http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org Pilgrimage of the Heart - By Jeff Goins - Church, missions, and the kingdom of God en-us Tue, 9 Feb 2010 08:11:11 GMT 30 http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=are-there-movies-in-heaven http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=are-there-movies-in-heaven Twitter friend PastorElvis (not his real name, unfortunately) asked me the following question this morning:   I know God loves country music but does "he" allow tv and movies in heaven...one thing I would really really miss.   First of all, I contend with the idea that God Almighty loves country music. He is most definitely a hardcore Led Zeppelin fan.   Second, I thought that this was a provocative question, because it raised a deeper question: Why do we watch movies and TV shows?   My wife and I spent the weekend mostly "vegging out" to Redbox movies and reruns of The Office on Netflix. It was a nice, much-needed rest after a long week of work and emotional fatigue for the both of us.   I'll tell you why I watch movies: Because I want to feel like I am part of a bigger story.   Most books, movies, and stories captivate us with intriguing, dangerous plots or overwhelming scenes of beauty. We love these things, because we want to es Mon, 8 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=haiti-doesnt-need-your-pity http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=haiti-doesnt-need-your-pity They say that Haiti should be pitied.    They say that we should feel bad for all those "poor, starving people" over there. They say that the destruction caused by this awful earthquake can never be redeemed, that Haiti will never be what it could have been. They say that tens of thousands of children are now orphaned, the economy is in shambles, and some people may never recover. But I've been hearing different reports...     They say that God has cursed Haiti and abandoned it.   They say that all our good intentions to help this nation may not actually work. They said that we should feel sorry for this nation, that they need our condolences and handouts. They say that hope in Haiti is fading.   But the Haitian church seems to be singing a different song...     The videos above are of real churches that we have encountered. The last one is of a group of Haitian pastors who believe th Sat, 6 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=a-million-miles-in-a-thousand-years-donald-miller-and-story http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=a-million-miles-in-a-thousand-years-donald-miller-and-story I read Donald Miller's newest book A Million Miles in a Thousand Years a couple of months ago. It's about time that I shared my thoughts, since I co-authored the book. (Kidding! But there's a funny story behind that.) I both loved and hated it.   I loved that Don challenged his readers to live a more interesting story.   I hated some of the flaws of the entertainment industry that were revealed. Okay, part of me kind of enjoyed this, but it also made me sad. The first part of the book is about how Don and a couple of screenwriters are trying to turn Blue Like Jazz into a movie and, in the process, learn that his life isn't that interesting. For me, it exposed how Hollywood hijacks our stories and forces us to digest their versions of them. They did this with Don's story, and I thought it was manipulative.   To redeem this, Don reflected on his own life and applied the basic concepts of story to live a more interesting story in the future. The result is this compel Fri, 5 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=social-justice-can-cost-you-your-soul http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=social-justice-can-cost-you-your-soul If you're not careful, this whole fad of caring for the poor and doing good works for the destitute can cost you your soul.   I know that sounds melodramatic, but it's true. In fact, I've seen it happen many times -- in my life and in the lives of my friends. Good works has become an obsession; the doing has replaced the being that is so necessary in the Christian life. We can be tempted to not act out of faith in what God will do, but instead out of fear that he won't do something. Instead of abiding in the vine, we try to make fruit spontaneously spring from desolate earth.   It doesn't work like that.   Be careful with this, friends. I mean it. Yes, helping the poor is Scriptural; feeding the hungry is what Jesus would have you do; combating AIDS is a noble battle. But these efforts in and of themselves can be counter-productive; they can cause us to rely upon on our own strength. If we're not careful, we can end up resenting God for not fixing a problem how Thu, 4 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=mission-trips-for-your-teen-or-college-student http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=mission-trips-for-your-teen-or-college-student I have a meeting with a college pastor this afternoon to discuss an upcoming spring break mission trip for his group. From the sound of it, many of the students haven't had much missions experience. It got me thinking about how important it is for teenagers and college students to learn how to serve on a mission trip, to have their faith and worldview stretched to the absolute max.   This season can be a busy one for us at Adventures In Missions (AIM). People start thinking about what they're doing for the summer, and we tend to fill up a lot of our mission trips. As an organization, we've been doing everything we can (from new programs to discount pricing) to ensure that young people still have an opportunity to have a radical, life-changing experience in the mission field.   