Here are some coffee beans. I’ll miss them.

“While sitting in a coffee shop” won’t be in my vocabulary for a couple of weeks.

For the next few weeks I’m taking my son Josh’s challenge – and joining a couple family and friends – who are assessing their intact.

Portion-size is by-far my biggest problem, but foregoing caffeine is part of the challenge.

Is grace happening to you?
Is grace happening in you?
Is grace happening through you?

I’ve been stuck emotionally and spiritually more than I’d like to admit. Raise your hand if you can relate? Okay, we’re all “not alone.” But, let’s not stay stuck!

Looking to take a step forward in your life?

Want your actions to more closely match your intentions?

Me too!

Each of the themes below links to a previous mysilentscream post that has been helpful to readers looking to make a change. 1

Love – Tired of empty expressions of “love”?

While watching footage of the recent Boston Marathon, I, like you, felt shock and awe watching brave people run toward the scared and injured. I felt humbled by their bravery. Josh Groban wrote a wonderful song about being brave.

Josh Groban – Brave

Wake up, wake up, the sun cannot wait for long
Reach out, reach out before it fades away
You will find the warmth when you surrender
Smile into the fear and let it play

Josh Groban’s song False Alarms is about a dating relationship, but the feelings he’s feeling can also apply to other relationships where there have been hurt feelings.

False Alarms

Far across this red horizon
I am walking down the line
I am picking up the pieces
That this storm has left behind

After all the clouds are fallen
I would breach the battered ground
Turn your darkness into light love
Turn your silence into sound

But I can’t cage you in my arms
When my heart is jumping forward
To avoid your false alarms
And you can’t tell me not to stay
When I opened up your window
And I watched you fly away

This is how we know what real love is: Jesus gave his life for us. So we should give our lives for our brothers and sisters.

Suppose someone has enough to live and sees a brother or sister in need, but does not help. Then God’s love is not living in that person.

My children, we should love people not only with words and talk, but by our actions and true caring.

- 1 John 3:16-18, NCV

As I was approaching fifty years old I sought the wisdom of my elders. I sought out men and women older than I was to learn lessons on life that they had been learning.

Last Monday I began a series entitled A Treasure Chest Of Wisdom, including:

1. Don’t Hold Grudges
2. Take Care Of Your Health.
3. Compassion Makes Sense and Giving Is Better Than Taking
4. Greed Gains Momentum
5. Gratitude Leads To Contentment
6. Contentment Leads To Generosity

Everyone Splashes.  Splash Blessings.

I watched the debate between President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney last night.

The two participants became contentious. 

Maybe they cared deeply about having the most accurate and helpful information.

Maybe they work hard at accuracy and — being right — they wanted to be quoted accurately.

But, I’m saddened to think that they might care more about being elected.

What Would They Sacrifice To Win?

Following the debate I read various perspectives about the debate.

Adam Clymer, writing for the New York Times, began:

We face attacks every day.
Our sense of self is battered and bludgeoned by life’s challenges.

What helps us feel worthwhile? 
What drags us down?
Sometimes it’s so subtle.

Steven Covey tells the following story to explain the importance of thoughtfulness. Small acts of kindness and courtesy are important; and, rudeness, unkindnesses, and little forms of disrespect can tear us down.

“I remember an evening I spent with two of my sons some years ago. It was an organized father-and-son outing, complete with gymnastics, wrestling matches, hot dogs, orangeade, and a movie — the works.

Last night after my wife Amy finished celebrating her Green Bay Packers victory we started prepping dinner. While making dinner The Simpsons came on.

If you don’t know, most Simpsons episodes begins with an opening sequence of several short clips including Bart Simpson satisfying a consequence by writing a phrase on the classroom chalkboard.

Known as the chalkboard gag, Wikipedia explains, “the chalkboard gag is a running visual joke that occurs during the opening credits of many episodes. In this gag, Bart Simpson is writing a unique phrase on the chalkboard repeatedly; when the school bell rings, he immediately stops writing and runs out of the classroom.” 1

This weekend my dear – and very pregnant – friend Angi had a baby shower.

“Pumpkin seed” is Angi’s first.
This was also my first baby shower.

I know husbands, boyfriends, significant others and the like who have attended baby showers, but I never had.

I was feeling a variety of feelings as the moment to leave for the party arrived: