Inspiration

 

Inspiration can be found everywhere, even in unexpected places. There are many people and books, thoughts and adventures that have inspired me through the years. I’m excited to share them with you.


Favorite Books

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It has been said you can tell a lot about a man by the company he keeps. I believe that is also true about the books that he reads. I have spent hours with these men through their writings and am the better man for it. Most of these books I have read multiple times. That is significant in that there are millions of books in the world, and only so many hours in which to read them. Because our time is limited, I have determined to read only the good ones. These books have spoken to me deeply, they have enriched my life and stirred my soul. I trust they will do the same for you. If not, put them aside and find others that do.

I read regularly and encourage you to do the same. One discipline Carrie and I put at the top of our list is to read the Bible daily. We believe the Bible is the most important piece of literature ever written, divinely inspired and given to us as a gift from God. At the beginning of every year, we find a daily reading plan that will take us through the Bible within the upcoming year. We have been doing this for many years now and it never grows old. Many times we pick up a new translation or chose a different plan from the preceding year to bring fresh voice and perspective.

Additionally, I typically find myself reading in multiple other books at the same time, looking for insight, wisdom, inspiration and beauty. The particular books I am recommending to you have remained in my heart and mind. I keep them close by as I know I will want to read them once again in whole or in part. Here are a few thoughts as to why….

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Adventures

Life is a precious gift filled with opportunities for adventures both great and small. I encourage you to adventure, to look for the blessings of life all around you and to partake, to explore, to experiment, and to discover. Adventures don’t only lie in distant and far places. They can be as close as a book on your shelf or in your own backyard. Adventures can take years to fulfill like embarking on an Everest expedition or can pass in moments like encountering a deer in the woods. Life is a journey and as such, there are many adventures along the way. Keep your eyes and heart open for adventures that tug at your heartstrings.

The best part about life is the journey of our hearts, and the things that both fill our hearts and move our hearts. Some adventures will be simple experiments and experiences, nothing more and nothing less. And those have their place. Other adventures will be watershed moments that confirm who we are and confirm what we love and what our lives should be about. We are never quite sure when such moments will come. However, to have them, we must adventure. I encourage you to keep exploring. I encourage you to have the heart of an adventurer and to approach each day as a gift to be received, opened and explored.

A tool that has been helpful for me to keep a heart of adventure and an eye for exploration is a bucket list. Years ago I sat down one afternoon and made a list of over 100 things I wanted to do before I kicked the bucket. I have updated my list from time to time, adding new items and removing some for which I have lost interest. But what a joy it is to review the list and to strike through those that I have been able to accomplish. My list includes places to visit, books to read, it includes goals related to my health, family, friendships, and spiritual life, as well as educational and financial achievements. Since bucket lists are very personal I won’t include the entire list here. Instead, here are a few of the items on my list that may assist and inspire you in getting started with a bucket list of your own.

My list includes:

Visit Israel
Scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef
Take an incredible hike
Visit New Zealand
Write a book
Learn to dance
Have more dedicated times of prayer
Communicate more clearly
See James Taylor in concert, again
Help lead a fellowship of believers

Happy Adventuring!

Adventures

My Photo Journals of Recent Adventures

2017 Adventures 2016 Adventures2015 Adventures2014 Adventures

Favorite Quotes

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Good counsel lies all around us if we are willing to take advantage of it. There are many who have gone before us; many who have succeeded and many who have failed. We are fortunate to have some who are willing to share their journey with us, both successes and failures. We can learn from their experience and become the better for it.

I do my best to pay attention and in doing so have collected many quotes through the years that resonate with my heart. Here are 365 of them, one for each day of the year, organized alphabetically by topic. My hope is that they will inspire you and resonate with your heart as well.

Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail; take good counsel and watch them succeed.
– Proverbs 15:22 The Message
 

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Favorite Websites

This is where I go on the web for inspiration for my journey:
Carrie Kittinger
Ransomed Heart
Fil Anderson
Your One Degree
Jones House Creative