10/15/15 - Yoda Was Too Hard on "Suffering"

10/15/15 - Yoda Was Too Hard on "Suffering"

Perhaps the most memorable movie quote on "suffering" is Yoda's:

However, Eckhart Tolle, extremely popular spiritual author, might disagree with Yoda.  Watch this 5 minute video of his thoughts on suffering:

What are your thoughts of the video?

Eckhart says that "you need suffering to come to a point of ending suffering."  Is this true?

What is a time in which you drew strength from a moment of suffering in your life?

Is suffering, to any extent, a self inflicted action as Tolle suggests?

Eckhart also states that when you see your own suffering, you can avoid inflicting suffering on both yourself and others because "the two go together."  Do you agree?

In what ways has other people's suffering led your own suffering?

In what ways has your suffering caused that in other?

Discussion point:  External Suffering vs Internal Suffering. 

How do we change the way we interpret suffering? 

If we are to truly live like Jesus, does that mean we should embrace suffering as He did?  Should we embrace that suffering for others' sake?  Just as He did...  How did He interpret the suffering He endured for our sake? 

Bible References

2 Corinthians 1:2-4

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

1 Peter 5:10

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

Matthew 10:38

Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

10/07/15 - Life is a Song, Start Dancing

10/07/15 - Life is a Song, Start Dancing

10 years ago where did you see yourself today?

Think hard.  We all have done those "where do you see yourself five/ten/twenty years from now" questions.  So what was yours?  Specifically, what goals do you think you accomplished?  Did you graduate high school?  College?  Grad school?  Did you meet someone special?  Did you get that promotion?  Did you start that business?

Pick one of those goals (or likely goals) that you had once upon a time in which you achieved.  Sometimes this can be hard, but you've accomplished something in the last five/ten years to be proud of - so focus on that.  Is life perfect now?  Did you "make it"?  Is it all you dreamed it would be!?!  If the answer is "yes" then congratulations!  I'm guessing that's not the case for someone reading this blog or attending this small group...


Try this: what is a goal that you have achieved in that time frame in which God had planned for you...and possibly you had no idea about at the time?


The philosopher Alan Watts (1915-1973) gave many memorable speeches; watch the video below to hear one of them.  Also of note, you may recognize the art in this video.

The video, you may have guessed, was created by Matt Stone and Trey Parker, both of South Park fame.


What are your thoughts on the video?

Have you ever thought of crappy song like what they detail at the beginning of the video?  How boring would that be?

God intended your life to be a song.  Just like Alan states "it was a musical thing, and you were supposed to sing or dance the whole time."

Dancing is a great analogy in this context!  Think of that famous quote "dance like no one is watching."  Why is that quote so popular?  The reason is because people are so self conscious about how good (or bad) they are at dancing that they are constantly worried about how they look instead of doing what the dance is meant for - to have fun.  Have you ever danced with someone who was dancing as if people were watching (self conscious and worried) and then with someone who danced as if no one was watching (fun and free)?

God wants to dance with you and He wants you both to have fun (don't say that to 7th Day Adventists or the people from the Footloose town).


Are you dancing through life?  Or are you just waiting for the dip?


Bible References

Ecclesiastes 5:18
Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot.

Ecclesiastes 2:24
There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God,

1 Timothy 6:17
As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Matthew 6:24-34
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ...

John 13:1
Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

9/30/15 - Sight is a Perspective

9/30/15 - Sight is a Perspective

Have you heard of the show "Hit RECord on TV" starring Joseph Gordon Levitt?  It is a show which celebrates the global network and focuses on collaborative efforts to create short films, music, stories, etc.

Watch the video below which was taken from one of the Hit RECord on TV episodes.  This particular video is based on a true story essay one woman wrote about an experience when she was 16 years old; Joseph Gordon Levitt adapted it to a script, a woman from Scotland recorded the voice over, a "ton" of visual artists added to the special effects, an animation company volunteered to put it together, while someone composed the music.  A total of 83 contributors (by my count) from around the world uniting to make this short video: that alone is actually pretty cool.

What did you think of the video?

Any key takeaways?

When discussed, our conversation quickly turned to perception.  How interesting it is that when hearing descriptions of the night sky, none were terribly consistent with the rest.  It created a difficult picture to put together for herself.  This girl could only imagine this beautiful sight to be seen by everyone else; but she couldn't see it; and she was struggling to imagine it.

Have you ever struggled to see something beautiful that seems to be observable to everyone else?  What were the circumstances?  Did anyone try to "describe the stars" to you?

On the other side; so many non-believers seem to search to see the "stars" like we can but all we seem to do is describe it to them.

How do you describe Jesus to non-believers?  How about the Holy Spirit?

It wasn't until someone who truly loved this girl, her father, gave her night vision goggles to see that she was finally able to see what everyone was describing; if with her own hue.

What is the "night vision goggles" you've been waiting for to see the beauty?

What "night vision goggles" can you give to someone to introduce them not to the thought of Jesus, but to Jesus himself?

What beauty can you create on your own?  Better yet, what beauty can you create in a collaborative effort with others?



Bible References

2 Corinthians 4:18
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Matthew 7:21
"Not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father will who is in heaven."

2 Corinthians 4:4
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the Glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Romans 1:19
For what can be known about God is plain to them; because God has shown it to them.

9/24/15 - Vulnerability is the Key to Happiness

9/24/15 - Vulnerability is the Key to Happiness

Brene Brown is a renowned scholar, author, public speaker, and research professor (think of her as a Social Scientist, really).  Her work focuses primarily on vulnerability, courage, self worth, and shame.

Watch this video below of a TED Talk she gave in 2011 on Vulnerability:

In a podcast interview the interviewer, Tim Ferriss, asked Brene about this TED Talk and why she thinks it was so powerful and successful.  Her response was very endearing.  Firstly, she said she didn't know they were recording it for anything - remember that, for the moment.  

Secondly, she was going into the talk unsure exactly of what she would say.  While she has studied and spoken on this topic a number of times she felt compelled to do something different.  So, on the morning of the presentation, she talked to her husband and said to him that she felt she should show some vulnerability that day and share something(s) about herself that she had shame, or fear surrounding.  He asked if she was sure about that and she decided to proceed.

The day after the presentation the video went live on YouTube.  She panicked (again, with her husband) because she thought she was only sharing that vulnerability with a couple hundred attendees in the room; not the world.  Her husband reassured her that "people probably won't watch it anyway, so don't worry."  Within a couple days there were tens of thousands of views on YouTube.  As this is being written there are well over 3.6 million views!

Link to Tim Ferriss interview


Isn't it ironic that a presentation on vulnerability required just that from the presenter?


What are your takeaways from this presentation?

Are you vulnerable with the people closest in your life?

Some people are "too vulnerable."  In that same interview with Tim Ferriss Brene said: "Vulnerability minus boundaries is not vulnerability.  It can be desperation, it can be over sharing, it can be manipulation, it can be a lot of different things but it's not vulnerability."  Do you know people like that?  Do you ever think you are that person?  There's a difference between being authentic and willing to share with those you care about, and giving people too much information to solicit information from them or simply to drive reaction from others.


Below are some key quotes from this TED Talk; ponder them and analyze if they strike you in any way:

"In order for connection to happen, we have to allow ourselves to be seen — really seen."

“the courage to be imperfect [...] fully embrace vulnerability [...] the willingness to do something where there are no guarantees.”

"Here’s what I found. What they had in common was a sense of courage. And I want to separate courage and bravery for you for a minute. Courage, the original definition of courage, when it first came into the English language, it’s from the Latin word cor, meaning heart, and the original definition was to tell the story of who are with your whole heart."

"You cannot selectively numb emotions…. when we numb those [painful feelings], we [also] numb joy, we numb gratitude, we numb happiness."

"…vulnerability is the core of shame and fear and our struggle for worthiness, but… it’s also the birthplace of joy, of creativity, of belonging, of love."

Can you find joy, creativity, belonging, love if you aren't vulnerable?
Are you putting yourself in a position to be joyous, creative, loved?


Bible References:

2 Corinthians 6:11-13 

We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.

Hebrews 4:12-13 

12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Luke 10:3-9 

3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

5 “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

5/6/15 – Perseverance is Magical

5/6/15 – Perseverance is Magical

This week, let’s start with watching this video below.  It is the TED Talk of David Blaine, professional magician.

As a little background, David is known for his street magic, sleight of hand, and, as you’ll see in this video, a number of crazy stunts putting his physicality and will power to the limit.

It’s not hard to appreciate his feat highlighted in this video, but to further illustrate how impressive it was, imagine watching that entire video again only this time hold your breath for all but three minutes of it.  Yikes!


What is Magic?

Magic causes quite a bit of controversy in the Christian world.  Is it wrong?  Is it evil?  Are they dealing with dark forces?  Is Harry Potter the devil?

It seemed appropriate to look up the definition of “magic” at this time:

Webster: The power of apparently influencing the course of events by using mysterious or supernatural forces.

After reading that, it felt natural to compare it to “miracle”:

Webster: An extremely outstanding or unusual event, thing, or accomplishment (some reference “divine intervention”)

What we do know about much “magic” is that it’s all about tricking the audience and has nothing to do with supernatural powers: pulling a card from the bottom of the deck rather than the top, creating distractions away from the trick itself, trap doors, etc.  David Blaine uses his TED Talk as an opportunity to explain how he did something magical, something miraculous, by understanding the physical body and vigorously training.


Fear

David expressed a number of times he was afraid through this process.  Possible brain damage was a concern.  At multiple points during the challenge he actually thought he felt a heart attack coming!

When has fear limited you?  When David encountered fear he persevered through it.  In what ways in your life can you do a better job persevering past the fear to your final goal?


“Magic” and “Miracle” are Synonyms for “I Don’t Understand”

There was a time when gravity was considered something of magic.  A force in the cosmos that kept us from flying away – well, that’s actually pretty close to the real definition.  Over time and through science more and more mysteries have been solved.  This begs the question: what are humans actually capable of?

David Blaine, in his TED Talk, says something to the effect of “if someone can do something then I should be able to do it too.”

Perhaps what makes David so successful in his craft, magic, isn’t his supernatural abilities at all; perhaps his success is based on his perseverance and belief that he can.

John Wolfgang von Goethe (a poet) once said “Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen.”  While that sounds a bit fancy free isn’t David a personification of that quote?

What false limitations have you given yourself?  Why do you believe you can’t do it?  What can you challenge yourself with this week to make magic, to perform a miracle?  Believe in yourself and drop all limitations.  Sometimes, even the smartest people in the world are wrong.

4/16/15 - Life Can Be Bittersweet

4/16/15 - Life Can Be Bittersweet 

Has God ever turned something bitter in your life into something sweet?  Here's a literal time God did just that for His people.

Exodus 15:22-27

The Waters of Marah and Elim

22Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. 23When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.^f ) 24So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”

25Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink.

There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. 26He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.”

27Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.

Let's take a look at this story on the surface level.  The Jews came to a water source only to find that it was bitter and, therefore, undrinkable.  Moses cried out to God and he presented a piece of wood to Moses, which he threw into the water and it became sweet and drinkable.

Often times when people read these stories they translate them as parables or miracles.  The lesson of this "parable" is that God makes all bitterness sweet so call to Him when you encounter something bitter.  The "miracle" of this passage is that God took something relatively inactive (a piece of wood) and used it as His instrument in a way that defies physics (or, more specifically, chemistry).


