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BP 82 - Enter... The Generalist

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Generalism is the art and practice of becoming reasonably proficient in multiple skills and knowledge-disciplines. Generalists are those who live lives characterized by a deep sense of generalism. We see generalists in nature, such as the coywolf, who, in their territories, sit near the top of the food chain, and whose ability to adapt to and thrive in almost any environment is unrivaled in the animal kingdom. We see generalists, too, in all arenas of humanity. Some sectors, though, tend to attract and produce greater percentages of generalists. As an example, I point to the U.S. Navy SEALs. Because generalists seem to be interested in almost everything—from engineering… to skateboarding… to writing… to botany—the generalist’s approach to life inevitably results in their ability to do “almost everything reasonably well.” Rather than focusing exclusively on just one or two arenas, generalists tend to develop a base-level competency in diverse collections of skills, disciplines, ...
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BP91 - A Prayer Asking God to Help Me Slow Down

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Greetings... Provided below is a prayer I crafted many years ago.  In this prayer, I ask God to help me slow down so I can be with Him more The Way He Is With Me.  Consider adding a prayer like this to your life shared with God.  In all arenas of my life, I've begun to consciously aim at moving at "Godspeed."  In my experience, it would seems God moves at a pace that more resembles that of a turtle, sloth, or snail than any other creature.  If you feel distant from God, perhaps the best way to catch up to Him is to slow down. Below the prayer is a link to video I've been watching at least once a quarter for the last ten years or so. Peace to you, Friends... -- Holy, Glorious, and Gracious God… I know that when I speak, You Always Hear me. In fact, I know that every time I say (or try to say) something to You, You’re Always Far More Ready to Listen to Me than I Am to Speak. I know, too, that every time I listen (or try to listen) to You, You’re Always Far More ...
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BP 90 - Your Worth and Purpose

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NOTE:  THIS WILL BE MY LAST BLOG POST UNTIL AFTER AUGUST 1ST.  I'M TAKING MY SEMI-ANNUAL BLOGGING AND PODCASTING SABBATICAL. -- What has eBay taught us about the value of something? It’s taught us that something’s inherent worth is what someone is willing to pay to acquire it. In The Church, we, as Lovers of Jesus, love to fixate on being A Person of Service to Others. We also love to fixate on how “unworthy” we are for God to Do anything for us. Beloved, you are of infinite worth. To Purchase you, Jesus (that is, God The Eternal Son) Paid for you with H-his Own Life. Read that last sentence again! God Paid for you with H-his Own Life. That’s how valuable you are. You.. were “worth it” to God to Pay the ultimate price to win you back. My Friends… You were NOT Saved to serve. No. You were Saved to love—to be and become Love Incarnate—Love Itself. Your “service” is intended only to be an expression of you, as Love, loving God and others. As I’ve indicated countless times b...
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BP 89 - Make Exercise (and Movement) a Part of the Culture of Your Life

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While most everyone knows physical exercise (and just moving a lot) is important, few of us exercise, move well, or move enough on a consistent basis. The verbalized reasons for this are varied, but I think they can all be paired down to just one: At the point of choice, those who don’t exercise chose something else. If this is you, be kind to yourself, and take responsibility for the choices you’ve made. It’s not that you don’t have the time, space, money, or energy to exercise. These are all smoke-screen lies we tell ourselves and other people to keep us from taking responsibility for how we feel (and look). As difficult as this might be to swallow, the body you have at 50 is 99.999999% your fault. What I mean is this: How you feel, move, and look is directly the result of the millions of day-to-day choices you’ve made in your 32+ years since becoming an adult. This is a fact. Of course, you can pretend it isn’t so, but that doesn’t make it any less true, applicable, or releva...
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BP 88 - Yes, I'm a Rebel at Heart

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I’m A Rebel at Heart. I’ve been one my whole life. And, at times, it’s gotten me into significant trouble. In many instances, what our culture teaches (sometimes even within The Church) are lies, and I refuse to accept or live my life in accordance with such lies. This world (including, unfortunately, large segments within The Church) tends to wallow in fallenness. I don’t—by choice. This world also tends to submit mindlessly to, and thus live out, its fears, nightmares, lazy cravings, insane (and convoluted, even bass-ackward) rules, and self-administered anxieties. Again, I don’t partake. In fact, I refuse to entertain even the hint of such drivel. I can remember (for years) being criticized by many in the church (that is, the visible, institutional, legalistic, little “c” church) for my emphasis on pursuing those things that “make me feel happy in life.” The knee jerk reactions I often received were those of legalistic contempt and paternalistic preachiness: “Dave, God does...
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BP 87 - Meekness

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All of us are gifted.  All of us. All of us have genius in one or more arenas.  All of us. All of us have developed skills.  All of us. Sometimes, though our giftedness, genius, and skill can be harmful.  Like when we put too much trust in such things. To help me with this, I crafted a prayer a while back, which I pray daily.  I've provided it below.  Maybe you'll consider praying such a prayer yourself. Praying in this way, I think, taps directly into God's Desire to create meekness within us.  A Meek One is not a weak one; on the contrary, A Meek One is One Who's Strengths have been Appropriately Channeled and Leveraged by God.  A Meek One is like a firehose in the hands of a skilled firefighter. - Lord Jesus Christ… Set a governor on, upon, and about my natural inclinations [strengths, propensities, genius, aptitudes, competencies, glory, grit, etc.]. Catering too much to that at which I excel could, at times (or in time), be and become the de...
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BP 86 - Forty Health Practices I Engage in Daily

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Provided below are the principal health practices and strategies I implement every day.  The hope in my practicing them is that not only will I live a long life, but I’ll feel well and energetic well into old age. 1/I go to bed early (at or before 9:00p). 2/I get up early (4:30a). Yep, that equates to at least 7½ hours of sleep a night. 3/I take naps several times a week. 4/I practice intermittent fasting nearly every day (I take Saturday's off).  My typical feeding window is 11a to 630p every day. 5/I floss, gargle, and brush at least twice a day. 6/I take an icy-cold shower [see Note below] for the last two minutes of my daily, morning shower. Note:  In the summer months, my icy-cold shower is more cool than it is cold.   7/I practice Wim Hof breathing after my morning shower every day. 8/I, typically, fast one whole day a week (usually on Fridays), where I fast from after dinner the previous night to at least 3p on the day of my fast. 9/I use the toilet ofte...
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