Non-fiction Attention Deficit

I love books. I love to read books - both fiction and non-fiction. I love to listen to audiobooks on long trips. I love to collect books. I have hundreds of books at my house and hundreds more in my study at church.

Where I struggle sometimes is finishing books. Not so much fiction books. I almost never stop reading a fiction book, but I'm kind of ADD when it comes to non-fiction books. I'll get one and start to read it, but then another comes along and I'll start reading that one. I'll go back and forth depending on my mood, but then another book with come along. I end up having dozens of books going at the same time. Some have sat on my read pile for months. (Okay, maybe years.) The books are really good and I do want to read them. I tell myself I'll get back to the book, and occasionally I do, but usually the pile just continues to increase and eventually multiplies.

Maybe it's a factor of my personality or something. I know other people who struggle with the same issue. I keep thinking if I have free time someday (that mythical goal) that I'll finish them and catch up. But then something good comes out on Netflix or Amazon or Paramount+ or... Well, you get the idea.

Sorry, no brilliant insight or suggestions for you today. Just an observation on the nature of reality (my reality, anyhow). If you have any advice... just write it down. I'll get around to reading it eventually. 

[Bonus points for anyone who knows the origin of the picture above.]

Something New for You

There's an old saying: You learn something new every day.

What if that's true? What have you learned today - a tip, an idea, an insight, a new way to do something? Was what you learned just random and interesting, or was it helpful?

Learning something yourself is good, but what if you worked to learn one helpful thing every day and then shared that with at least one person? 

That's the way positive change happens.

Graduation Season

I was up in rotation this week for the minister's column in our local newspaper, the Pine City Pioneer. Here it is for those who don't live nearby or don't get the newspaper.

We’re right in the middle of what I call Graduation Season. Like many other local churches, our congregation dedicated this past Sunday to honoring and celebrating with our graduating senior highers. Next Friday is commencement and, in the meantime, seniors are caught up in the frenzy of finals, scholarships, getting caps and gowns, paying fees, attending and hosting graduation parties, planning for fall, and on and on. This is the time it really begins to sink in for seniors that "this is it." Things are coming to an end for them as far as high school is concerned. Lots of "lasts" - last games, last classes, last time to see certain people, last school lunch!

I’ve been involved with students at some level for more than 30 years in my various roles as a youth pastor, volunteer, substitute teacher, assistant cross country coach, and as a parent. I love meeting and spending time with teens, and I have to say that we have some amazing students in Pine City. It’s always sad to see them graduate from youth group and school (well… most of the time, anyway!) It’s awesome to see how far they’ve come and where they are heading.

This year’s graduates have been through a lot in their high school career and have faced unique challenges associated with the coronavirus and our turbulent culture in general. Additionally, they have had to go through all the usual tribulations faced by all teens.

I am so thankful for the wonderful teachers in Pine City who work so hard to help them navigate these challenges. Our schools have gone through a difficult season, but our amazing teachers have worked diligently to come alongside these students and help them succeed. I’ve been a substitute at the high school for the past fifteen years and have seen how hard our teachers and staff work. Jesus once said that “everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.” (Luke 6:40) If that applies to our teachers, then these students couldn’t be in better hands.

Every year as I watch the seniors walk across the stage to receive their diploma, I’m reminded of a truism I often share with new parents: “The days are long, but the years are short.” It seems like just yesterday that… fill-in-the-blank: that they were born; that they took their first steps; that they started kindergarten; that they were a freshman in high school, that they started their first job. The years seem to pass by so quickly.

Of course, that’s true for adults, as well. It seems like just yesterday that we graduated, got married, had kids, and so on. It all seems to go by so fast.

That feeling is nothing new. In fact, thousands of years ago Moses prayed a prayer, recorded for us in Psalm 90, that addresses this very topic. He notes that our days “quickly pass, and we fly away” and so he asks God to “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” In other words, we have a certain amount of time available to us – whether it’s in school, in our job, or just in life, so it’s important to realize the brevity of our time and consider carefully how we are using it. We need to ask ourselves: Am I making consistent deposits in the things that are important in life? Because my time is limited, and my tendency, if I’m not careful, is to let the days slip by.

How do I get this heart of wisdom he talks about? Scripture says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5)

Graduates will be getting all kinds of advice over the next few weeks, but the best advice I know is to seek God and ask for the kind of wisdom only he can give. Which is probably pretty good advice for all of us.

