This is me

Don’t compare your real everyday life with someone else’s highlight reel. That’s good advice I heard once about social media. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram can be comparison traps. What most of us post are the good moments, the vacation photos, the happy birthday group shots, the days off, the kids graduating or performing or doing something cute. We don’t usually post the flat tires, the grumpy days at work, the late payment credit card statements, the cat’s poop on the carpet, or pics of our kids in time-out in tears with angry faces. Continue reading

‘Tis the time to talk of new beginnings

My youngest says I tweet too much but hey, that’s what twitter is for right?  And there are plenty of people who tweet more often than I do.  So I told her, “If you don’t want to read all my tweets then just don’t follow me anymore” to which she replied, “Okay, I won’t”.  Well, fine.  I follow several pastors and other bloggers that offer food for thought, encouraging words, and more.  I also follow people like Conan O’Brien and Jim Gaffigan, not quite as edifying but good for some laughs.  It’s fun.

One of the tweeters I follow is called “ChatBible” from the UK.  He tweeted today about new beginnings, which only seems fitting since it’s the start of the new year:  Noah (Gen 9) Ruth (Ruth 1) Peter (Jn 21) and Paul (Acts 9). Which brings most hope…& why? Continue reading

Connecting

I’m in the middle of my week-long social media fast and so far, so good.  I do miss it, miss that community I feel a part of.  I realize that it’s a habit for me to tweet a lot because whenever things happen or I have a thought I want to share with someone I reach for my phone thinking, “I should tweet that!” and then I remember that I’m not using twitter right now.  I also feel like I don’t know as much of what’s going on in my friends’ and family’s life because I often see on facebook where people are going, what they’re dealing with, and how they feel.  In fact, a day or so ago my sister sent me an email (something I’m still using) and said, “Hey!  What’s going on? John just put on twitter that 3 churches are interested in him?  I need details!”  And I replied, “So do I!  I don’t know what you’re talking about!”  Continue reading

Follow Jesus

I like Twitter.  It helps me keep up with friends I’m not with every day, including my two older daughters.  Each of their tweets is a little glimpse into their day, their hearts and thoughts and it makes me feel connected.  Sometimes on the home page Twitter gives recommendations of people to “follow.”  There are some I comedians I follow that crack me up, some well-known pastors I follow that encourage or challenge me, and so on.  For a while I followed some Olympic athletes like Apolo Ohno.  He’s such a positive, enthusiastic person.   Some people I follow and would love to hear more of what they’re thinking, but they just aren’t into twitter and rarely say anything.

I’d like to recommend that on this path we call everyday life on planet Earth, that you follow Jesus.  He’s always got something to say and it’s not self-promoting, nonsensical blather.  Whatever he says gives life.

I’m sure you’ve experienced something similar to what I did when I was little.  Continue reading

SCL

I stumbled on the “Stuff Christians Like” blog a few months ago, thanks to a link my friend PJ had posted on his blog.  After reading a few posts, I was hooked.  This guy is funny!  At the same time he speaks truth – truth sometimes that stings just a little but is so, so necessary.  I subscribed to his blog and get his posts sent to my email everyday.  I’ve never regretted that decision.  I also follow him on twitter – and no, I’m not creeping on him or stalking.  I just think he’d be a fun guy to have as a friend.  And hey!  He put himself out there, okay? Continue reading