am Scared

Here is some great protein to chew on. I heard these scary statements in a general sense from both Obama & Mccain in last weeks debate. It has bothered me since the first time I heard it at the RNC as the crowd, Palin, Mccain, Giulani and others chanted, boasted signs and preached COUNTRY FIRST. Personally that is a very scary stance to take, I believe God comes before country and to reverse the two is scary position to take on a personal level and a disturbing mantra to spread across America. That being said. Read up for yourself and learn, decide and vote. Jim Wallis wrote a great article on this subject and Lisa Sharon Harper just released a great blog on similar mindsets and scary stances.

Social Networking

First, this is an ironic thing to be talking about considering the underlying reason for blogs. That said, I doubt that I am alone when it comes to our exposure and the sheer volume of applications, websites, and resources that are everywhere now that deal with social networks. This Wikipedia page alone has hundreds and they are all meant to help us connect faster, better, more, and without too much effort. I agree with this in many ways and I can't deny the benefits of having these resources available. There are people who i would never have contact with if myspace or facebook did not exist. But is there a chance that while we all write on each others wall, poke, message, and tag all day long, we are missing out on that true "face" time needed? There is something to that one on one conversation, reading facial expressions and hearing the other person through body language. I think it would be safe to say that although time spent online has increased dramatically in the past ten years we all have created this amazing ability to multitask. We can text, post, listen to music, search Wikipedia and get paid simultaneously. The gadgets that are all around us hasn't hurt either, allowing us to do all these things on our cell phones. I have read and heard about those people who see these networks as a fog screen in our lives, useless and a waste of time. I beg to disagree, they can be utilized as a unique and ever-changing way to connect, relate, and discover things about each other or people we never knew till they wrote on our wall. But as with everything in life there needs to be a balance and I think our society today spends too much time in front a screen, we need to get outside more. Naropa University and John Davis Ph.D released a great article about the psychological benefits of being outside in nature more often. Who knows, getting outside may just relieve all that stress you post about all day and help you social network better. Here is some interesting facts that Ofcom (Office of Communications) has released about social networking, enjoy:

Attitudes and behaviours towards social networking sites

Social networkers fall into distinct groups

Social networkers differ in their attitudes to social networking sites and in their behaviour while using them. Ofcom’s qualitative research indicates that site users tend to fall into five distinct groups based on their behaviours and attitudes. These are as follows:

• Alpha Socialisers (a minority) – people who used sites in intense short bursts to flirt, meet new people, and be entertained.
• Attention Seekers – (some) people who craved attention and comments from others, often by posting photos and customising their profiles.
• Followers – (many) people who joined sites to keep up with what their peers were doing.
• Faithfuls – (many) people who typically used social networking sites to rekindle old friendships, often from school or university.
• Functionals – (a minority) people who tended to be single-minded in using sites for a particular purpose.

Non-users of social networking sites also fall into distinct groups

Non-users also appear to fall into distinct groups; these groups are based on their reasons for not using social networking sites:

• Concerned about safety – people concerned about safety online, in particular making personal details available online.
• Technically inexperienced – people who lack confidence in using the internet and computers.
• Intellectual rejecters – people who have no interest in social networking sites and see them as a waste of time.