One Secret for A Great Marriage

It was 28 years ago today that I proposed to my wonderful wife, Rosalie. I've never once regretted it. 

If someone was to ask me the secret to a happy marriage, one of my answers would be to marry someone with a great sense of humor. I'm glad I can still make her laugh and that we still laugh together.

Amateurs and Professionals

I came across as great quote today that I though was worth reposting for your consideration. It was used to describe writers, but I think it can be applied in most any area. 

“An amateur thinks everything he does is great.  A professional always feels he can do better.” 

Sometimes it needs just one more pass or polish. It's the little things that count. Some of it can only be gained through experience.

Not everything requires a professional level of expertise, of course. Some things are find just being "good enough." 

The trick is knowing the difference.

What A Picture Is Worth

If I were to ask you what the number one social media platform is, your answer would likely reflect your age. For older people, it's Facebook. In your 20s and 30s? Twitter. Teens and tweens? Snapchat. Even more than TikTok, Snapchat is the favorite for Generation Z, according to recent reports.

That lines up with my experience. Most every student I know uses Snapchat as a primary - if not the primary - social media messaging platform. In fact, I don't know many other than students who use Snapchat. My own account - with about 300 friends - consists of exclusively students and former students (and Rosalie, my wife). I never friend anyone I don't know personally. Not every student is on Snapchat, but the vast majority I know at school use the platform regularly to communicate with one another.

It's probably been almost a decade now that I've been using Snapchat. When I first heard about it, I thought it was a crazy idea: who would want to send pictures to one another that disappeared? (You know, other than for obviously inappropriate reasons.) But eventually I began using it regularly after seeing it's popularity among students at school and my youth group. 

What started as a just way to keep in touch with students grew into an appreciation for the platform itself, especially the way it has been appropriated by teenagers and repurposed as a form of visual instant messaging. To me there is an increased level of connectedness when you accompany a text message with a visual image - even if it's something completely random.

Different age ranges tend to use it differently, but a common trend among students is creating Snapstreaks. A Snapstreak is when two people have Snapped each other (not chatted) within 24 hours for more than three consecutive days. Snapchat will put a fire emoji next to their name with a number indicating the days the streak has been maintained. (It's actually a genius move by Snapchat to ensure daily engagement by its users.) I maintain Snapstreaks with about 35 students and my current top Snapstreak is with a senior high student and is 703 days and counting.

In addition to instant visual messaging (which I like using it for because it seems more personal than just a text message), you can also post to your "story" which allows anyone you are friends with to see your post. This is a good way to share information with a lot of people. For me, it allows me a peek into the world of my students. I'm a lot more aware of current trends and culture than I otherwise would be.

There are certainly drawbacks and cautions that need to be observed with this and every other social media platform. Some of the "Stories" Snapchat suggests under their "discover" section are not always the most appropriate, and certainly can be a waste of time, but they're easy enough to avoid if you want.

I'm not necessarily recommending it or advocating for widespread adoption, but just making some observations here. However, if you're in youth ministry I would definitely recommend maintaining a presence on Snapchat. Like the Apostle Paul said, "I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some." Gotta go where the kids are. (And it is a fun way to keep in touch with everyone.)

A Treadmill Advantage

I have a well-documented dislike of treadmills, especially when compared to running outdoors, which I greatly prefer. However there are a few advantages. For example, I did my daily run on a treadmill this morning due to the rain outside. 

And while running today I thought of another advantage: you can stop whenever you want for a bathroom break! 

So there's that. 

Still looking forward to getting back outside tomorrow. 

Good Morning or Good Afternoon?

My friend Greg Speck says that there are two types of people in the world: The ones who wake up first thing in the morning and say, "Good morning, Lord!" and the ones who wake up and say, "Good Lord, morning!"

I was subbing at school today and had a first hour study hall. It was very, very quiet (actually, quieter than the media center usually is!) It was mostly seniors with six days left in the school year. Some students were catching up on some work, others rested, and most were on their phones. It was actually a very peaceful way to begin the school day. I think a quiet first hour helps these students wake up a little more and prepare for the rest of the school day.

It's very different from having a study hall at the end of the day. Those tend to be much louder (especially the younger grades). Kids are ready to be done after being cooped up in school all day. They have a lot of energy and are just waiting to release it.

My energy patterns tend to run the other direction - as do most adults I know. For me right now I tend to have more energy in the mornings, whereas by mid-afternoon my reserves are lowers. I wonder at what point that changes? Is it a function of age or of role? Would I be more energetic in the afternoons still today if I were a student rather than the teacher? 

The important thing is to be aware of my own patterns and tendencies and leverage them so that I am accomplishing the most during my most productive times.

The Human Adventure Is Just Beginning

I'm headed down to the Cities tonight with Rosalie to watch Star Trek: The Motion Picture - Director's Edition. I'm so excited to be seeing this movie again in theaters! It first came out in 1979 and I loved watching it on the big screen - really the best way to enjoy this movie. It's now been remastered since then with the visual effects updated. Plus, it's the definitive Director's Edition which was completed by Robert Wise in 2001. This is the first time this version has been shown on the big screen as far as I am aware, certainly the first time the remastered version has been.

It's a different experience for today's generation who can watch the movie whenever. I remember when it first came out watching it in the theater multiple times. Then a year or so later I saw that they were screening it at what was then Manatee Junior College. I talked my dad into going with me and was excited to see it again, and it was free! When we got there it was showing in a mini-auditorium/classroom and it was on a TV hooked up to a laser disk! Not exactly the big screen experience we were expecting.

Back when I was in seminary in 1991 they screened all of the movies together in a one-day movie marathon for the 25th Anniversary of Star Trek. The marathon was titled "Sit Long and Prosper". There were only five movies at the time and I went with a good friend and spent the day watching Star Trek. That's probably the last time I've seen The Motion Picture on the big screen, and that was the original theatrical release.

This current (and probably final) version can be streamed in high definition 4K on Paramount+ (if your internet has the bandwidth to support it) and it will be released on 4K Blu-Ray later this year (it's already on my Christmas list!)

See You At the Movies

I enjoy seeing movies and I enjoy going with other people to see movies, but it's important to choose the correct movie watching companion, as theater etiquette is critical to the movie experience. 

Talking is never appropriate, other than perhaps a whispered sentence to catch your companion up after a quick trip to the restroom. Same with exclamatory remarks. There are certain people that you just can't watch a movie with because they are constitutionally incapable of silence for that period of time. I'm happy to hang out with them elsewhere, but not at the movies. Don't even get me started on phones in the theater. These people should be ejected immediately.

And my movie companion(s) should want to sit through the end credits (unless the movie is a complete dud). I've been a end-credit person even before they began putting mid and post-credit scenes in movies. Not only are they interesting, but they give you an opportunity to listen to the music or soundtrack of the film. Plus they allow you to decompress from the intensity of the movie and the credits allow time for you to begin to process the movie before the after-movie discussion on the ride home. The exception to this rule is if one needs to run to the bathroom, but then they can return for the remainder of the credits.

I was going to comment on people wanting to sit in the back of the theater - I mean, what's that about? But I'll save that for another time. In the meantime, sit back and enjoy the show (quietly!)

Your Attention Please

We live in a society where, more than any other time in history, the currency of culture is attention. People will say and do all kinds of things in order to get noticed or get more followers or more likes. 

The irony is that it's the people who don't seek (or get) attention that make the biggest difference in our lives.

So who can you notice today?

Bad Running Days and Walking With God

I started running about five years ago and learned to love the sport. But there are some days that running is definitely not fun. 

Actually, for the past few weeks it's been a real slog. Usually I will have average runs with a few really good days and the occasional bad day - often due to running in the afternoon (my preference is morning) or if it's really warm or humid out. I rarely struggle on cooler mornings, but even those have been a challenge recently.

I was thinking that our spiritual life is often like that. Sometimes I can sense God's presence and feel the Holy Spirit really powerfully when I'm having my devotional time or during worship, but other times... not so much. C.S. Lewis had an interesting observations about "dry spells" like that. The gist of it was that it is precisely during those periods that we grow the most when we persevere.

So in the case of running, I'm believing it's probably just a temporary thing, and it should improve eventually. In the meantime it's going to be a matter of just putting one foot in front of the other. When I can't run, I'll walk. 

Maybe the same thing applies to our spiritual life when we run into those dry spells.

Non-Scrolling Recipe: Amish White Bread

I haven't shared a recipe in a while, so here's one you'll enjoy (and you don't have to scroll through page after page to get to it!)

This is a great, simple recipe that almost always turns out perfectly. Rosalie makes it frequently and it's a family favorite. Great toasted or just with butter hot out of the oven.

