I just moved to a new address. It's a lower level prison which means more freedoms, less restrictions, no more 'bars', but it's still prison. I'm settling in and hoping to have a job soon.
Overall the change is good, but it's mostly a matter of perspective. You just adjust to wherever you are. I'm glad for the new start and I hope that I'll never see a level 4 prison again!
Friday, September 28, 2012
What's Your Vision?
I just finished reading Ken
Blanchard's book 'Full Steam Ahead.' It's an excellent book about unleashing
the power of vision in your company and your life.
Although I think it's a great idea, I recognize
that not everyone is going to write out and frame a vision statement or mission
statement for their life. But shouldn't we all have a vision for our life? The
bible says that 'My people perish for lack of vision.'
I don't think it's necessarily saying you literally die if you have no vision, but without a vision, are you really living?I've written before about living life on purpose. This purpose and vision go hand-in-hand. Purpose defines your reason for living. It answers the question, "Why?" rather than just explaining what you do.
You can't have a clear purpose without clearly defined values. As Blanchard defines it, "Values are deeply held beliefs that certain qualities are desirable. They define what is right or fundamentally important to each of us. They provide guidelines for our choices and actions."
Purpose is important because it explains "why" and values are important because they explain "how." They answer how you'll behave on a day-to-day basis to accomplish your purpose.
Your vision should give you a clear picture of the future, but should not be goal-specific. It's about being, not doing.Vision is knowing who you are, where you're going, and what will guide your journey.
You might think that being in prison sort of dampens one's outlook on the future. Sort of clouds your vision, so to speak. And it can, if you let it. Some months ago I wrote in Calligraphy and posted the following on my wall: "Learn from the Past, Live in the Present, Plan for the Future."Although I realize it's not unique, I was shocked to read nearly these exact words in Blanchard's book.
Had I clearly defined my values and my purpose and lived my life ON purpose, I wouldn't be where I am today. Although I'm here now, I can still define my values and purpose and set a vision for my life. I'm determined to live the rest of my life on purpose. So, what's your vision?
I don't think it's necessarily saying you literally die if you have no vision, but without a vision, are you really living?I've written before about living life on purpose. This purpose and vision go hand-in-hand. Purpose defines your reason for living. It answers the question, "Why?" rather than just explaining what you do.
You can't have a clear purpose without clearly defined values. As Blanchard defines it, "Values are deeply held beliefs that certain qualities are desirable. They define what is right or fundamentally important to each of us. They provide guidelines for our choices and actions."
Purpose is important because it explains "why" and values are important because they explain "how." They answer how you'll behave on a day-to-day basis to accomplish your purpose.
Your vision should give you a clear picture of the future, but should not be goal-specific. It's about being, not doing.Vision is knowing who you are, where you're going, and what will guide your journey.
You might think that being in prison sort of dampens one's outlook on the future. Sort of clouds your vision, so to speak. And it can, if you let it. Some months ago I wrote in Calligraphy and posted the following on my wall: "Learn from the Past, Live in the Present, Plan for the Future."Although I realize it's not unique, I was shocked to read nearly these exact words in Blanchard's book.
Had I clearly defined my values and my purpose and lived my life ON purpose, I wouldn't be where I am today. Although I'm here now, I can still define my values and purpose and set a vision for my life. I'm determined to live the rest of my life on purpose. So, what's your vision?
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Earnest Expectations
Hope is an interesting word. We often think
of hope as a desire, wishful thinking, or an anticipation of something that
might happen. I hope I get a new job. Or I hope my kids do well in school. Or I
hope I make it to my appointment on time.
I was watching Dr. David Jeremiah on TV today and he defined hope differently. In spiritual terms, hope is more of an earnest expectation. There's no room for doubt. There are no maybes or what-ifs. Hope is a belief, a faith, that a promise will be fulfilled. There's not necessarily a knowledge of when, or how, but a firm belief that in fact what you're 'hoping' for will be.
It's interesting to me the relationship between faith and hope though, because the bible says that 'hope that is seen is not hope.'
So, what's the difference really between faith and hope then? Aren't they essentially the same thing?
I think faith is the 'legs' of hope. The bible says that "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Heb. 11:1) 'Substance' here is the essence or reality. It's what makes you act on your hope. It's what keeps you from sitting back waiting for things to happen. It's what makes you go out and 'do' in the strength of your hope.
So what are you hoping for? And is your hope wishful thinking or an earnest expectation? What you do with your hope will likely define what type of hope it is.
I was watching Dr. David Jeremiah on TV today and he defined hope differently. In spiritual terms, hope is more of an earnest expectation. There's no room for doubt. There are no maybes or what-ifs. Hope is a belief, a faith, that a promise will be fulfilled. There's not necessarily a knowledge of when, or how, but a firm belief that in fact what you're 'hoping' for will be.
It's interesting to me the relationship between faith and hope though, because the bible says that 'hope that is seen is not hope.'
So, what's the difference really between faith and hope then? Aren't they essentially the same thing?
I think faith is the 'legs' of hope. The bible says that "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Heb. 11:1) 'Substance' here is the essence or reality. It's what makes you act on your hope. It's what keeps you from sitting back waiting for things to happen. It's what makes you go out and 'do' in the strength of your hope.
So what are you hoping for? And is your hope wishful thinking or an earnest expectation? What you do with your hope will likely define what type of hope it is.
Deepen Your Well
Have you noticed that at times of crisis
people turn out in droves to church, or to pray in groups? Think of 9/11, or
other tragedies. Why is it that people wait until a crisis in their lives, or
in the lives of those around them to make God a priority?
I was reading a devotional recently that I think clearly gave the answer.
