Perspective

I have been following globalrichlist.com going on 6 years now. It always reminds me how blessed Adrienne and I really are. The perspective I've gained over the years from this site and others like it, has changed the way we live, spend, and talk about wealth. We (americans) have a very distorted view of wealth. For some reason we think we need more. 

For example, let me show you how rich I am ;). I am a music and arts pastor at a church and a part-time recording engineer/producer. Not really careers that are typically associated with being wealthy, but I think you would be surprised to learn that my wife and I are well into the top 1% money makers in the ENTIRE world. There are roughly 6 billion people less fortunate than my family when it comes to income.

My purpose in this post is to share some perspective. Please hear my heart. I'm not saying don't buy a nice house or a nice car. All I am encouraging you to do is think, "do i need this much?" or "can I do with less?" when considering where you spend your money. The beauty is we can do with less and with what is left over you can give to those less fortunate than you. Be reminded, those who are reading this post, yes, even you college student, are rich beyond most peoples wildest dreams. Let us pray that God would bring us perspective in this time in our history.

grace and peace,

Matt

Breathe Deeply

Below is a Thomas Merton prayer a friend sent me while I was going through an interesting time in my life. I encourage you to try it. It has ministered to me many times and I trust it has blessed my Father's heart. Be blessed! Grace and peace to you.

My Lord God,

I have no idea where I am going
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself,
And the fact that I think I am following
your will does not mean that I am
actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please
you does in fact please you.
And I hope that I have that desire in all
that I am doing.
And I know that if I do this, you
will lead me by the right road
though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore I will trust you always
though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death, I will
not fear, for you are ever with me
and you will never leave me
to face my perils alone.

Close Proximity

Living in Condo's definately has it's ups, like not having to take care of a yard...not being responsible if the roof leaks...not paying a water bill...things like that. Right now I am stuck focusing on all the negatives. Matt and I have been having some issues with some renters that live right across the sidewalk from us. They happen to be related to another family that lives two doors down from us so these two families pretty much live life outside between the two units. They yell at each other, not mad yelling but more like, hey!!!! Is Jake over there? No??? Have you seen him? What do you mean I left the TV on? Ge the idea? We get to listen to their lives. And the most noise tends to happen with them between 5pm and midnight. In the last month we have called the police twice on them, yes I have turned into that person. At 2am I would really rather be asleep than listening to them yell at each other. What gets me the most is that I wonder about these people and how they can live in such a way as to not take into consideration any of the people living around them. Do they think we cannot hear them? Do they think it doesn't bother us? It is a cultural thing? Unfortunately no one else around makes this much noise so they dont have anyone around that they have to listen to. I am just at a loss!

Kings of Leon

Do yourself a favor and go get this record. It might melt your entire face right off. Kings of Leon, "Only By The Night." It's my number one pick for 2008.

Inspiration

My friend Aubrey is an incredible painter, photographer, and Christ-follower. She lives in Portland, which makes me sad because I want her to give art lessons to Ryland, but makes me happy for her, because Portland is my favorite city. Anyway, I was looking at her art today on her blog and was again inspired by her eye for color and her ability to find redemption themes in all places. If you have a moment, take a look here for some samples of her paintings and photos and be reminded of God's unbelievable gift of creativity.

much love,

matt

Patience

I've been praying recently for a more patient heart. I've always considered myself a pretty patient man, but with having a son brings great joy and great frustration at times. 

I've said as long as I can remember that I believe that God shapes our character most through marriage and through being a parent. Now that I'm a parent, I can say from experience the latter is true as well. 

Abba, continue to remind me of your deep love and patience with me, so that I might show Ryland the patience and love he needs to grow into a man who seeks after You... Let me be a true sacrifice for my family.

Good-bye Golden Arches

I have decided to blog about this mostly for accountability purposes. I am a big advocate of eating healthy...many of my "new" east mesa friends do not know that I have had a major weight problem in my life and after deciding to get rid of the excess weight, I learned how much to eat and what to eat and what I really needed to stay away from. I have kept the weight off for almost seven years now because I decided that my weight loss was a lifestyle change. Getting pregnant changed a lot of that!!!! I definately splurge a lot, which I know is to be expected but I am eating a lot of crap now. I am not happy with that. So I have decided for the rest of the pregnancy I am going to put a few places off limits for me. I think it will make me feel better and it will also keep me from gaining 70 plus pounds!!!
1. McDonalds
2. Burger King
3. Taco Bell
4. In-n-Out
5. Arby's
6. Wendy's
7. Dominoes
8. Pizza Hut
9. Papa John's

Chik-fil-A is on the cutting back list :-)

Boys Weekend.

Ryland and I had the whole house to ourselves this weekend. It was awesome. Adrienne was in San Diego with her best friend for some much needed rest. Ryland and I ate pizza, left the toilet seat up and drank beer.....wait, nope, none of that happen.... ;)

But we did have an incredible weekend laughing and bonding as father and son. I love my little boy. He is a true joy.

grace and peace,

Matt

My Current Reality

"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are"

e.e. cummings

Invasion of the Body Snatchers 1956

I've only met one person in my life who watches as much film as I do and his name is Joel Mayward. I love Joel. He's the Jr High Pastor at my church. Although I love Joel, that is not the point of my little rant....
To my point: I've just finished the original 1956 version of Invasion Of The Body Snatchers in black and white. It was quite good. I would recommend it highly. At the time in the 50's, most movies surrounded concepts like War and Westerns, but this was what I consider our modern day Matrix. If I recall when Matrix came out it was quite different from anything out at the time and whether you liked it or not, it seemed to be a dramatic change from our normal choices in film...
Anyway, as I talked to my father-in-law today, he remembered Invasions kind of being like that. It was mind blowing at the time....Still is a great film and worth 90 mins.
grace and peace,
matt

First "Joint" Post

It is very bizarre to have a new blog and to be letting go of my old one. I am so not good at change sometimes but am very excited to have a family blog and do this with my husband. I am excited to see what this will look like for Matt and I so welcome to the Gibson Blog!!!!