Short-term missions catches a lot of flak and criticism these days (some of which is due). But make no mistake: a mission trip doesn't only benefit those who are going on the trip. I used to be Wed, 3 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=all-marketers-are-liars-or-tell-stories http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=all-marketers-are-liars-or-tell-stories I need to preface this post by saying that I have always hated the idea of marketing. I grew up in a house that didn't have a lot of money, so we rarely bought what was trendy (except for maybe that pair of red Air Jordans, which I'm still not sure how we afforded).   I grew up, basically ignoring advertisers. As an adult, I found ads to be disingenuous, as if companies were trying to trick people into buying their products. (To my credit, many were.)   So, when my job title had the word "marketing" attached to it, I cringed. However, over the past three years of serving with Adventures In Missions, I've learned that marketing can be more than tricking people. It can actually mean giving people what they want.   Moreover, I've learned that really great marketing involves an authentic story that people can relate to. I always did love stories.   Seth Godin helped me realize this -- ironically with a book that called marketers "liars."   All Mar Tue, 2 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=dont-give-up-my-last-lecture http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=dont-give-up-my-last-lecture In college, we had a convocation series called the "Last Lecture Series." This was a chance for our professors to give one last lecture to the student body, to pass on one last bit of sage advice.   It was a hypothetical situation, of course; this wasn't their last lecture. However, the idea was compelling: If you had one last message to share with the world, what would it be?   Mine would be this: Don't give up.   To the mother whose kids drive her crazy, don't give up. Your children need to see strength that endures in the midst of chaos. In fact, there is no other kind.   To the father whose son is away at war and hasn't called in months, don't give up. Hope is a powerful ally.   To the pastor whose church just doesn't seem to grow, do not give up. Your calling trumps your circumstance.   To the cubicle-dweller who has dreams of a life less ordinary, don't give up. The "real world" isn't all that it's cracked up to be.   To t Mon, 1 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=people-pleasing-and-god http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=people-pleasing-and-god I just read this from the Tozer Devotional yesterday:   "We'll never be where we should be in our spiritual lives until we are so devoted to Christ that we ask no other approbation than His smile. When we are wholly lost in Him the frantic effort to please men will come to an end. The circle of persons we struggle to please will be narrowed to One. Then we will know true freedom, but not a moment before." (A.W. Tozer, The Price of Neglect, 141) Wow. (By the way, approbation means "approval", "commendation", or "praise.") I love the idea that we don't overcome people-pleasing through personal discipline or skill, but rather by getting more completely lost in God.   So, whom are you trying to please? Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=the-kind-of-person-you-want-to-be http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=the-kind-of-person-you-want-to-be The kind of person you want to be is someone who cares for others so much that it hurts. She carries her friends' burdens and struggles not in an unhealthy, codependent way, but in a way that is compassionate.   The kind of person you want to be doesn't have to run his mouth every five seconds just to be heard. He is a listener, not because he's waiting for his turn to talk, but rather because he loves to hear other people's stories. This kind of person actually enjoys listening.   The kind of person you want to be is someone who restores and reconciles. People always feel better about themselves after having a conversation with this person. She is patient and kind, loving and gracious. She sees the best in people. This kind of person shows up early to parties and leaves late, sticking around to help you clean up the mess.   The kind of person you want to be expects the best of people; when there is temptation to judge or assume the worst, this person always avoi Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=who-takes-care-of-you http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=who-takes-care-of-you I had a rough day yesterday.   I think I got frustrated with myself -- my own procrastination, inability to do everything that I wanted to do, and general humanness. By the end of the day, I was emotionally tired, not to mention a bit physically fatigued from going since 5am.   I came home and kind of crashed on the couch. I probably whined a bit to my wife, too, if I have to be perfectly honest.   Then, guess what came next...   She took care of me. Let me doze off on her lap while watching American Idol. Made me a sandwich. Warmed up some hot chocolate for me. Even baked some cookies. All to lift my spirits. When we got married, we sort of agreed to be there for each other like this.   