Miracle Berries

Have you ever heard of "miracle berries"?  No, this is not a 420 reference.  Miracle berries are a natural berry out of Africa.  When consumed, the naturally occurring glycoprotein in the berry binds to taste buds on the tongue and changes the flavor of sour and bitter things to sweet.

Due to insufficient food sources many tribes in Western Africa would eat these berries prior to meals in order to make the food more palatable.

We purchased pills created by this fruit to test it out for ourselves.  The pills help in standardizing potency as well as having a much longer shelf life than fresh berries.  You can purchase your own here.

It's easy to do a web search and discover great recommendations for foods to try with this, but here are a few that we found very interesting in our taste tests:

• Plain Cream Cheese
• Tastes like strawberry cream cheese
• Old Red Wine (over oxidized for pleasant taste)
• Tastes like a light port wine
• Old White Wine (that vinegar flavor associated with old whites)
• Tastes like a sweet Riesling
• Straight Vinegar
• Tastes like it was mixed with a lot of powdered sugar - good, in a weird and surprising way
• Lemon
• Tastes like lemonade - as if someone added too much sugar
• Guinness Beer
• Tastes like a milk shake - dangerous!

Application

Has God ever been the "miracle berry" in your life - turning something bitter into a sweet moment?  This could be a breakup (maybe even a divorce), a broken bone or other injury, a financial crisis.  Note that we are not suggesting, necessarily, that God created the negative circumstance, but only He can turn it into something positive.

Take some time to remember the hardest times of your life and try to recognize what has positive contrived from those times.  Thank God for them.

Back to Moses

Now, returning back to Moses and his miraculous piece of wood (or his parable).  What if that "piece of wood" was actually from the miracle berry plant?  Based on today's vegetation it is not likely that they were near the region where this plant is found, however a lot has changed in the last few thousand years and we know that the plant is indigenous to Africa; maybe it was.  

Sometimes God likes to work within the framework of natural laws He has created (physics, chemistry, etc.) and in awe of our creator we often write it off as another miracle.

To learn more about this biblical passage feel free to dive into this great article.

Biblical References

Exodus 15L22-27 (as seen earlier in this post)

Hebrew translation here.

Proverbs 27:7 A person who is full refuses honey, but even bitter food tastes sweet to the hungry.

4/9/15 - How to See Without Eyes (Literally)

4/9/15 - How to See Without Eyes (Literally)

Watch this video of "Real Life Batman" Daniel Kish:

Daniel was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer which attacks the eyeballs and at 13 months old his eyeballs were removed.  Not long after he was climbing in trees (sometimes falling) and exploring the world around him - alone.  It stressed his mother out (understandably) but she says that she knew she had to let him make discoveries on his own, even when those are dangerous discoveries.  Daniel attributes his development in echolocation to his mother's self control from helping him and holding his hand (both literally and figuratively) through his life.  Daniel feels that guiding the blind with hand holding or other means is actually debilitating to the development of independence for someone who is fully capable, if only society saw the potential of the individual.

What is fascinating about this story is that professionals in neuroscience have done various studies on Daniel and others using echolocation; including cat-scans.  The results showed that the "clicking" did not impact the hearing part of the brain; instead, the visual cortex lit up!  (Here's a good article to reference in this.)

Which begs the question: how do you define sight?  Is it having physical eyeballs?  Or is it the brain's reception of information?


Perception

A common perception is that blind poeple need to be guided and if they aren't escorted then they are in danger.  The perception is that they are not as capable.  Consequently, by treating a person as if they are not capable, then often times their capability disappears.  After watching this video and learning about Daniel's story do you see the abilities of blind people differently?

In what ways has others' perception hindered you?

In what ways has your perception hindered you?

In what ways has your perception hindered others?

Have you ever had a moment in which you are glad that you experienced danger/fear/loss because it taught you something priceless?

Daniel fell out of trees as a boy while his mom watched and cringed all so he could grow up to be a man who could see without eyes; and could inspired others to gain sight of their own.


Biblical References

1 Samuel 16:7
But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him.  For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

James 1:12
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him.