Anatomy of a Story

I love to read.  Sometimes I forget that and go long spells in my life without reading.  Right now I am reading four books because I can't decide which one I want to read the most.  One is about prayer, one is about a man's life and writing a new story.  Another is a sort of self-help book about being brave.  The other is an audio book of the "The Shack."  The reason we like reading books is one thing - the story!  Even people that don't like to read, enjoy movies and other forms of art that employ a good story.  It is interesting to think about how many parts of our world revolve around a story.  From the Bible to advertisements to movies to even many business practices - all benefit from good stories.

If you think about it, a story has about 3 parts.  Plays sometimes literally divide the play into these 3 acts.  Act one always begins with the hero.  The hero is trying to accomplish something.  During Act 1, the hero sets out on his journey to save the princess or make a fortune or win a championship.  The heroes also usually does a lot of good things that make us root for them.  Just think of all the nice things Rocky did in the first part of the movie to make us want to be on his side.  But, right at the end of Act 1, it always happens - the inciting incident.  This is the place where the hero realizes it is going to be tough - picture the hero sitting on the bed with his head in his hands, feeling truly discouraged.  

Act 2 is where the hero tries all kinds of different approaches to overcome the obstacle, usually starting with the easiest.  But, the challenge doesn't go away - the problems only get more complicated.  The plot gets more complicated, the goal seems farther way, and the hero comes very close to giving up.  

Act 3 is when the hero realizes that there is only one way to solve the challenge.  They also realize that this may be the hardest thing they have ever done.  They may also experience some regret because they realize the challenge would have been much easier to overcome had they answered the challenge in Act 1.  We knew it all along, but they couldn't see it, even though they are the hero.  

In reality, the hero isn't made in Act 3 because most of us never make it to Act 3.  Most of us give up in Act 1 at the inciting incident.  We say "This is tougher than I imagined," "This must not be God's will" or "This is not fair!"  Substitute in your favorite excuse.  Heroes are really people that choose to write their own stories.  Heroes are the ones that push through the inciting incident and finish the story.  Have the courage to write a new chapter in your life, but realize you WILL face the inciting incident that begs you to give up.  Whether it is your marriage or career or other life goals, choose to accept the challenge and persevere!  Lean into the challenges instead of avoiding them.  It's always hard -- it's always has been.  But, that's what makes a good story!

How to Play Ball

My dog, Winston, is really smart!  I know it's one of those things you say about your kid until you realize you are just biased.  Kids are just amazing and they fool you into thinking they are geniuses.  If you are bamboozled very long, you will awaken to reality when they become teenagers and you use the words "bonehead" and "idiot" more than ever imagined you would.  When I say my dog is smart, what I really mean is he is like an above-average toddler.  I love him, but he still drinks out of the toilet doesn't know that grapes will hurt him.  He still runs into things and gets scared when it thunders, but wants to chase loud pickups.

He is good at fetch though.  He snatches tennis balls out of the air like a beast and chases the ball down with intense excitement and vigor.  Even on the hard wood floors he is able to calculate the slide ratio and still retrieve the ball without wasting a single motion.  The only part of the process he can't grasp is the dropping of the ball so I can throw it again.  He gets about an inch from my hand and then pulls back.  He seems to be calculating something in his head like "If I give you the ball, I won't have the ball.." (said in my dog voice).  Sometimes, when he looks really confused, I just snatch if from him.  Often, after a few catches, he will get frustrated and just go sit down and think for a while.

In a way, it reminds me of my relationship with God.  He invites me to play ball - an adventure if you will.  I approach, but I have trouble dropping the ball in front of him.  Like Winston, I get confused.  "How can I give God everything and still keep it."  "How can I submit, but keep some control."  As far as I know, God does not snatch things out of our hands - he just patiently waits - listens to us complain about not having joy - even let us complain that God won't play ball with us.   Adventure requires trust and vulnerability - it requires letting go!

My New View of Weddings and Heaven

For whatever reason, I developed a negative view of weddings.  Maybe because they were usually people that I barely knew.  Maybe it was the Greek Orthodox wedding that lasted 3 hours.  The only thing I remembered from that was "keep the marriage bed pure and have lots of children."  At least that's what I heard.  Even my own wedding was a "tell me where to stand" endeavor.  All of my perceptions changed about 14 months ago when I attended my first daughter's wedding, then my other daughters wedding in July.

Although the ceremony meant a great deal more and I loved walking my daughters down the aisle, the real treat was the second half - the party!  Our family is starting to gain a reputation for the way we celebrate at weddings.  Laura has 2 sisters that love to dance along with their mother in law (who obviously gave them the dancing gene).  None of my brothers and sisters can dance, but they have been inspired to "do their thing" any how and even the kids get involved.  It's a sight to see - I think it surprises the general public!

With all that excitement, I often pause to notice the other half of the crowd just observing.  You have to wonder what is going through their mind.  I don't really have to use much imagination - I just hearken back to church and remember the things people often say when they are not living in joy!  It takes a lot of focus and determination to be miserable so I just leave them to it.  I'm always happy when we convert a pew sitter to the joy side!