Amish White Bread

2 Cups Warm Water (110 Degrees)

2/3 Cup Sugar

1 1/2 Tablespoons Active Dry Yeast

1 1/2 Teaspoons Salt

1/4 Cup Vegetable Oil

6 Cups Bread Flour

In a large bowl, dissolve the sugar in warm water, and then stir in yeast. Allow to proof until yeast resembles a creamy foam. Mix salt and oil into the yeast. Mix in flour one cup at a time. Knead dough on a lightly-floured surface until smooth. Place in a well-oiled bowl, and turn dough to coat. Cover with a damp cloth. Allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.

Punch dough down. Knead for a few minutes, and divide in half. Shape into loaves, and place into two well-oiled 9x5 inch loaf pans. Allow to rise for 30 minutes, or until dough has risen 1 inch above pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

What Are You Thinking About?

What makes you happy?

So much of the media - both the legacy media and social media - revolves around riling people up about something and making them outraged or angry. As a result, it's easy to believe that the world around us is a horrible place and worse than it's ever been. 

But is it? Or is that just our perception because of what we are exposed to day after day? 

We all know what makes us mad (and so does the media). But what makes you happy? What brings joy to your life?

Maybe if we focused more on those kinds of questions, we would experience more happiness and joy. 

The Apostle Paul put it this way in Philippians 4:8 "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

Of course, if we did that, we might have to get off of social media and turn off the news. But would that be such a bad thing?

Welcome Back, Old Friend!

 

The day is finally here and Mexican Pizza is back at Taco Bell, but only if you have the app - you have to wait until Thursday, otherwise.

 

I was excited to enjoy one again tonight after the conference track meet and so stopped by the Taco Bell in Hinckley. I got my order ready on the app, but then the app began to glitch. I went inside to just order directly, but they were unable to process the order since the Mexican Pizza was an early exclusive via the app. But my app wasn't working. 

I rebooted my phone, but still had problems. Finally - after about 15 minutes - I got it to work after removing all the items and starting over. Yay! Except... the app said there was an issue and to "go inside and check with a team member". Nobody knew what the issue was and couldn't even find the order in the system. Turns out the app had defaulted to the Taco Bell I visited last in Forest Lake! The manager called that store but they didn't have the order in their system either. But since the order processed and my credit card was charged the manager went ahead and made the order! How awesome was that? 

So the moral of the story, I guess, is that Taco Bell in Hinckley will take care of you if you have problems. 

That's the sign of a good business. It's not being error-free - every business has problems. It's how to take care of the customer when there is a problem. Kudos to Taco Bell in Hinckley.

Graduation Seasion

It's grad season now. (Which makes it sound like you can go hunting for graduates, which I am not advocating, unless it's to congratulate them.) We, like I think most other churches around us, are getting to honor our graduating senior high students this Sunday. Graduation itself won't take place until June 3, but with Memorial Day in there this Sunday makes the most sense as far as engaging with the entire church. This year we opted for a big celebration on Sunday morning during the worship service followed by our Grad Banquet.

This week is when I think it really begins to sink in for seniors that "this is it." Things are coming to an end for them as far as high school is concerned. Lots of "lasts" - last games, last classes, last time to see certain people.

As I'm developing my sermon for this Sunday I am thinking of all of the different types of advice that graduated typically receive this time of year. Some is cliche, some is helpful, and some may be both. How much do you think they'll really hear and assimilate? 

Maybe it's not about the advice itself, but about the fact that people care enough to offer some.

So what advice would you give to a graduating senior this year?

Rob's App Recommendations: SeriesGuide

This post won't appeal to everyone, but if you watch a lot of TV shows, like me, you'll love the Anroid app, SeriesGuide. It's one of the top apps to help track TV shows and movies. I have mine installed on my tablet and I use it many times per week. 

It's harder to describe than it is to see in action, but basically you add the TV series you watch or are interested in and it gives you a checklist of all the episodes of each season. When you finish watching an episode, just check it off and it lets you know what's up next. You can also link to the Internet Movie Database to look up actors, etc. You can track movies, too, although I use mine primarily for TV shows so I can't attest to the usefulness of the movie function.

Now it doesn't sound like much, but I'm telling you, it's an amazing app. I'll let you read more about it on their website: seriesgui.de. If you watch much TV at all, it's so worth it. I would recommend it on a tablet if you have one, but I'm sure the one for you phone will work, too. The best part is: it's absolutely free!

