Recently I got to observe people in one of the wildest places on earth: Sam's Club at Christmas time! I made sure to arrive at approximately 3:30pm on a Saturday, which is a horrible time for productive shopping but ideal for sample consumption. Yes, I am a sample mooch; I confess this with a bit of shame. Nevertheless, I like free food, and I will continue to whole-heartedly pursue any strategy that will satisfy my palate. One thing I've learned, whenever there's a higher traffic pattern at Sam's, they really go all out with tons of samples.
As I was making my rounds, I was astounded to see that I was not the only one with this intention. People of all persuasions were circling the sample boths like third-world vultures. As soon as a new morsel reached a plate, men and women alike would reach in and snatch it in the blink of an eye. What blew me away was that these people were not even trying to act nonchalant. They had resorted to their natural instinct for survival, going on a full offensive to gather food.
After watching this for several minutes, I learned that I had to resort to this sort of behavior if I were to enjoy the riches of the sample aisle. It paid off big. I enjoyed two different kinds of shrimp, eggnog, cheese on a cracker, salami on a cracker, sausage and cinnamon toast, chip and queso, two kinds of cake, turkey salad on a cracker, bruschetta, olive dip and ham. It was magnificent!
On my drive home, I began to ponder this event. Soon I was completely mystified by my experience. What in the world could possibly possess adults who have more than enough money to survive, who in all likelihood had not missed a meal in the last decade, and who are (I am assuming) normally somewhat dignified in public to act like a bunch of alley cats? Where would this motivation come from?
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Friday, December 14, 2007
Christmas Thoughts
In my time off, I've had some time to learn from various life circumstances. Allow me to share. On Wednesday evening, my wife and I returned home to find a bit of a flood in our apartment. Our neighbor's hot-water heater had burst, spilling its contents into our bathroom and part of our bedroom. Long story short, I ended up sucking up water with a shop vac until the later hours of the night.
The next morning I was scheduled to go with a team from our church for the weekly pick-up from the local food bank. We were scheduled to meet at 6:30am; local temperature this particular morning was a chilling 31 F. In addition, the overpasses had iced over the damp night, leaving a number of slick spots and more than a couple traffic-altering fender-benders. It was not looking to be a great day.
Our pick up time was scheduled for 7:30, but the first palate was not loaded on our truck until nearly 8. Neither did our palates of food come quickly after the first arrival. We loaded what we believed to be the last arrival around 8:30. After I was several miles down the road, I got a call asking me to turn around, the final palate had just been pulled.
When I returned, they loaded a top-heavy palate of milk, juice, and sour cream in the back of my truck. At nearly every other stop light on the 15 minute drive to the church, Miguel and I had to redistribute the boxes in hopes of making it to our destination with all the goods. Unfortunately, one whole case of milk toppled out the back of my truck into an intersection. It was deemed an irretrievable loss.
That morning, weary and frustrated, I wondered why I had even bothered. Why not just call in about the flood and catch up on some sleep? Frankly, it was sheer obligation that motivated me to go, but I came to understand a deeper reason to move forward in future moments like this.
In the heart of the Christmas season, we celebrate the serendipity of the Nativity scene, complete with an overstuffed manger for the Lord to enjoy. We wrongly rid the stable of its splinters, sawdust and stink. We make it easy, but for the Lord of Hosts to come incarnate, ease was not a part of the plan. He sacrificed and subjected Himself to the common inconveniences and aggravations of life. So when life demands that you endure discomfort and frustration for the good of others, remember that in doing so you are walking the path blazed by Christ. Be inspired as you gain a greater understanding of the way He lived.
And I'll try my best to do the same.
The next morning I was scheduled to go with a team from our church for the weekly pick-up from the local food bank. We were scheduled to meet at 6:30am; local temperature this particular morning was a chilling 31 F. In addition, the overpasses had iced over the damp night, leaving a number of slick spots and more than a couple traffic-altering fender-benders. It was not looking to be a great day.
Our pick up time was scheduled for 7:30, but the first palate was not loaded on our truck until nearly 8. Neither did our palates of food come quickly after the first arrival. We loaded what we believed to be the last arrival around 8:30. After I was several miles down the road, I got a call asking me to turn around, the final palate had just been pulled.
When I returned, they loaded a top-heavy palate of milk, juice, and sour cream in the back of my truck. At nearly every other stop light on the 15 minute drive to the church, Miguel and I had to redistribute the boxes in hopes of making it to our destination with all the goods. Unfortunately, one whole case of milk toppled out the back of my truck into an intersection. It was deemed an irretrievable loss.
That morning, weary and frustrated, I wondered why I had even bothered. Why not just call in about the flood and catch up on some sleep? Frankly, it was sheer obligation that motivated me to go, but I came to understand a deeper reason to move forward in future moments like this.
In the heart of the Christmas season, we celebrate the serendipity of the Nativity scene, complete with an overstuffed manger for the Lord to enjoy. We wrongly rid the stable of its splinters, sawdust and stink. We make it easy, but for the Lord of Hosts to come incarnate, ease was not a part of the plan. He sacrificed and subjected Himself to the common inconveniences and aggravations of life. So when life demands that you endure discomfort and frustration for the good of others, remember that in doing so you are walking the path blazed by Christ. Be inspired as you gain a greater understanding of the way He lived.
And I'll try my best to do the same.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Friday, November 23, 2007
Enjoy Enriching Hobbies
Last time I began a three part look at what to do to get through dry times in your writing. Today I want to focus on the importance of engaging in some enriching hobbies. Eclipsing the sole motivation of improving your writing, hobbies are vital for personal health. One thing that all high-impact people recognize is the need to live a balanced life, and developing and enjoying a hobby or two is a key part of that equation.
One of my weekly hobbies is weight-lifting. Ever since I can remember, I've always wanted to lift weights. I have been a bit of a gym rat for 15 years, and I am probably more addicted to it than ever. Three times a week or more I head over to Fit For Life to work off some of the stresses of the day and to push my body to its limits. Every time I leave, I walk out those doors with sharpened mental focus, increased energy and a renewed confidence for the next task that comes my way. (If you are looking to add physical fitness to your schedule, call Fit For Life and ask for King Hoover. You'll not find a better health architect!)
Two of my favorite seasonal hobbies are deer and duck hunting. I love escaping the maddening grip of the city to soak up the sounds and smells of nature. Add to that the fellowship of lifelong friends and family, along with the thrill of the hunt, and you can begin to see why I love November. Just a few weeks ago, I got together with my Dad, a couple cousins and two of my closest friends on this planet. In addition to having a side-splitting good time, I managed to bring this guy home on Saturday...
...And this guy on Sunday!
(Yes, that's a 7 point followed by an 8 point!)
I realize this probably is not for everyone, so here's your chance to provide some other examples. What hobbies do you engage in to reset your mental balance?
One of my weekly hobbies is weight-lifting. Ever since I can remember, I've always wanted to lift weights. I have been a bit of a gym rat for 15 years, and I am probably more addicted to it than ever. Three times a week or more I head over to Fit For Life to work off some of the stresses of the day and to push my body to its limits. Every time I leave, I walk out those doors with sharpened mental focus, increased energy and a renewed confidence for the next task that comes my way. (If you are looking to add physical fitness to your schedule, call Fit For Life and ask for King Hoover. You'll not find a better health architect!)
Two of my favorite seasonal hobbies are deer and duck hunting. I love escaping the maddening grip of the city to soak up the sounds and smells of nature. Add to that the fellowship of lifelong friends and family, along with the thrill of the hunt, and you can begin to see why I love November. Just a few weeks ago, I got together with my Dad, a couple cousins and two of my closest friends on this planet. In addition to having a side-splitting good time, I managed to bring this guy home on Saturday...
...And this guy on Sunday!
(Yes, that's a 7 point followed by an 8 point!)
I realize this probably is not for everyone, so here's your chance to provide some other examples. What hobbies do you engage in to reset your mental balance?
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
The Sabbatical is Over!
After a month off, I've finally stored up enough thoughts to be able to post on a fairly regular schedule. As most of us have experienced, writing has its rich times as well as its dry times. Times come when the words seem to flow like rivers; at other times nothing even remotely interesting comes to mind. And let's be honest, few things are more discouraging than knowingly writing a dull blog.
So, what do you do when the compositional gears of the mind are stuck in neutral? Three things have helped me through this recent valley: 1) Read good stuff, 2) Enjoy enriching hobbies, and 3) Take some time off.
To reinforce the application of these three tips, I'm going to spend the remainder of this post and the next two highlighting how I practice each principle.
Read Good Stuff
Most who like to write also have a love of reading, a fortunate connection. Reading restores the verbal well and stretches the mental muscles. If you are always putting out but never taking in, you'll soon run dry! One key to get the most "bang for the buck" in your reading is to diversify your consumption. Read different topics and different authors. The broader your reading list, the deeper your writing.
If you do not know where to start, here's 5 must reads:
1. Just Walk Across the Room by Bill Hybels
2. Power Through Prayer by E. M. Bounds
3. Dinner with a Perfect Stranger by David Gregory
4. Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybels
5. From Every People and Nation by J. Daniel Hays
What about you? What books do you recommend?