The Bible talks about heaven is several ways.  But, one of the ways it describes it is as a marriage feast - not the ceremony - the party!  Jesus first miracle was at a wedding - and get this - he turned water into wine!  I'll leave you to make all the connections there.  Just rest assured heaven is not going to be a place where we all sit on our hands and talk about what everyone else is wearing or criticize those that allowed themselves to be happy!  It's a place of joy and maybe a little like a Forehand wedding!

Dodging the stones,

Karl 

A New Way to Live

I grew up in Oklahoma and later lived in Texas.  In Texas, we believed that you could improve any food by frying it.  There was so much good food in Texas, I learned to eat and cook the food I loved.  Along with my heredity, I found myself at 50 facing some health challenges but, at the same time, addicted to the foods that were making me unhealthy.  I loved fried foods - I was accustomed to processed foods - and caffeine was my best friend.  I had high blood pressure, high cholesterol and was about 40-50 pounds overweight.  

I decided to make a change.  Kerrie Roberts, a Christian performer, was probably the greatest influence.  When she came to perform for our church, I was in charge of setting up meals for the band.  Her request was to have the vegan option.  I had to google it.  

We are still trying to discover exactly where we are going to land on the way we eat and live.  But, basically the only meat we eat is a little seafood.  So, you could call us pescatarians except that we do not eat dairy (another thing I never thought I would never do).  So, you could almost call us Vegan, except for the fish thing and I don't belong to PETA..haha.  The final radical move we made was to give up caffeine.  I don't really remember that week - but, I am glad I made it through it.  

What have the benefits been?  I lost about about 15 pounds in two months and haven't felt this good in a long time.  My resting blood pressure is 115/85 without any medication.  My doctor reduced my cholesterol medicine to 20mg.  I hope it will be eliminated when I go see him next time.  I feel so much more optimistic about my future.  I feel like I a starting the second half of my life with a fresh start.

Maybe this lifestyle is not for everyone.  I would simply encourage everyone to do what they can.  Make small changes that improve your life and understand that you can do a lot more than you thank you can.  The bonus is that you may enjoy it much more than you think!   

pes·ca·tar·i·an

ˌpeskəˈte(ə)rēən/

noun

1. a person who does not eat meat but does eat fish.

Compound Interest

Albert Einstein said, “Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it ... he who doesn't ... pays it.”  He went on to say "Compound interest is the most powerful force in the universe" and "Compound interest is the greatest mathematical discovery of all time."  Compound interest means that if I have $100 and earn 10% interest, I will earn $10 in interest.  But the following year I won't just earn 10% on the $100, I will earn 10% on $110.  Every year the snowball picks up a little more snow and the interest earned, along with the total amount, grows larger.  Compound Interest in 30 years would be $1,744 as opposed to just $400 using simple interest.

Recently, we decided to make a change in our finances.  We learned a great deal from attending and later teaching Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace classes.  Because our situation was so grim, we are still digging our way out; however our "peace" is much greater and our situation more secure.  The greatest gift of OUR transformation has been the change in our children. 

Our oldest financed his discovery tour to Taiwan last year and actually returned with more money than when he left.   This year, he moved there to begin teaching and left a large sum of money in the bank here and took plenty of cash to get started there.  How do you do that while in college?  Our oldest daughter bought her own $5000 vehicle with cash and recently let me know that she has a substantial wedding savings account started just after moving into her own apartment.  She is also working, attending nursing school and is on a strict budget.  Even our youngest is heading off to college with some money in the bank and her own car that she bought with cash.  

Most of what our offspring were taught is what they caught while they were watching us. They don't hear what you say - they watch what you do.   That also may also be the cause of any undesirable qualities.  I often wonder how incredible our grandchildren will be based on what I see in them because I know about compound interest.  Then, in horror, I ponder the repercussions if we would not have changed.  Today, we can make changes that will affect our family tree and everyone we know.  Many of these decisions and actions have nothing to do with finances.  Our actions produce compound interest - let's make sure they are good ones!

Superhuman

One of my new favorite shows is called "Stan Lee's Superhumans."  Stan Lee is the creator of many comic book heroes like the Fantastic Four and the Incredible Hulk.  The show is about real life people who have extraordinary abilities.  One show was about a man that had incredible strength while another could hold his breath for 8 minutes and dive over 650 feet.

The show reminds me that, with God's help, we can accomplish more that we usually think we can.  I often limit myself and my passion to just what I think I can accomplish.  Today, I was just taking stock of the exceptions when I DID dare to dream and made some dramatic changes.  Several years ago, I gave up tobacco.  What a relief from a strong hold in my life.  This year  I changed my eating habits dramatically where I no longer need medicine to control my blood pressure.   I doubted for many years I could do that.  

We forget that the power that raised Jesus from the dead and the power that saved our souls is also the power that  helps us conquer the impossibilities of our life.  In this way, we can be more than conquerors.  We can be more than just normal humans making excuses - with God's help we can be "super-human."  

Our New Website

Our New Website - Faith Baptist in Nebraska City