Finding Meaning in Unstructured Activity

It's always interesting to come up with post ideas for this blog. Sometimes a seed of an idea will germinate for several days or longer before I write a post. Other time it's more of a spur-of-the-moment kind of experience (like today!) Sometimes I'll start writing with just a general concept and see where it takes me. 

It's kind of like a daily schedule. Sometimes external events dictate your activities (your job, school, other commitments, etc.) and your activities are highly structured. Other times you have more of a general idea of what you might want to accomplish and then just see how the day unfolds, like on weekends. Then at the end of the day you look back and decide whether how you spent your time was worthwhile or wasted.

It's amazing how many times while writing that I'm able to bring this blog around and suggest a conclusion, question, or challenge that is (hopefully) helpful or insightful. And then there are the other posts, like this one, where you might have to search for meaning and draw your own application. Which seems like a useful ability to cultivate.

So what application would you suggest? 

(Hey, I ended up with a question, after all!)

Rated TR for Take Responsibility

This is a bit of a followup to my post on Monday about Dr. Strange and the Multiverse of Madness. Basically I argued that very young kids should not be watching this movie due to the intensity of some scenes and the horror elements. I personally would be very hesitant to allow anyone under 12 to see it.

After I posted that, I found out that there is an outcry online of people who think that the movie should have received an R rating due to those elements. I'm sorry, but no. The reason that PG-13 exists is because of these very kinds of intense elements that warrant a stronger warning than PG but don't hit the bar for an R (Restricted) rating. It all goes back to Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, which received a PG rating but was far too intense for younger viewers (especially on the big screen). What followed was the implementation of the PG-13 rating. 

I would argue that Dr. Strange is exactly the kind of movie the PG-13 rating was created for. Again, it had no nudity, no serious profanity (if there was some, I don't recall), and comic book violence. But it was intense, dark, and scary.

What this really reveals is a problem on a couple of fronts. First of the there is a problem with parents who don't do their homework to investigate what kind of movie they are taking their kids to and completely ignore the PG-13 rating. Shame on them.

The other problem is with the rating system in general. Let's face it: it's a broken system that's not super helpful. You can find tons of material online about the challenges with the board that assigns movies ratings, beginning with the fact that there are no clear guidelines. It's a very subjective rating. 

Also, the ratings factor in issues such as violence, language, and sex, but that's it. But you never know why a particular movie received the rating it did. Maybe a system similar to Netflix which shows some content would be helpful. It certainly couldn't hurt.

And what about worldview? There are a lot of PG and maybe even G movies that I wouldn't watch as a Jesus follower because of the secular worldview that they normalize or even propagate. But, then again, I do my homework (as much as possible) before I go to see a movie.

Maybe that's the lesson - be an informed consumer instead of being a surprised and dismayed one. (Or a parent who's kids are having nightmares for weeks to come!)

Providential Relationships

This past Sunday in my message we talked about Providential Relationships and the people who God dropped into your life at just the right time.

Think about it for a moment: Outside of your family, who would that be in your life? Who has God used to help grow your faith?

There are a small handful of people that I would say had a disproportionate impact on my spiritual life. The first was my youth pastor, Carey Olson. When I was in high school, he would meet with a small group of us early Tuesday mornings before school. We’d get together at Denny’s and talk about the Bible and life. And he’d challenge us and encourage us in our walk with Jesus. And then he would live it out. I ended up at Bethel Seminary in large part because that’s where Pastor Carey went. He was a great example to me at a critical time in my life.

Another key person for me was a friend of Pastor Carey's, youth speaker Greg Speck. They had gone to Bethel College together and Carey invited to Greg to come and speak a couple of years in a row at a youth retreat. And Greg made a huge impact on my life. I got all of his message cassette tapes and I listened to them dozens (and dozens) of times as he shared practical truth from God’s Word. We corresponded through the years and are still friends today.

The third key person was one of my college professors, Dr. Gary Burge. I went to college to be a journalism major, but my college didn’t actually have journalism as a major, so I switched to English, because I thought that would be pretty close. It wasn’t. So I was kind of searching around for a direction when I took my first New Testament class under Dr. Burge. And he just made the Bible come alive in a way that I had never experienced before. But it wasn’t just his teaching, as a person, he kind of took me under his wing and kind of mentored me and modeled a Christ-centered life for me.

There are a lot more, certainly, but these three stand out.

What about you? Who did God drop into your life at just the right time? Have you told them?