So, what do you do when the compositional gears of the mind are stuck in neutral? Three things have helped me through this recent valley: 1) Read good stuff, 2) Enjoy enriching hobbies, and 3) Take some time off.
To reinforce the application of these three tips, I'm going to spend the remainder of this post and the next two highlighting how I practice each principle.
Read Good Stuff
Most who like to write also have a love of reading, a fortunate connection. Reading restores the verbal well and stretches the mental muscles. If you are always putting out but never taking in, you'll soon run dry! One key to get the most "bang for the buck" in your reading is to diversify your consumption. Read different topics and different authors. The broader your reading list, the deeper your writing.
If you do not know where to start, here's 5 must reads:
1. Just Walk Across the Room by Bill Hybels
2. Power Through Prayer by E. M. Bounds
3. Dinner with a Perfect Stranger by David Gregory
4. Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybels
5. From Every People and Nation by J. Daniel Hays
What about you? What books do you recommend?
Friday, October 12, 2007
Peace on Earth?
Big news on the wires: Al Gore wins the Nobel Peace Prize.
Yesterday, I had intended on writing a more moving, less-controversial blog. With today's news, I just cannot control myself. I am unable to stifle myself. All I can do is groan, "What a load of bull!"
Al Gore, aka Chicken Little, already won an Academy Award for his film An Inconvenient Truth. Of course, I have no problem with that. What I have a hard time stomaching is that Mr. Freak-out deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for squawking about global warming and living in a 10,000 square-foot mansion with $1,200 electricty bills. Yes, I do find that a bit hypocritical. Even though he does purchase "green power blocks," most observers would acknowledge that practice is simply a reinvention of the Catholic Church selling Indulgences in the corrupt days leading up to the Reformation.
What really disturbs me, however, is fact that what has been the most respected recognition for peace is going to those involved in a debated environmental discussion. The jury is still out on global warming. If one day the majority of environmental scholars comes to assert Global Warming as fact and not theory, then the work of Gore and the IPCC will deserve wide recognition and respect. Until then, as long as Global Warming enjoys the same theory status as the Big Bang, honors such as the Nobel Prize should be reserved for those fighting in legitimate battles for mankind.
A prime example is the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa. The emergency status of this continent is undisputable. Moreover, the people are dying each and every day that passes, so why are we putting so much energy and recognition toward the work of those that may fight off a climate change that might come and could kill us? Instead of rewarding Al Gore for his rants, the Nobel Peace Prize should have been given to Bono or World Vision for their work in fighting the AIDS pandemic.
(If you wish to challenge me on this matter, I would invite your comments.)
Yesterday, I had intended on writing a more moving, less-controversial blog. With today's news, I just cannot control myself. I am unable to stifle myself. All I can do is groan, "What a load of bull!"
Al Gore, aka Chicken Little, already won an Academy Award for his film An Inconvenient Truth. Of course, I have no problem with that. What I have a hard time stomaching is that Mr. Freak-out deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for squawking about global warming and living in a 10,000 square-foot mansion with $1,200 electricty bills. Yes, I do find that a bit hypocritical. Even though he does purchase "green power blocks," most observers would acknowledge that practice is simply a reinvention of the Catholic Church selling Indulgences in the corrupt days leading up to the Reformation.
What really disturbs me, however, is fact that what has been the most respected recognition for peace is going to those involved in a debated environmental discussion. The jury is still out on global warming. If one day the majority of environmental scholars comes to assert Global Warming as fact and not theory, then the work of Gore and the IPCC will deserve wide recognition and respect. Until then, as long as Global Warming enjoys the same theory status as the Big Bang, honors such as the Nobel Prize should be reserved for those fighting in legitimate battles for mankind.
A prime example is the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa. The emergency status of this continent is undisputable. Moreover, the people are dying each and every day that passes, so why are we putting so much energy and recognition toward the work of those that may fight off a climate change that might come and could kill us? Instead of rewarding Al Gore for his rants, the Nobel Peace Prize should have been given to Bono or World Vision for their work in fighting the AIDS pandemic.
(If you wish to challenge me on this matter, I would invite your comments.)
Friday, October 5, 2007
Gino's East
One of the goals of my recent trip to Chicago, aside from picking up some practical how-to's about small group ministry, was to try some authentic Chicago-style pizza. Allegedly developed by the chef at Pizzeria Uno in 1943, Chicago-style is almost a whole other category removed from the standard pizza with which most of us are familiar. For our experience, my friend and I settled on Gino's East in Rolling Meadows.
We went there starving. After only a few mozzarella sticks and a roll, our pizza finally arrived. It was a 12" pie, with the thickest crust I'd ever seen on a pizza. We did our best, but neither Kirk nor I could complete 3 pieces of this monster!
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