And what I'm learning about marriage -- and life -- is this: We all need someone to be there for us. We weren't supposed to make it on our own. We need to be taken care of.   Not only that, we were put here on this earth to take care of someone else, Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=injustice-and-the-spirit-of-change http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=injustice-and-the-spirit-of-change Here's a short essay/poem I wrote the other night (FYI - I'm going to start emailing the whole blog post to anyone who has subscribed to update alerts, so that you can get each blog delivered to your inbox):   The spirit of innovation lies dormant in every potential world-changer (read: you). It begins with a whisper:   Something's not right.   And it grows. As does your passion for change and your contempt for the status quo. The whisper grows into a murmur, a conversation of which you catch bits and pieces on occasion. It becomes a dialogue to which only a select few are privy.   Something's definitely not right. Your frustration grows. More and more, life seems to be broken and you wonder why nobody notices. You can't stomach the idea of the alternative. That some may actually notice and choose to not act. The murmur intensifies and snow-balls into a shout, climaxing into a deafening roar, like a train on an old railroad, the tracks bouncin Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=interview-with-seth-godin-artists-linchpins-and-following-the-rules http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=interview-with-seth-godin-artists-linchpins-and-following-the-rules Today, I have the privilege of interviewing one of my favorite business authors Seth Godin, as part of a blog tour he's doing for his new book Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? (an excellent book for those who don't want to ever have to worry about getting fired).   I'm working my way through Linchpin right now; it's excellent. As always, I recommend this treasure from Godin, even if you don't consider yourself a businessperson, marketer, or entrepreneur. Like Tribes, Linchpin is an appropriate read for anyone who longs to do meaningful work in a unique way. Here's the interview... *** Your new book Linchpin is about how everyone now is an "artist." Does technology make this easier or harder? What challenges or distractions does the modern-day artist face that Michelangelo and da Vinci never had to bother with? I think it's important to distinguish between painters and artists. I'm talking about artists, and I define them as human beings that make change by Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=decisions-decisions http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=decisions-decisions It's tough to make a decision.   When approaching crucial decisions, I've often waffled back and forth between what was the right one to make. It's not uncommon for doubts to assail me:   How do I know if it's not the right choice? What if I make a mistake? What if I change my mind?   This past week, I've had to make some tough, off-the-cuff calls at work. I haven't had the liberty or leisure of making a decision and then going back to change it. I've had to make the call and stick with whatever the consequences were.   There have also been times in my marriage when this has been necessary. As simple as where to eat on a Saturday night or as difficult as what kind of car we should buy. "I just need you to make a decision," my wife will sometimes say. She's not telling me that she doesn't want her voice to count or that she doesn't trust herself.   She's asking me lead.   Sometimes, after praying, thinking, planning, and asking for adv Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=what-does-haiti-need http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=what-does-haiti-need After blogger Anne Jackson shared on her blog that she was going to Haiti, she got a myriad of responses, some of which criticized her as a "non-expert" going into a place where she wasn't currently needed.   One person shared a quote from Shaun King, a pastor who has been on the ground in Haiti since the earthquake, sharing what he's seen and experienced via Twitter: "The experts were wrong. What is missing in Haiti is passionate, hard-working... non-experts." (For the rest of the string of quotes, click here.) I love that. You all know what I think of experts, anyway. (Hint: They don't exist. Not really.)   CNN reporter Anderson Cooper recently shared a report from Haiti, in which he said, "Each person's pain deserves to be known... there is not enough help to be had." In his reflection from Port-au-Prince, he describes the violence and chaos and despair in the country: "Most people are calm; they pick through the rubble and save what they can. They sweep up th Sun, 24 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=the-haiti-relief-plan http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=the-haiti-relief-plan Yesterday, I recorded my boss Seth sharing this video announcement about what we were doing to proactively respond to the disaster in Haiti. I've been telling friends and family for a week now how proud I am of AIM and the strategy that we're implementing. It just makes sense.   While it's certainly natural to want to rush into the thick of things, I appreciate how we are assessing the situation before sending hundreds of people into Haiti. That sort of thing can be done with the best of intentions and have the worst of outcomes. The last thing you want is for your relief teams to be diverting resources from those most in need.   Our reconnaissance teams currently on the ground are carefully collecting information that will allow us to send more groups in the future in a responsible way. While the circumstances are certainly tragic, we really are uniquely positioned to respond in a way that will make a significant impact on Haiti.   If you want to know more s Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=the-definition-of-marketing http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=the-definition-of-marketing Found this definition of marketing (and love it) on a blog interview with Seth Godin:   I think that marketing is the art of telling a story to a consumer that they want to hear that lets them persuade themselves that they want to buy something. And inherent to that story is that you have to have something that they want you can't force it on them. Number two is you have to be authentic, you have to tell them the truth. You can't have a story that's a fraud. And number three, your story has to be so remarkable that people want to tell it to other people. When you put all those pieces together that's what a marketer does for a living. What I find so compelling about Godin's writing is that it's no-nonsense and that it's real. He's paying attention to how the world's changing and giving a clarion call for change... and not just in business, but in the way that everything is communicated.   And that's why I think that this post is relevant to you, eve Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=when-your-calling-feels-exhausting http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=when-your-calling-feels-exhausting If I ever wanted to quit, this would be the week to do it. I'm traveling, maxed out responsibilities-wise, going to a bunch of meetings, and managing more projects and tasks than I can count. On top of that, our organization, as well as my department, is in a state of transition right now, which means just more added stress. I'm getting little sleep, pulling long work days, and my body's starting to put up a fight.   And yet, I feel strangely alive.   Don't get me wrong -- it's tough and brutal, and I'll be glad when this week is over, but there's something weirdly fulfilling about a week full of exhausting yourself on things worth exhausting yourselves over.   I watched the movie The Mexican with Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts the other afternoon. In the film, a question is posed and repeated over and over again: "If two people love each other, but they just can't seem to get it together, when do you get to that point of enough is enough?" The answer is obvious Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=firsthand-account-of-devastation-in-haiti http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=firsthand-account-of-devastation-in-haiti AIM staff member Miguel Shaul crossed the border from the Dominican Republic to visit Haiti and provide first-response relief to earthquake victims. There, he met Pastor Michel, who shared with him what happened to a Haitian school in Port-au-Prince.   The video footage is heart-breaking and eye-opening, as is the story Michel shares. If you want more frequent updates on AIM news in Haiti, visit and subscribe to the Haiti Updates Blog. Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=how-you-help-haiti http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=how-you-help-haiti As you well know, Adventures In Missions has been actively responding to the Haiti earthquake, since it hit last Tuesday. It's hard to believe that it's been a week since all of this happened (seems like much longer than that). I'm so grateful for those of you who have already responded with prayers, encouragement, and financial support. It really is a blessing. But for those who still want to do more and don't know what to do, here are a few ideas:   Pray This is the first and most effective thing that you can do. Pray for the nation of Haiti, pray for the safety of the teams there, and pray for God's favor in their ministry efforts.  Give Money AIM is in need of financial support to provide supplies for our mission teams on the ground in Haiti. These teams are meeting the most immediate needs (e.g. food, water, medical supplies), but these donations will eventually be used to assist in long-term rebuilding efforts. Learn more about how Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=haiti-response http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=haiti-response The past couple of days have been consumed with tasks concerning Haiti. We've been responding via a missionary family we know that lives in the Dominican Republic, pretty close to the border. They've been posting frequent updates on how the Haiti earthquake has been affecting them, and how they're proactively responding to the disaster.   Stateside, AIM has been raising money to go towards providing immediate supplies and food for the victims, as well as long-term relief in the area, as we begin to make plans for sending more teams.   