Journal Entry For April 21st, 2025

Podcast Episode That Shook Me:

This podcast episode was with a pastor who lost it all in some ways. He and his wife were robbed of the greatest years of their lives by a cruel twist and great mental agony. It’s a very long episode but the understanding of stress-induced health destruction in clergy is shocking. The statistics will grip you. Almost every senior minster I know has either had dementia/Alzheimers or heart trouble. It’s worth listening to for the sake of understanding the value of balance in all things.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-christian-leader-made-simple-show/id1559830337?i=1000693010690

Gadget I Can’t Live Without:

I hate rattling keys.

https://amzn.to/3RpwQKY

Song I Listen To All The Time:

This song will make you cry. Be careful. It’s so powerful. Sometimes we just need the reminder.

https://music.apple.com/us/album/god-understands/1291933079?i=1291933090

Revelation That Helped Me:

Read Act 12:5-7. Peter was so sound asleep that he didn’t even wake up when the lights turned on.

The two reasons he could go into deep sleep in a prison with a death sentence on him.

• the church was praying for him

• He’d been through this before, he knew God would deliver him again (Acts 5:17-19)

Oh the peace of knowing we serve a consistent God.

Challenge to try:

Smile more!

(I Kings 10:8, Proverbs 29:2)

Joy is a sign you have a good king! Let your face testify especially when you are at church! Practice Joy!

Reasons to smile more:

1. Stress Reduction: Smiling can lower blood pressure, reduce stress hormones like cortisol, and even relieve pain by releasing endorphins

2. Mood Enhancement: Smiling can trigger the release of mood-boosting chemicals like serotonin and dopamine, helping you feel happier and more relaxed.

3. Improved Social Interactions: Smiling can make you appear more approachable and trustworthy, making it easier to connect with others.

4. Boosted Confidence: Smiling can help you feel more confident and empowered, especially when you're feeling self-conscious.

5. Enhanced Productivity: Studies have shown that people who smile more are often more productive and effective in their work.

6. Socially Contagious: A smile can be contagious, spreading positivity and happiness to those around you.

7. Longevity: Some research even suggests that smiling may be linked to a longer lifespan. 

Journal Entry For April 14th, 2025

Book Worth Reading:

The Ego Is The Enemy by Ryan Holiday

https://amzn.to/3RaklCY

Talk about humbling, in this book the author recounts General Sherman’s observation that Ulysses S. Grant after his presidency, "lost everything in an attempt to 'rival the millionaires, who would have given their all to have won any of his battles'".  This book will grip you. Definitely worth a read.

Quote Worth Considering:

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn lived through terrible tyranny and refused to let it corrupt him. He knew it was impossible for an individual to fight against pervasive evil and corruption. Still, he said, our duty was simple. Our credo must be: “Let the lie come into the world, let it even triumph. But not through me.” Refuse the temptation of gossip and fear-mongering.

Bible Study Topic Worth Investigating:

I have always been fascinated by faith. It seems to be untouchable in some aspects. It is even mystical to some. However, faith is much more simple than we have considered. Take a look at Hebrews 11, James 2, and Luke 17. Then chase down the concept of hearing and its connection to faith. (That alone will change what or who you are willing to listen to.) it’s a very fun topic. I even preached a message about it awhile back called The Doctrine of Faith. Worth a listen? I don’t know. Ask someone else.

New Habit Worth Adapting:

I have now begun the process of daily journaling. Journaling is not something I ever thought I could actually follow through and do. I have struggled with the concept for years. What I have found in this and every other challenge for me is that there is always a better way to do it that will make you not hate it. I wish I had my journal entries from ten years ago. Alas, I will start now for the sake of my future self.

I will link the free app I use below. It’s a great app and you can do audio recording instead of a bunch of writing. I end up with about 5 minutes of daily reflection. I normally start by greeting my future self and then talking about my ideas. Maybe it’s not for everyone but I think it would be more helpful to you than you know. I assure you it’s safer to ramble to an encrypted app than to be a gossip.

Untold - Voice Journal

Challenge Worth Accepting:

Do you pray as a family? Do you pray with someone else? We must have our own time and place of prayer, but I have seen too many times the value of a collective prayer. Perhaps your family is not interested in the concept of prayer. If that is the case then find yourself a prayer partner or even a small group. There is a power in group prayer. For families it may not be easy. It may not be comfortable. Perhaps too many hurtful words or bad situations make it seem uncomfortable. Refuse such intimidation. Recognize that the reward of prayer is greater than any risk it may have to your pride and stubborn nature.

My recommendation is this:

• Form a prayer group. Either with family or peers. May be even two or three families group up.

• Agree to meet once per week at the church. Arrange a beginning time and an ending time. Make it feasible. As much as you want to meet and pray 3 hours at a time it isn’t always practical. Remember this isn’t to replace daily prayer but rather to supplement. Make it 15-30mins.

• Each person bring a prayer request to the group. One per week per person only. Make a shared note or text. Then pray over those things together.

• This could launch into a Bible reading group as well. Shared accountability is unstoppable.

Journal Entry For April 7th, 2025

Challenge worth accepting:

The 90 Day Chronological Bible Reading Plan

I accepted this challenge as a way to become more disciplined in 2025. I just finished the challenge and it has been significantly more rewarding than I could’ve imagined. I had more fun reading the Bible this way than any other way I’ve done. You cover so much territory that it’s impossible to be bored. It gives you such a big picture view of the Bible that it makes all the stories flow like never before. When completed, you actually feel proud of yourself that you did something that you set your mind to. The key to completion is to make your self accountable to friends. The peer pressure really is the key.

Scripture worth pondering:

II Samuel 13:39 And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

This changes the narrative of the entire story. David wasn’t angry. David wasn’t chasing Absalom. Absalom left because he had ambitions beyond revenge. He “fled” because he  needed an excuse to do whatever he wanted to do anyways. We must be careful that we don’t use circumstances where we are right to justify ambitions where we are wrong.

Item worth buying:

These Japanese pens are amazing. Very smooth writing, strong ink, and fine writing style. They look excellent when writing personal notes and signing things. Just a simple pen but you’ll find yourself using it over any of the others in your collection.

https://amzn.to/4i6C5tU

Great quote worth repeating:

“To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.”

— Martin Luther

Writing that changed my thinking:

COWARDICE AS A DESIGN PROBLEM:

“Life without a design is erratic. As soon as one is in place, principles become necessary. I think you’ll concede that nothing is more shameful than uncertain and wavering conduct, and beating a cowardly retreat. This will happen in all our affairs unless we remove the faults that seize and detain our spirits, preventing them from pushing forward and making an all-out effort.” —SENECA, MORAL LETTERS, 95.46 The opposing team comes out strong, establishes an early lead, and you never had time to recover. You walk into a business meeting, are caught off guard, and the whole thing goes poorly. A delicate conversation escalates into a shouting match. You switched majors halfway through college and had to start your coursework over and graduate late. Sound familiar? It’s the chaos that ensues from not having a plan. Not because plans are perfect, but because people without plans—like a line of infantrymen without a strong leader—are much more likely to get overwhelmed and fall apart. The Super Bowl–winning coach Bill Walsh used to avoid this risk by scripting the beginning of his games. “If you want to sleep at night before the game,” he said in a lecture on game planning, “have your first 25 plays established in your own mind the night before that. You can walk into the stadium and you can start the game without that stress factor.” You’ll also be able to ignore a couple of early points or a surprise from your opponent. It’s irrelevant to you—you already have your marching orders. Don’t try to make it up on the fly. Have a plan.” - Ryan Holiday, The Daily Stoic