100 Things: Simple Acts of Purpose

1-smile at someone

2-hold a door open for someone

3-tell someone “thank you”

4-tell someone “I love you”

5-tell someone what you like about them

6-let someone else talk first in the conversation

7-hug someone

8-hold someone's hand

9-compliment someone on their outfit

10-take your dog for a walk

11-let someone pet your dog

12-let someone else choose the movie

13-let someone else choose the meal

14-get someone a glass of water

15-pass the salt without being asked

16-let someone else go first in line

17-let someone beat you at a game

18-help cook dinner with your family

19-help clean the house

20-help do the laundry

21-take out the trash

22-dust the television

23-clear the table after the meal

24-do the dishes

25-shovel the sidewalk of snow

26-offer your seat on the bus/train to someone else

27-put your phone away when talking with people

28-help a child tie their shoes

29-keep someone company who is lonely

30-hold someone’s hand when they are sad

31-sit with someone when they are sad

32-forgive someone

33-donate some clothes to Salvation Army

34-donate your spare change to a kids sports team

35-let someone else have the last cookie

36-loan someone your earrings

37-loan someone a sweater

38-say hello to someone new at church

39-make coffee/tea for someone when they are cold

40-invite someone to eat with you

41-invite someone to sit next to you at church

42-introduce someone to your friends and family

43-share a funny video with someone

44-tell someone a joke

45-tell someone “Happy Birthday” on their birthday

46-listen to someone else tell a joke and laugh

47-show someone a picture of somewhere beautiful you’ve been

48-when you see something beautiful, say “thank you, God”

49-make a list of things you are thankful for

50-share the list

51-point out a beautiful sunset to a friend

52-point out beautiful architecture to a friend

53-share a verse from scripture with someone

54-make a list of things you like about someone

55-share that list with them

56-share the list with someone else

57-share your mistakes with others

58-share something personal with someone

59-tell someone the truth when they ask a question

60-apologize to someone you have hurt or upset

61-dance in public

62-tell someone a good thing that happened to you

63-share your successes with others

64-keep a promise

65-help clean the church

66-help with the church BBQs

67-color a coloring book with a kid in church

68-help set up for church on Sunday

69-help someone carry groceries

70-volunteer at the farm

71-cook a meal for someone

72-clean someone else's room

73-organize someone else’s messy closet

74-pick up trash on the street

75-shovel your neighbor’s snow

76-invite people to start a dance team

77-volunteer at the animal shelter

78-help someone move apartments

79-ask someone to tell you their life story

80-share your life story with someone

81-ask someone, “where will you be in 10 years?”

82-share a dream with someone

83-text someone a simple “thank you”

84-ask someone to teach you something you don’t know how to do

85-teach someone something you do know how to do

86-send someone a card

87-tell someone a story

88-let someone help you

89-play someone your favorite song

90-ask someone their favorite song

91-show someone your favorite picture from your childhood

92-write someone a letter

93-write someone a poem

94-invite someone over to watch your favorite movie

95-ask someone their favorite movie

96-walk to the store with someone

97-listen to someone who has something to say

98-pick some wildflowers and give them to someone

99-hide a secret note for someone where they will find it later

100-share this list with someone who thinks they have no purpose in life

Coffee Table

Recent sabbath project:

Sabbath

In the years since I have stopped working a second job for the cable company and have focused solely on my ministry work, I have consistently taken a sabbath each week.  On occasion I have to forgo my day of rest, but I would say that 9 times out of 10, on a Monday I am available only to my family, and do no thinking or laboring towards my ministry efforts.  While it has always been a needed time of rest and retreat, it hasn't always been as life-giving as other disciplines in my life like worship, prayer, study, fellowship, service...

I was in conversation with my spiritual director about my practice of sabbath, and he suggested that I find ways to engage on my sabbath; not just retreat from the world, but engage in some particular activity that I find enjoyable for its own sake.  In particular he asked about a 'creative' outlet.

Now, I have some ability at drawing, but its never excited much passion in me, I have a passable ability at guitar, but my passion there lies in worship not in creating music, I like to write, but very little of my writing is 'creative.'  I have, however, long been passionate about building things.  In recent years that has largely taken the form of fixing up the two houses that we own, which, obviously, is not very 'creative' either.  Even more problematic for the practice of sabbath, it just isn't retreat from work.  I derive an income from it, I have deadlines and expectations, it is work.

And so, I have turned my hand back to building furniture...

I have built a few pieces over the years, only one or two that I felt 'proud' of, but have always enjoyed it.  In the last two months of sabbaths I have built a small table, and a wooden offering box for use in our worship service.

Here is the lid and the box before I added the straps to the lid and attached the lid to the box:

Fasting

Fasting is not about getting God's attention, it is about giving Him ours.

Frustration

Frustration is a sign of something! For me, it is usually a symptom that I am not living the way I claim to desire to live.

Note to self:

Are you frustrated with where you are at?

Live with discipline and you will not have to live with frustration!