Tag Archives: GOALS

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I’ve Tried the One Year Bible- It Doesn’t Work for Me

I’ll be honest: I’ve tried to read the Bible through in a year, and I can’t do it. Each attempt leaves me feeling discouraged and overwhelmed. The structure, rather than helping me, I find becomes a hurdle. I’ve realized it’s not the right fit for me, and that’s okay.

pink pencil on open bible page and pink
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I grow Spiritually (for lack of a better phrase) by wrestling with individual verses, dissecting their meanings, and pondering their relevance in my life.

Sometimes, I’ll even do a deep-dive study into a specific book for several months, going verse by verse.

Quality over quantity and relationship over immediate knowledge is what we should pursue. What’s important is finding a method that works best for you.

The only key is- A daily habit.

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The Art of Mindful Listening

There was a moment in my life when I realized the extraordinary power of simply stopping and noticing. It was as if a hidden switch had been flipped, illuminating sounds I had been oblivious to. These sounds, though always there, had been overshadowed by the constant noise in my mind.

photo of ocean during golden hour
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Our daily lives have become an endless battle against stillness and presence. We find ourselves separated from the tranquility we need, consumed by the digital world and our own repetitive thoughts. Whether it’s scrolling through social media, checking emails, or automatically reaching for headphones when we walk, we rarely give ourselves a moment of silence.

I’m not talking about the new-age hipster type of meditation. I’m talking about actually shutting off the noise and listening.

The idea of breaking free from this cycle might seem daunting, but the solution can be surprisingly simple: listening.

Taking the time to intentionally listen opens a gateway to a world filled with beauty, and a reality that’s always evolving. This isn’t just a theoretical concept – it’s something you can try right now.

Why not gift yourself a 30-second pause? Wherever and whenever you’re reading this, take a brief moment to listen. Hear the sounds around you and let yourself be present in the moment.

By engaging in mindful listening, we reconnect with the world and ourselves, uncovering the beauty that is always there but often hidden by the chaos of our thoughts. Try it, and embrace the calm and connection that await you.

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My 15th Reading of Fahrenheit 451

The first dystopian novel I remember ever reading was at the age of 13 when on a snow day, I pulled a copy of Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 off my father’s shelf. I’ll be honest, I didn’t quite understand it, but the story hooked me—the idea of a world where people burned books instead of reading them? I had never heard of such a thing.


For several years, I’ve made it a yearly tradition this weekend to take a day off to put the phone and world aside and reread it. 

Today I finished my 15th reread, and It’s still just as good as it was the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th time. 

Ray Bradbury was a master of imagination and creativity. He was known for crafting unique worlds and weaving complex ideas such as censorship and human nature into engaging stories with his inventive prowess.

Every speculative author should read some Ray Bradbury because his innovative approach to storytelling blends the fantastical and the mundane, offering a unique lens on society that challenges conventional thinking and inspires creativity in character development, theme exploration, and world-building.

If you haven’t read any Bradbury- Go correct that problem now! 

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Forgiveness- It’s a Bit Tricky

I’ve been thinking a lot about forgiveness this morning. There are many people I need to forgive: Like church leaders that severely hurt my wife and her sister or those in my past that have wronged me. Maybe it’s forgiveness towards those who ignored me when I needed help. Perhaps I need to ask for forgiveness from someone. Who have I wronged?

Forgiveness is a tricky thing. Because when it’s all said and done, forgiveness is never for the one you are forgiving.

It’s for you… And that’s why it’s hard. Because forgiveness doesn’t always make sense.

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Fears and Dreams

“What if people hate it?” That’s a question many of us ask every day. What if our ideas, opinions, our views, and art get rejected by others? That’s life. Because in this crazy dance of life, every significant step we take, sooner or later, is rooted in two fundamental forces.

Fear: It takes many shapes – the dread of embarrassment, the sting of rejection, the ache of loneliness, the shadow of death. These fears linger in the back of our minds, haunting our choices, shaping our paths, and often holding us back from embracing the fullness of life.

Dreams: These are the lights that guide us, the aspirations that fuel us. We dream of recognition, independence, conquering our anxieties, and becoming something more than ourselves. We long for acceptance, to be seen as unique, to matter to someone, to be cared for and loved.

Between these fears and dreams, our lives unfold. They are the compass and map, the obstacles and the goals. It’s a delicate balance, a continuous struggle, and a journey we must navigate. Our dreams drive us, yet often held back by our fears. But in understanding both, we find our way, we make choices, we take actions, and we shape our destiny.