When you're in a situation where you just have no hope, and no way to see an answer to the question 'why?’ we tend to turn to God at those times because we need the comfort of His grace. Of course, I'd argue that we need it at all times, good and bad, but as this devotional stated, "Like an oasis, God's goodness is found in dry and difficult places."
It's not that God's goodness can't be found in good times too. In fact, if we're honest about it, we'd recognize that those good times are a blessing from God. But again, as this devotional put it, "Sometimes God's gifts are seen more clearly when we are tired and thirsty."
Prison often feels like a dry, desert wasteland. But even in the desert you can become adapted to your surroundings. I think it's important to take the good times, even in bad circumstances, to strengthen your inner-person so that when you do experience those dry and difficult places you have a well from which to draw from.
If you're in a dry and difficult place, go ahead and look to the oasis of God's goodness. But if you're in good times, keep deepening that well.
I was reading a devotional recently that I think clearly gave the answer.
When you're in a situation where you just have no hope, and no way to see an answer to the question 'why?’ we tend to turn to God at those times because we need the comfort of His grace. Of course, I'd argue that we need it at all times, good and bad, but as this devotional stated, "Like an oasis, God's goodness is found in dry and difficult places."
It's not that God's goodness can't be found in good times too. In fact, if we're honest about it, we'd recognize that those good times are a blessing from God. But again, as this devotional put it, "Sometimes God's gifts are seen more clearly when we are tired and thirsty."
Prison often feels like a dry, desert wasteland. But even in the desert you can become adapted to your surroundings. I think it's important to take the good times, even in bad circumstances, to strengthen your inner-person so that when you do experience those dry and difficult places you have a well from which to draw from.
If you're in a dry and difficult place, go ahead and look to the oasis of God's goodness. But if you're in good times, keep deepening that well.
Prison Recipes
TUNA COOK-UP
2 Chicken, Shrimp, or Hot Vegetable flavored Ramen
noodles
1 Pouch of Tuna
1 Large spoonful of cheese spread (use jalapeño cheese if you like heat)
1 Large spoonful of 'Salad Dressing' (like Miracle Whip)
Water as needed
1 Large pickle, diced (using your inmate ID)
1 Package of jalapeno peppers (if desired)
1 Package of tortilla shells, or saltine crackers as desired
Directions:
Crush up Ramen noodles and add to water. Cook in microwave for 2-3 minutes. Let sit one minute and then drain water (noodles should be slightly firm). Add one package of seasoning from noodles (save the other for another time, or discard). Add package of tuna to noodles.
Mix cheese, and dressing in a small bowl or cup. Add water to thin slightly. Mixture should be thin enough to run off your spoon.
Mix thoroughly with noodles. Top noodle mix with diced pickles and jalapeño’s if desired.
Eat hot or cold with saltine crackers, or in tortilla shells as desired.
CARMEL POPCORN
3 bags of microwave popcorn
1/2 C sugar
13 Carmel candy squares
2 spoons of coffee creamer
2 spoons of peanut butter (if desired)
Water as needed
Salted peanuts, as desired
Crushed M&M candy, as desired
1/2 spoon of cocoa, as desired
Directions:
Pop bags of popcorn, and add to medium sized plastic bag, removing unpopped kernels.
In a small bowl, add sugar, caramels, creamer, and peanut butter (if desired). Use 1/2 spoon of cocoa if you want chocolate caramel corn.
Heat in the microwave for 15-30 seconds at a time, stirring regularly. Add water to thin the mixture as needed. Once the caramels have melted and the mixture is properly thinned, heat until the mixture boils for 5-10 seconds. Remove from microwave and stir immediately.
Pour half the caramel mixture over the popcorn. Using the bag, mix the caramel mixture into the popcorn. Repeat with remaining caramel. Before the popcorn/caramel sets, add additional ingredients if desired (peanuts, hot peanuts, M&M's, or other crushed candies).
Good eaten immediately, or the next day.
1 Pouch of Tuna
1 Large spoonful of cheese spread (use jalapeño cheese if you like heat)
1 Large spoonful of 'Salad Dressing' (like Miracle Whip)
Water as needed
1 Large pickle, diced (using your inmate ID)
1 Package of jalapeno peppers (if desired)
1 Package of tortilla shells, or saltine crackers as desired
Directions:
Crush up Ramen noodles and add to water. Cook in microwave for 2-3 minutes. Let sit one minute and then drain water (noodles should be slightly firm). Add one package of seasoning from noodles (save the other for another time, or discard). Add package of tuna to noodles.
Mix cheese, and dressing in a small bowl or cup. Add water to thin slightly. Mixture should be thin enough to run off your spoon.
Mix thoroughly with noodles. Top noodle mix with diced pickles and jalapeño’s if desired.
Eat hot or cold with saltine crackers, or in tortilla shells as desired.
CARMEL POPCORN
3 bags of microwave popcorn
1/2 C sugar
13 Carmel candy squares
2 spoons of coffee creamer
2 spoons of peanut butter (if desired)
Water as needed
Salted peanuts, as desired
Crushed M&M candy, as desired
1/2 spoon of cocoa, as desired
Directions:
Pop bags of popcorn, and add to medium sized plastic bag, removing unpopped kernels.
In a small bowl, add sugar, caramels, creamer, and peanut butter (if desired). Use 1/2 spoon of cocoa if you want chocolate caramel corn.
Heat in the microwave for 15-30 seconds at a time, stirring regularly. Add water to thin the mixture as needed. Once the caramels have melted and the mixture is properly thinned, heat until the mixture boils for 5-10 seconds. Remove from microwave and stir immediately.
Pour half the caramel mixture over the popcorn. Using the bag, mix the caramel mixture into the popcorn. Repeat with remaining caramel. Before the popcorn/caramel sets, add additional ingredients if desired (peanuts, hot peanuts, M&M's, or other crushed candies).
Good eaten immediately, or the next day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)