Mind over Emotions

How much does our mind control our emotions?  How deeply do our experiences shape the way we think?  What do we base our judgements on and how do we know if we are right or wrong?  As cultures and society changes, the people they produce vary also.  Someone could argue almost any point and find someway to logically back it up, so God gave the Bible as a guide book to live by.  While many things are clearly stated, some of it has been left up to interpretations.  These interpretations are always ultimately based on what the interpreter believe to be right, in spite of claims of being based elsewhere.  So why is there so much disunity among Christians over the unclear issues?  I think it is because the ideas and ways of thinking are based on passed experiences and influences, which obviously vary from person to person.  The question must be asked, is it right to stand firmly on what you cannot validate beyond an emotional feeling or biased explanation?  The old say is that if you don't stand for something, you will fall anything.  I think you must form opinions and ultimately take sides, in other words, be hot or cold, but not luke warm.  However, at the same time you must also be willing to change your position should further experience or logic sway your thinking.  You must decide on which issues you can see the wrong and right beyond a shadow of a doubt and those that you choice to take a side, but are unwilling to fight over.

An Extended Family

Throughout my life, I have been extremely thankful to have a few people who, for no particular reason have taken an invested interest in my life.  While at some points in my life, I have chosen to ignore my own parents, it is almost impossible to turn your back on a whole extended family of people who genuinely care who you are and what you do.  Had it not been for these generous people, I would be much less of a person than I am and I wish to thank them for this extraordinary gift.  It also leads me to wonder about who have I invested in and really care about.  I am often so caught up in my own needs being meet that I have overlooked those around me when I am in a position to speak into their lives.  The saying goes that impression without expression leads to depression and I have found that to be mostly true.  When someone gives of themselves for you, you turn around and give of yourself to other people, and the end result is a deeper sense of fulfillment in your life.  If indeed God gave his all for me, the least I can do is to give my utmost to help others, and the more contented my life will be.  

Doing Big Things

I have sometimes considered the idea of being a missionary to another people in another country.  It seems like it would be adventurous, even dangerous, which always gets me excited.  I want to always know that I am alive.  This means doing things that create a rush of adrenaline, that help me fell the sadness of someones heartache, or anything that stirs the heart and challenges the mind.  However, often I think I get to caught up in looking for the big, broad things and loose focus on the small important ones.  Experience has taught that I can feel just as useless and insignificant on a battlefield as I do at home in bed.  A lasting sense of satisfaction and fulfillment are only to be found by focusing on our little corner of the world in which we have been place.  When we concentrate on digging deep where we are at, the broader effect of our lives will be of real significances.  Right now, that means to me working on meaningful relationships with the people I take for granted all the time.

Why Blog?

When so much of our life is use up these days by staring into a computers sceen, why start something that will take up even more time?  In the age of internet social lives, why risk falling into the rut of blogging about stuff, more than you actually do stuff?  I feel like the more I interact in the real world, the less time I want to spend in the superficial internet world.  Well, the reason I am starting a blog is that I have a desire to write about stuff that is on my mind.

I never could keep a jounal, it felt sort of like trying to write a story with not idea of what the theme was or where it was going.  Plus, emotions always got in the way, and I would end up leaving out the really important parts because at the time it felt to personal to put down on paper. With a blog however, I can have the freedom to write whatever random thing is on my mind whenever I want to.  The best part about it is that someone else may read it.