Some of the blogs I visit regularly have been including lists of questions that people have been asking themselves. Both Perry Noble and Craig Groeschel indicate that these are questions they are wrestling with. Perry calls his blog ‘Perry Noble Dot Com’ and Groeschel’s blog is titled ‘Swerve’.
In fact, I believe the pastor of our church responded to the post at Craig Groeschel’s blog with his own list of questions.
If we take the time and think about these, and other questions we may ask ourselves, we can learn a great deal about ourselves, how to solve problems, accomplish goals and become better people.
I learned about asking myself questions a number of years ago when reading the book ‘Awaken the Giant Within’ by Tony Robbins. Through the years I learned how important questions can be and more importantly why you should ask yourself tough questions and commit yourself to finding answers.
After reading these few recent blogs I started wondering about questions that I wanted to ask you. Are you asking yourself questions? the right questions? And are you committed to finding the answers?
And incidentally, if no one else is asking you thought provoking questions what do you think you should do about it?
Monday, April 7, 2008
Adventure Profile
Here's a quiz from White Water Challengers in the Poconos to gauge your Adventure Profile. A group of us guys went there last year for a white water rafting trip and had a great time. We are planning to do it again this year.
My Adventure Profile Quiz
Find out if you're a true adrenaline freak ... a couch potato ... or somewhere in between. These 15 simple questions should help solve the mystery, and steer you in the right direction for your next whitewater rafting trip.
On a scale of 1 to 5, answer how strongly you agree with each of the following 15 statements, according to this scale:
1 = “I strongly disagree”2 = “I disagree”3 = “Neutral” 4 = “I agree”5 = “I strongly agree”
Here we go:
1. I enjoy bicycling when the weather is decent.
2. When it comes to vacation traveling, I prefer "winging it" to having every detail planned in advance.
3. I would rather play a sport than watch a sport.
4. There's something about stormy weather that fascinates me.
5. I would rather go for a walk than read the morning newspaper.
6. I miss some of the playfulness and curiosity of childhood.
7. Within the last five years, I’ve run a 5K (or longer) race or engaged in a formal fitness program.
8. I believe there's great value in finding and following "the road less traveled."
9. I have at least one hobby or interest that involves physical activity.
10. I'd rather tackle a project that requires creativity and effort, than one where the outcome is already assured.
11. I encourage my children (friends, associates, peers) to be curious and open to new experiences.
12. I would rather watch the National Geographic Channel than a TV game show.
13. I think I should treat myself to more quality time with family (friends, associates, peers).
14. I'm inclined to take up new pursuits (music, art, crafts, sports, hobbies) as I go through life.
15. I think about being physically fit and sometimes I actually do something about it.
Now that you’re finished, add up your score, and check the chart below to see which whitewater rafting trips you may be best suited for. Remember, our easiest trips are frequented by 5-year olds. So there’s no dodging that one, no matter how low your score.
Any questions about these trips? Just give us a ring at Adventure Central: 800-443-8554!
Total Score:
1-30
Lean to the timid side
Lehigh River Easier Whitewater TripMiddle Moose River, Summer Season
31-50
Enjoy a good adventure
Lehigh River Exhilarating Whitewater TripSalmon River Hudson River Gorge (Summer season)
51-72
Like a real thrill
Lehigh River Exhilarating Whitewater TripSalmon RiverBlack River CanyonHudson River Gorge
73-75
Look for the ultimate
Hudson River Gorge (Spring season)Black River Canyon (Spring season)Lower Moose River*
* Lower Moose River: minimum age 18; experienced only; call for details.
How'd you do?
My Adventure Profile Quiz
Find out if you're a true adrenaline freak ... a couch potato ... or somewhere in between. These 15 simple questions should help solve the mystery, and steer you in the right direction for your next whitewater rafting trip.
On a scale of 1 to 5, answer how strongly you agree with each of the following 15 statements, according to this scale:
1 = “I strongly disagree”2 = “I disagree”3 = “Neutral” 4 = “I agree”5 = “I strongly agree”
Here we go:
1. I enjoy bicycling when the weather is decent.
2. When it comes to vacation traveling, I prefer "winging it" to having every detail planned in advance.
3. I would rather play a sport than watch a sport.
4. There's something about stormy weather that fascinates me.
5. I would rather go for a walk than read the morning newspaper.
6. I miss some of the playfulness and curiosity of childhood.
7. Within the last five years, I’ve run a 5K (or longer) race or engaged in a formal fitness program.
8. I believe there's great value in finding and following "the road less traveled."
9. I have at least one hobby or interest that involves physical activity.
10. I'd rather tackle a project that requires creativity and effort, than one where the outcome is already assured.
11. I encourage my children (friends, associates, peers) to be curious and open to new experiences.
12. I would rather watch the National Geographic Channel than a TV game show.
13. I think I should treat myself to more quality time with family (friends, associates, peers).
14. I'm inclined to take up new pursuits (music, art, crafts, sports, hobbies) as I go through life.
15. I think about being physically fit and sometimes I actually do something about it.
Now that you’re finished, add up your score, and check the chart below to see which whitewater rafting trips you may be best suited for. Remember, our easiest trips are frequented by 5-year olds. So there’s no dodging that one, no matter how low your score.
Any questions about these trips? Just give us a ring at Adventure Central: 800-443-8554!
Total Score:
1-30
Lean to the timid side
Lehigh River Easier Whitewater TripMiddle Moose River, Summer Season
31-50
Enjoy a good adventure
Lehigh River Exhilarating Whitewater TripSalmon River Hudson River Gorge (Summer season)
51-72
Like a real thrill
Lehigh River Exhilarating Whitewater TripSalmon RiverBlack River CanyonHudson River Gorge
73-75
Look for the ultimate
Hudson River Gorge (Spring season)Black River Canyon (Spring season)Lower Moose River*
* Lower Moose River: minimum age 18; experienced only; call for details.
How'd you do?
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Are you ready?
I have a friend from college that I think about a lot but who I don’t keep in close contact with any longer.
I first met him during the second semester of my freshmen year. My roommate at that time introduced us and we would occasionally run into each other between classes at the Student Union.
We started out following the typical guy pattern of telling stories and trying to outdo each other until we both realized that we got along well and truly liked each other. At that point we knew we could be open with each other without exaggerating about our successes, failures, frustrations, doubts, etc.
Eventually we became good friends and did lots of stuff together like going to sporting events, dances, parties and just hanging out. It was fun. Awhile later we both pledged and joined the same social fraternity where we did a lot more of everything together, but mostly partied.
We had a lot of fun and it seemed we were always together. In fact the fraternity pledges (these were the guys invited to join the fraternity but who had not yet made it through the qualifying process) used to do skits about us being gay. No truth to that at all and my wife will substantiate that. Because we weren’t good with the women students we hardly ever had dates and thus the reason for the skits.
After graduating I moved about 40 miles away and my friend stayed in his home town where the school was located. We both eventually got married and moved to different towns – he to the Harrisburg area and I to the Philadelphia area.
When he moved back to his home town to take over the family business and have kids I started seeing him at Homecoming parties he held at his house where we talked about the great times we had when we were in school, our families, our jobs and our successes, frustrations and failures. I think we made the school years sound much better than they actually were.
Eventually he got divorced and developed other interests and stopped having the parties and I got involved with life and kids and other interests and hardly ever went up to see him.
Our lives went in different directions but a few years later we did begin to see each other yearly at a fraternity alumni golf event. Occasionally I have talked to him about God and faith and tried to encourage him. Hopefully I have not driven him away.
The reason I am writing this is a result of a statement that I heard this morning that got me thinking. The statement is ‘Are you ready to meet God?’ I don’t want my friend to come to me at the end of his life and ask me why I never asked him this question.
I don’t know if he is ready but I truly hope he is. Hopefully I have been an encouragement and not a hindrance as I am concerned for him and his kids and his grand kids.