I have some personal opinions to share about the situation in Haiti, the crazy Pat Robertson thing, and how this event has taken over the news, but frankly, I've just been really busy. And, that has been great for my attitude and tendency to get caught up in endless controversies. In fact, I highly recommend it to anyone who's been distracted by arguments and theological discourse. This is an opportunity for some applied theology. &nb Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=theology-pure-science-or-applied-science http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=theology-pure-science-or-applied-science Theology means "the science of God," and I think any man who wants to think about God at all would like to have the clearest and most accurate ideas about Him which are available. -C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity Theology is practical: especially now. -Ibid.   Pure science means science for the sake of the science. This may happen in the form of research, experiments, lectures, etc., but the end is always the same -- knowledge. This kind of scientist is trying to answer a question, but not solve a problem.   Applied science, however, means practicing science to apply it to something. That is, you're seeking to do more than simply answer a question. There is the expectation that once you make a discovery, you will do something with it. You will act. This kind of scientist wants to use science to improve the lives of others, to change the world.   One web definition differentiates pure science from applied science in how they relate to other subjects. The Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=the-message-of-the-seasons http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=the-message-of-the-seasons I was feeling particularly introspective (my wife would say I acting "emo") the other night, when I wrote the following reflection during our most recent "snowstorm" in Nashville. (For you Northerners, please read this with discretion. "Snowstorm" here means that visibility was low, the roads were a little icy, and there was an inch of snow on the ground the next day).   As I watched the large, fluffy snowflakes fall from the sky, I jotted down some thoughts from the comfort of beneath my throw blanket:   I've been paying more attention to the seasons lately.   They seem to be telling a story that part of me is still struggling to comprehend. The sensible, awake, alert part of me. The rational part that has trouble decoding things of the heart. The cold part of me that is insensitive to my wife's needs and my friends' struggles.   But another part that is also me -- the fanciful, sometimes aloof part that wonders and dreams -- resonates with the message of Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=families-need-to-go-on-mission-trips http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=families-need-to-go-on-mission-trips This is a re-post of a blog I posted about a year ago. I noticed that a lot of people were still visiting this page, so I spent some time adding some content to the post, as I believe that this is still an important issue.   I know a few families that really need to disconnect from suburbia for awhile and introduce their kids to real poverty. They sense it themselves - that their worldview, even their faith, is becoming myopic. They need to go on a family mission trip.   It's hard to have a healthy perspective on life and God's kingdom if we're surrounded by privilege and seemingly no felt needs. Christian families need to broaden their horizons and see what God has to offer those who step out in faith and radical service. A brush with the poor - even for as brief as a week - can bring a family back into balance, reconnecting your heart with God's, which breaks for the poor, oppressed, and suffering.   Every time I encounter the poor, I realize Sat, 9 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=what-are-your-favorite-blogs-to-read http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=what-are-your-favorite-blogs-to-read I'm taking a break from blogging today to ask: "What are your favorite blogs to read?"   I'd like to spend the time that I would normally use to craft a blog to go read some other exciting, new blogs (courtesy of you). So, let's have it:   What are your favorite blogs to read, and why?   Once I get some of your ideas, I'll share some of my own favorites...   By the way, you can include shameless plugs... if your blog really is worth reading. (I'll bet it is.) Fri, 8 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=top-ten-wrecked-posts-of-2009 http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=top-ten-wrecked-posts-of-2009 2009 was a pivotal year for Wrecked. We did a revamp of the site, including moving over to the domain Wrecked.org. I've been a catalyst for this community of "spiritual misfits" for nearly three years now (we launched at the end of January 2007).   It's had its share of up's and down's, but throughout the process, I've seen people encouraged and challenged through the conversations that have happened there. All in all, I'm proud of what it's become, but I'm also re-evaluating the vision of the site, how well we're accomplishing that, and how we can possibly change some things to better reach people with the message of being "wrecked for the ordinary."   To give you an idea of some of the most popular articles from this year (some of which were written previous years, but are still generating interest), here are the top ten, most-visited posts:   10. Girls Watch Porn: An Interview With Crystal Renaud Written by Wrecked for the Ordinary   Crystal Renaud Thu, 7 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=when-god-doesnt-heal-you http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=when-god-doesnt-heal-you I think I caught the flu the other day. In fact, I'm sure of it.   