Ink

I have been thinking about another tattoo lately.
A few years back I had my first one done and I have really enjoyed it. I had always wanted one but decided to wait and wait and wait. I am glad I did. Originally, I had wanted a budgie for a tattoo. That would have been a bad decision I think. Eventually I settled on my Dogfish symbol. I believe that it is very appropriate for me.

Lately I have been thinking about the following:

This is the Britton Family Motto - it means “Virtue is the safest helmet”. Over the last couple of years, Nan, the boys and I have discussed this motto at length and how it would be good to adopt it fully.

So, I think this might be the next ink. I tease William about getting a tattoo. I don’t think he ever will. I could be wrong, but the kid absolutely despises needles. (he gets completely wiggy over them). Jackson, maybe.

Nan and I have talked about the fact that we would like to get signet rings made for the boys at some point with the motto on them. That would be cool.

Changing a global perspective

I have been thinking a bit about my global perspective on life. It is rather local. I tend to focus almost exclusively on things around me and not very often about “over there”..

I think that this is something that I need to change. I am not sure how to really go about it yet.
When I look on the news and see things happening overseas it does not really affect me in the way that I think it should. I am wondering if my sense of empathy is dulled?

I can even see things that happen in a city not too far away, say Toronto or Ottawa or Kingston and not be too affected by them. I am not so sure that this is a good thing.
I once read that our minds are wired to emotionally handle the connections and ups and downs of a village of say 200-300 people. Before the advent of media and travel, that is how people lived. Were people more well balanced back then? I think it fair to say that their knowledge base was certainly more local that global that is for sure. But in today’s day and age, I think it virtually impossible to live with such a mindset. Somedays I would like to mind you. I just don’t see how as a computer programmer, I could completely shut off.. Unless I take a job as a woodcutter or something of the sort.

So, in one way, I am global. I see things from all over the world. But in another way, I am local. I tend to let the emotions and feelings of my local settting determine my moods, my mindset, my emotional and my spiritual tone.

Somehow, I think I need to bring them both into line together. Hmmmm

Thankful

I am thankful for….

My relationship with Jesus
My family
My church
My job
My friends

There are so many things that I am thankful for. I would like to think that I am not just thankful on Thanksgiving weekend. I realize that I am blessed in so many ways. I cannot begin to write the many blessings down…

Need to freshen up?

I like reading My utmost for His Highest

Straight laced, yes, but certainly to the point. I kinda need that. Like a two by four to the forehead. That is what I need most days.

Sometimes we are fresh and eager to attend a prayer meeting, but do we feel that same freshness for such mundane tasks as polishing shoes?

Being born again by the Spirit is an unmistakable work of God, as mysterious as the wind, and as surprising as God Himself. We don’t know where it begins— it is hidden away in the depths of our soul. Being born again from above is an enduring, perpetual, and eternal beginning. It provides a freshness all the time in thinking, talking, and living— a continual surprise of the life of God. Staleness is an indication that something in our lives is out of step with God. We say to ourselves, “I have to do this thing or it will never get done.” That is the first sign of staleness. Do we feel fresh this very moment or are we stale, frantically searching our minds for something to do? Freshness is not the result of obedience; it comes from the Holy Spirit. Obedience keeps us “in the light as He is in the light . . .” ( 1 John 1:7 ).

Jealously guard your relationship with God. Jesus prayed “that they may be one just as We are one”-with nothing in between ( John 17:22 ). Keep your whole life continually open to Jesus Christ. Don’t pretend to be open with Him. Are you drawing your life from any source other than God Himself? If you are depending on something else as your source of freshness and strength, you will not realize when His power is gone.

Being born of the Spirit means much more than we usually think. It gives us new vision and keeps us absolutely fresh for everything through the never-ending supply of the life of God.

I sometimes wonder how jealous I am of my relationship with God and Christ.