Fred Savage or not?

Memories.

Currently I’m thinking about them as I started this new Facebook group that specifically focuses on the small Christian school I attended my entire school life (with the exception of college of course).

There’s this new topic in the group that is amazing.  Its simply a reminder of some of the things that happened at the school both to individuals and to the school as a whole.  It fills my mind with times, good and bad, of a day when life was simple, hair was big, and the internet did not exist.  And the interesting thing is that it is because I went through these times that I am who I am today.  The decisions I made then helped shape me to be who I’ve become.

Fortunately though, I do not have to live here any longer.  Here in the past.  I am now at a place where my decisions will still affect my future, but with a few more years of experience, I’m a bit more intentional.  I know where I want to go, and I know what it will take to get there.  So though I’m glad to be able to look back fondly at my growing up years…

I’m thrilled I am where I am.

I have a prayer journal I’ve  written in every once in a while since January 2000.  This morning I reviewed this entry written 5 years ago this month when Carie and I started dating:

Dear God,

I guess my desire is to be a man for you.  Like my grandfathers and my dad.  What examples you have given me and laid out in front of me.  I long to be like your Son Jesus Christ every day.  To reach new heights, and to love you like I never thought possible.
I also desire to love others in a true, honest, and pure way. 
And one more thing…I also want to grow old with Carie, and have a relationship that is ALL about you.  I want to grow and I want to help her to grow.  I need to be strong!
Help God!  Help!

I love You.
Marty

It happened in October 2007.  Two things actually that rocked my world.  I might be a late bloomer, but I finally got why Myspace and facebook was so compelling, and why RSS feeds were going to change the world, and why the connectivity of the new web was literally transforming as we know it.
Then I had a conversation with this guy who confirmed a lot of the questions that I had with his thoughts of what was happening and walaa…

Then I read this book called “Wikinomics” that explained it to me step by step.

And now, I’d like to share  4 thoughts over the next 3 or 4 days that I’ve learned about the way life is moving in the future.  These thoughts are mainly for me, and Of course you can ignore them, but it won’t change the fact that they are happening, with or without us, like a train that cannot be stopped, save for a run-in with Hancock.

My thoughts are as follows:
1.  Go Public
2.  Open Sourcing
3.  Get rid of your junk
4.  Create content

Going public is the first thing I’m learning.  Going public is not so much about narcissism, as it is about being an open book.  My new refusal to hide everything about myself because “I deserve privacy.”  There is a price for this of course, specifically in my profession of clerical duties, but I think this is vitally important.  Personally I’ve always felt this way.  Some call this immaturity, because “pastors shouldn’t act that way”, but I prefer to call it “being real.”  Sometimes me being real is good, and sometimes I make mistakes, but I believe the end result is health.

Consider this proverb:  “Better is open rebuke than hidden love.”

This is one of the reasons I blog and twitter - not because I want people to hang on every word I have to say, but because I literally want to share the things that are on my heart and mind.  Open, not hidden.  Sharing, and not stifling.

So I continue to work at going public, sharing who I am and what I believe all the while attempting to grow the fruits of the spirit Paul speaks of in the book of Galatians.  What about you?

By the way, two things I still believe in:  Confidentiality & Tact

This post was written with the Watercooler Wednesday in mind

I saw this quote on a blog that was quoting Mr. Andy Stanley at this year’s DRIVE conference, and I have been haunted by it ever since.

Family – Do you think more about how great your holidays used to be rather than what could be and should be in the life of your family?

Job – “My old boss used to be so great.  Now stuff is so disorganized and I hate coming here.”

Marriage – Do you think more about the way he/she used to treat you before the kids and before “I do”?

Church – “Man, those were the good old days!  When we used to know everyone in the church.”

Hey you!  It’s time to dream again.