jeff noel.org

Hidden Message?

What else do I feel guilty about?

• Decent Health
• Great Job
• Great Hometown
• Great Spirit
• Hold on, this is getting awkward

Sorry, I’m going to need more time to think this through. It’s awkward.

If I go with a gut instinct right now, it feels like the reason this topic got started in the first place was because I feel so blessed.

I mean, more than any one person deserves.

“And you feel guilty about this?”, someone reading this is asking.

But the blessings listed here and the others not listed, are the blessings we all have.

I guess, as I write this it becomes clearer, there’s something about the way I structure each day that allows me to be nearly fully present every moment of every day.

It’s almost like an addiction. I think about it all the time.

Being able to walk, think, read, smile, drive, teach, eat, breath, love, cry, laugh, get dressed, spend money, go to Church, have friends, Family, a job, sunrise, sunset, sight, hearing, desire.

Where does it stop? It doesn’t. Our blessings are infinite.

I can’t be the only one on the planet that thinks like this, can I?

A Song Can Takes Us Places

What’s your favorite Christmas song of all time?

I mean, if you could only pick one, what would it be?

My wife’s Grammy, who died in my arms at age 93, always said Little Drummer Boy was her favorite. She went to Heaven in September 1989.

It never occurred to me back then to ask her why. Why would it have occurred to me?

Well, all these years later, “Why?” is a fun and purposeful question.

Why do you enjoy your favorite Christmas song? For no reason? Or, for some special or purposeful reason.

Hey, I realize some of you may say, “Jeff, not everything has to have a purpose.”

Right.  And this is the fundamental difference between those that drift through life and those that make a difference.

I enjoy listening to “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” as much as anyone. It’s funny, unexpected, and way not serious.

But Little Drummer Boy is not only Grammy’s favorite, but mine as well. Why? because I Look for little ways to help our son understand his family’s history.

His Grandfather, Jack (not the bear), my Dad, was a drummer. He started playing drums from the moment he could hold drumsticks in his hands.

He hitch-hiked 100 miles to Philadelphia, from his row-home in Spring Grove, Pennsylvania, just so he could take drum lessons from a particularly talented drummer.

He played drums in the Army band while stationed in Japan, during the Korean War.

He taught 30-minute drum lessons Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 4:00pm – 8:00pm, year round.

He played gigs on Friday and Saturday nights, year round.

As a young man, he had business cards printed. His title – “Drummer”.

From one stupid little Christmas song, a piece of our son’s family history is told, year after year.

But only if I put some thought into it.

And at Christmas, as it is all year round, it’s the thought that counts.

Joy

Audacious.  Authentic.  Audacious authenticity. How’s that work for you? It works really well on my end.

As a goal, I mean – audacious authenticity.  Being boldly authentic. Not conforming to status quo, but rather, conforming to faith, hope and love.

Heard the song the other day by Kirk Franklin, or maybe it was Mary Mary, with a line that goes, “Can’t take my joy devil.”

That’s it, that was the right message at the right time.

In our lifetimes we probably listen to many types of music: Rock, Rap, Country, Jazz, Reggae, Pop, Classical, Christian, Oldies, Soul, R&B, etc.

Rock & Roll has always been my favorite. And then, while living out West, Country became a new love.

But today, hands down, without a doubt, Contemporary Christian is what sustains me.

To all the great folks at Central Florida’s Contemporary Christian radio station, Z88.3, or the Z, as some call it, thank you for what you do to help God’s people when they need it.

And just speaking for myself, this is every single day.  Thank you.

PS.  Click here to listen on your computer.  The Z is currently playing 24-hour Christmas music.

Stewardship of Time, Talent and Treasure.

Seems pretty simple.  Three things.  Important things. Things we all have. Things we can all share.

But do we?

Statistics show that only a small percentage rise above and volunteer in a sacrificial way.

Why?  Why not?

Things that make you go, hmmmm……

November 10, 2009

9:30AM (exactly)

Dropped our son off at school

Late work schedule today – morning free

Sitting in my 20 year-old car, Macbook Pro on my lap

Back seat, door open, windy day

Z88.3 medium loud on the radio

Contemporary Christian Music – “Safe for the little Ears”

Please pray for Kevin DeGiamamrino, his wife and child – Kevin is in Houston, again, for another Brain cancer surgery

Please pray for my Family

I’m praying for yours

Forgive the length of this post, I think

Pray for World Peace, an end to hunger, poverty, abortion, injustice, discrimination, greed

Go easy on yourself if you are really trying hard

Kick your own butt if you are wallowing in self-pity

Pray without ceasing – in everything give thanks

Consider donating to ZRadio – listening to it now

Can’t imagine life without the Z

Surrender.  Self Control. Service.

Blogging to make a difference – passion, purpose, humility

Impossible is nothing

In everything, give thanks.  Every day.

I’m thankful:

• for being insanely busy
• for writing five daily blogs
• for traveling without my family
• for having writer’s block

Saying it, and not meaning it, is the worst example we can set for people looking to us for a role model.  For someone who wants to believe that sacred words and thoughts are more than just words or thoughts.

People are looking for someone who walks the talk, as we say in America.  Someone who practices what they preach.

I keep looking for that person in the mirror.  Still coming up short.  And I’m thankful for that too.  I’m also thankful that I keep trying, and after 50 years, still have not given up.

Is it?

Is today the day you do the thing you’ve been wanting to do, but haven’t found the courage?

Do what you fear and the death of that fear is certain.

If not today, when?

Seriously.  Carpe diem.

That’s all we can do really, isn’t it?  Try.

Seems simple enough.  Just try.

Try to do what?

Try to do your best.  To be a good and decent person, using a moral compass as our guide.

jeff noel.org is one of the ways I try to practice what I preach.  But you already knew that, right?

PS.  (gulp) How do you think I’m doing?

Maybe.  I hope so.  Ever have something that’s been sort of nagging at you?  Something important?   Some critical piece of the puzzle?

Me too.  And often (not always), what we seek is an opportunity (an ice-breaker) to open the door.

I think it happened last night.  Thanks to my wife for being a positive catalyst.

Now it’s up to me to push the door open a little wider. Please pray that I’ll have the wisdom to demonstrate compassion as well as courage.  And I’ll do the same for you.  Carpe diem.

jeff noel, blogger, average guy, Father, Husband, teacher, is blessed and stressed after yesterday.

Blessed because I am all those things.

Stressed because I am not all those things.

Yes, my wife and I conducted an excellent Children’s Liturgy of the Word yesterday. Yet stressed, because at the afternoon birthday party, I realized there is a long way to go with helping our son work through his competitive nature.

He actually has a gift.  We all do, don’t we?

Some us simply need help unwrapping it.  Now, where did I put those scissors.