Posted at 11:27 PM in Books, Current Affairs, Family, Spirituality, YouthWork | Permalink | Comments (0)
Technorati Tags: Andy Root, Relational Youth Ministry, Relationships Unfiltered, Youth Workers
The Chronicles of Aslan Continues......
Posted at 11:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Have you ever found it hard to enjoy yourself? No, not like having a good time at a party or having a blast at a concert. I mean really enjoying doing something you are really good at, and being confident about it? Well, it may not be all that hard for you but somehow along my journey I picked up the notion that being great at something,exhibiting confidence, and experiencing sheer joy while doing it, is being prideful. Deeply etched somewhere inside of my soul was the belief that if I exhibited greatness in any capacity, I would be stealing God's glory. When someone gave me a compliment, I would hide behind the phrases, "It's all about Jesus", "praise God"! As if God were standing over my shoulder watching me with squinted eyes, like security, making sure I didn't steal His glory. However these days I am wading deeper into the river of freedom, and allowing it to carry me. I am really starting to believe that God wants me to let my light to shine and to do so unashamedly. Never have the words of Marianne Williamson rang truer,
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." by Marianne Williamson
As I sit pondering this on my porch, I can hear Jesus saying ecstatically saying to me, "Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." (Matt. 5:16 NRSV)
May we all unapologetically be brightly lit signs pointing the way to the Father. As others are strangely attracted to our light, may they receive direction on how to live life to the fullest!
Posted at 09:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Sorry if you feel misled this has little to do with Narnia, but everything to do with my 3 year old son. His name is Aslan Jo'el Coleman and he is a bright, intelligent, articulate and a hilarious little guy! His timing for humor is impeccable, and it all flows naturally. He doesn't even know he's being funny, well at least half the time.
Posted at 11:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Posted at 06:39 PM in Spirituality | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
After being at a desk for almost 2 years, I decided to get rid of it! I wanted something small, and something that wouldn't collect as much clutter. I also wanted something that wouldn't take up a large amount of space. Well after searching around, I decided to join my friend and colleague Joe Johns, in purchasing an Air Desk. I must be honest, I haven't seen anything quite like it and it looked flimsy! However after putting it to the test, I decided to got with it. It is indeed a breath of fresh air! I ordered it online from AirDesk, and it was in my possession within two days! Needless to say the instruction were simple, all the pieces were in the box, and it was a cinch to put together! After putting it together I put my macbook on it and went to work. So far so good, I will keep you posted!
Posted at 12:25 PM in Design | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
A few years ago, I heard Joseph Garlington say, "when God closes one door He opens another, but it's hell in the!". The hallway is the in the in between state, the halfway point in our journey! This describes my experience of Great Lent this year. I recognize that in Christ I am complete, but I still must allow Christ to be "complete" in me. St. Paul wrote to the community of the faithful in Galatia, “I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you”(Galatians 4:19 NKJV). This is in fact the original call of humanity, to be the Image and Likeness of God. Various writers of the Christian Faith have long contended that Image speaks of our identity and likeness speaks of our purpose. All of us despite where we are in life, are made in the Image of God. However, through sin, pain, hurt and other things we have become unlike God. Lent is a "season" of community repentance, it is an awakening. As we move towards Pascha (Easter Sunday), Lent represents a hallway of sorts, an in between place. It helps us to recognize that I am not, in order that we may become. It is the Journey of the Prodigal Son from a far country back to his father's house. At the Prodigals lowest point of being inhumane, he contemplates on eating pig slop, but at that point he has an awakening, he comes to himself! In a moment of self-reflection he realizes it just makes plain sense to go home. This lent I have had many painful awakenings about where I am in life, and by God's grace I'm on my way home. However, I do not journey alone. Christ is not only cleansing me, but he is cleansing His Church. It is only through repentance (metanoia) that we can truly be transformed and reflect the Imago Dei, the New Humanity.
Posted at 12:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