God said he loves us and that he will always love us. We have to acknowledge him and let him be in charge. Can my friend get to that point? I believe so I but I don’t know if he wants to or is willing to relinquish control.
I will continue to pray for him and his family and my heart aches knowing he may not be with us in eternity.
I love you man and so does God!
I first met him during the second semester of my freshmen year. My roommate at that time introduced us and we would occasionally run into each other between classes at the Student Union.
We started out following the typical guy pattern of telling stories and trying to outdo each other until we both realized that we got along well and truly liked each other. At that point we knew we could be open with each other without exaggerating about our successes, failures, frustrations, doubts, etc.
Eventually we became good friends and did lots of stuff together like going to sporting events, dances, parties and just hanging out. It was fun. Awhile later we both pledged and joined the same social fraternity where we did a lot more of everything together, but mostly partied.
We had a lot of fun and it seemed we were always together. In fact the fraternity pledges (these were the guys invited to join the fraternity but who had not yet made it through the qualifying process) used to do skits about us being gay. No truth to that at all and my wife will substantiate that. Because we weren’t good with the women students we hardly ever had dates and thus the reason for the skits.
After graduating I moved about 40 miles away and my friend stayed in his home town where the school was located. We both eventually got married and moved to different towns – he to the Harrisburg area and I to the Philadelphia area.
When he moved back to his home town to take over the family business and have kids I started seeing him at Homecoming parties he held at his house where we talked about the great times we had when we were in school, our families, our jobs and our successes, frustrations and failures. I think we made the school years sound much better than they actually were.
Eventually he got divorced and developed other interests and stopped having the parties and I got involved with life and kids and other interests and hardly ever went up to see him.
Our lives went in different directions but a few years later we did begin to see each other yearly at a fraternity alumni golf event. Occasionally I have talked to him about God and faith and tried to encourage him. Hopefully I have not driven him away.
The reason I am writing this is a result of a statement that I heard this morning that got me thinking. The statement is ‘Are you ready to meet God?’ I don’t want my friend to come to me at the end of his life and ask me why I never asked him this question.
I don’t know if he is ready but I truly hope he is. Hopefully I have been an encouragement and not a hindrance as I am concerned for him and his kids and his grand kids.
God said he loves us and that he will always love us. We have to acknowledge him and let him be in charge. Can my friend get to that point? I believe so I but I don’t know if he wants to or is willing to relinquish control.
I will continue to pray for him and his family and my heart aches knowing he may not be with us in eternity.
I love you man and so does God!
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Prevention works
John Maxwell, author and speaker on leadership, in an interview at Catalyst in 2006, said he heard Howard Hendricks say there are three things that people who fall morally have in common.
· They had no Accountability in their life.
· They were not continually reading the Bible.
· They never thought it would happen to them.
The last one concerned Maxwell.
Here are the three things that Maxwell did to change his life.
· He prayed this daily: ‘lead me not into temptation’.
· He got an Accountability partner and gave the partner questions to ask him regularly.
· He surrounded himself with Prayer partners.
Is there anything you need to do or change in your life to protect yourself from falling morally?
· They had no Accountability in their life.
· They were not continually reading the Bible.
· They never thought it would happen to them.
The last one concerned Maxwell.
Here are the three things that Maxwell did to change his life.
· He prayed this daily: ‘lead me not into temptation’.
· He got an Accountability partner and gave the partner questions to ask him regularly.
· He surrounded himself with Prayer partners.
Is there anything you need to do or change in your life to protect yourself from falling morally?
Friday, April 4, 2008
Use what God gave you
Go to Ben Arment's site and see a man who has almost every reason in the world to complain and give up.
He CHOSE to use what God gave him. What choices are you making?
The post is titled 'So what's your problem?'
http://www.benarment.com/history_in_the_making/2008/04/so-whats-your-p.html
He CHOSE to use what God gave him. What choices are you making?
The post is titled 'So what's your problem?'
http://www.benarment.com/history_in_the_making/2008/04/so-whats-your-p.html
Thursday, April 3, 2008
I learned something new today
I went to school today not expecting to learn what I did.
Villanova University in suburban Philadelphia was the location. I was involved in the mentoring program that my employer participates in at the University. We have been providing people to help coach and mentor teams of undergraduate Business students to develop business plans for a competition. The winning team receives funds to help them start their business.
The focus was on ecologically and socially responsible business ideas which could be profit-making or non-profit. Another co-worker and I met with five different teams and asked them questions about their plans as well as provided some answers to their questions. The purpose was to ask them questions which could help them in their research and analysis for the project.
During the discussions it was pointed out the Villanova and many universities are involved in having their campus and facilities become more ‘green’. A guy in one of the groups happened to mention that they use potato forks in the dining hall at the university.
My co-worker and I almost simultaneously said, ‘potato forks’? And the answer was confirmed.
This following piece is from the Star Press in Muncie Indiana and references the San Francisco Call Chronicle:
‘Yes. Some California innovators are finding ways to make compostable and bio-degradable table ware that is truly disposable. Their dinner plates and coffee cups are made from sugar cane residue and forks, spoons and knives are made from a mix of potato starch and soy oil.
To read the story, go to the Chronicle Website and search for "spudware."’
That’s what I learned. How about you? What did you learn?
Villanova University in suburban Philadelphia was the location. I was involved in the mentoring program that my employer participates in at the University. We have been providing people to help coach and mentor teams of undergraduate Business students to develop business plans for a competition. The winning team receives funds to help them start their business.
The focus was on ecologically and socially responsible business ideas which could be profit-making or non-profit. Another co-worker and I met with five different teams and asked them questions about their plans as well as provided some answers to their questions. The purpose was to ask them questions which could help them in their research and analysis for the project.
During the discussions it was pointed out the Villanova and many universities are involved in having their campus and facilities become more ‘green’. A guy in one of the groups happened to mention that they use potato forks in the dining hall at the university.
My co-worker and I almost simultaneously said, ‘potato forks’? And the answer was confirmed.
This following piece is from the Star Press in Muncie Indiana and references the San Francisco Call Chronicle:
‘Yes. Some California innovators are finding ways to make compostable and bio-degradable table ware that is truly disposable. Their dinner plates and coffee cups are made from sugar cane residue and forks, spoons and knives are made from a mix of potato starch and soy oil.
To read the story, go to the Chronicle Website and search for "spudware."’
That’s what I learned. How about you? What did you learn?
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Questions to wrestle with
Here’s a post from Perry Noble’s Blog. Do you wrestle with any of these questions? Or do wrestle with some different ones?
Ten Questions I Am Wrestling With… (I changed it to 9)
#1 - Is there anything in my life that I need to stop doing?
#2 - Is there anything in my life that I should start doing?
(By the way…the answer to #2 is YES…but in order for it to happen I REALLY need to wrestle with question #1!)
#3 - Should I twitter?
#4 - How can I be more efficient in the way I use my time?
#5 - How can I be a better husband?
#6 - How can I be a better father?
#7 - Will I ever attempt another marathon? (I am leaning towards a “no” on that one!)
#8 - Why, out of all the people on this planet, is God allowing me to be a part of what He is doing? Seriously, when I read II Samuel 7:18 this week I LOST IT! DANG…God has been so good to me!
#9 - How can we as a church continue to assist people in taking their next step with Christ?
Ten Questions I Am Wrestling With… (I changed it to 9)
#1 - Is there anything in my life that I need to stop doing?
#2 - Is there anything in my life that I should start doing?
(By the way…the answer to #2 is YES…but in order for it to happen I REALLY need to wrestle with question #1!)
#3 - Should I twitter?
#4 - How can I be more efficient in the way I use my time?
#5 - How can I be a better husband?
#6 - How can I be a better father?
#7 - Will I ever attempt another marathon? (I am leaning towards a “no” on that one!)
#8 - Why, out of all the people on this planet, is God allowing me to be a part of what He is doing? Seriously, when I read II Samuel 7:18 this week I LOST IT! DANG…God has been so good to me!
#9 - How can we as a church continue to assist people in taking their next step with Christ?
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