My body ached, I had a fever, and my digestive system was telling me that it didn't like me very much (with lots of interesting sounds coming from my stomach).   Several people have been praying for me -- bold, authoritative prayers that would scare your Baptist preacher or even save your skeptical Aunt Susan. And still, I'm sick... for the third day in a row.   What do you do with that?   For starters, I say the Lord's prayer... loud enough for the neighbors to hear it.   Phrases like "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done..." give me great confidence as my body seems to be falling apart. I realize that even with great faith in God's ability to heal that my life is not my own, that I have no absolute say over my destiny. And those are comforting facts.   I'm not saying that God doesn't heal; he most certainly does. In fact, I remember once when I was getting the flu, I a Wed, 6 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=being-gods-gypsy http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=being-gods-gypsy I have a friend who was a guest speak for an organization that was more on the charismatic side of the Christian spectrum, and he told them, "You're God's gypsy."   They didn't like that, and he didn't intend for them to like it.   Pardon the generalization, but a gypsy is typically thought of as a vagabond, a wanderer without a fixed home.   A gypsy is often a beggar and worker of "magic". She conjures tricks for bread, has little to no responsibilities, and often moves from one city to the next.   In many countries, there are communities of gypsies that often live on the outskirts of a city and are marginalized in some way by the rest of society.   My friend's point was this: this particular ministry was placing a lot of focus on pursuing Spirit-led ministry but wasn't doing any intentional follow-up.   It's not that what they were doing was bad, but how they were doing it was costing them their integrity as an organization. Since they Tue, 5 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=missionaries-lipsyncing-to-kelly-clarkson-religion-faith-and-fun http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=missionaries-lipsyncing-to-kelly-clarkson-religion-faith-and-fun My friend Jonathan Foster has a blog called, "The Problem with Religion". I like that title, because I think that there are lots of problems with religion. Seth Godin would say that the problem with religion is that, at its worst, it "reinforces the status quo, often at the expense of our faith." I would say that the problem of religion -- or at least one temptation -- is to get too serious and suck all the fun out of life.   For those of you who grew up in church, do you remember it being a fun activity? I sure don't.   Now that I've experienced true faith, I've had to shed some of my previous experiences with religion, realizing that a faith-infused life can (and should) be fun.   That's why I love this video of a group of missionaries performing a lip sync to Kelly Clarkson's "Since You've Been Gone" during their mission trip around the world.   This isn't the first video I've seen like this. The first one was a lip-dub to an Evanescence song sh Mon, 4 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=the-problem-with-experts http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=the-problem-with-experts The problem with experts is that they don't exist.   If you've ever watched an episode of The Office, you know that Dwight Schrute considers himself an expert at a lot of things -- martial arts, firefighting, beet-farming, sci-fi trivia, paper sales, office safety, and so on. You name it, and Dwight has an expert opinion about it.   But expertise is subjective. You are only an expert in something compared to everyone else.   If left unchecked, expertise can lead to arrogance. Dwight only perceives himself to be an expert in an area, because he likes to make other people feel inferior. But he's not perfect at any of his skills. Nobody's perfect. Nobody knows everything about any given subject... not even Dwight when it comes to beets.   And that's the problem with experts -- in the strictest sense of the word, they don't exist. No one is a complete authority on anything. There is always more to learn.   If Dwight can teach us anything about expe Sat, 2 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=i-start-my-resolutions-before-the-new-year http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/?filename=i-start-my-resolutions-before-the-new-year I had to clean the house and take out the garbage earlier today. I had wasted four hours playing around online, and when my wife got home after grocery shopping to see the house in the same state she left it, she wasn't happy. I wasn't happy, either. What happened to all the time?   I put the computer away and started taking mental note of all the things that I needed to do. In fact, I even considered making a list, but then I realized something... Sometimes, it's just better to get to work.   So, I got to work. I think that we can do the same thing with resolutions -- think about them, plan them out, even write them down, instead of just getting to work.   I'm not opposed to the idea of New Year's Resolutions. In fact, I rather liked this post about why resolutions don't suck. So often, I plan to do something with the best of intentions without realizing what it would cost me. That's why I started some of my resolutions in December. If you have a tendency to over Fri, 1 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT