Proverbs 4:7 ….Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
Archives For August 2012
“…Too many variables,” says Dipper Pines.
In the Disney Channel series “Gravity Falls,” I think one of the most relatable episodes for all of us has to be “Double Dipper.” We see the main character, Dipper Pines, making multiple copies of him on this mystical copier.
Why did he choose to copy himself? Simple! To keep someone at the front door of the party to take tickets at the booth while he could go talk to his girl of interest Wendy.
Now, everything was fine, until he was interrupted by another guy. So, to complicate things, he makes an additional copy or two of himself in an effort to get the guy out of the way. The episode goes on further. He could talk to her now. He could address her face to face. He could…but doesn’t. So, to make things “perfect” to him, he then goes on to make additional copies. Dipper’s bedroom is now full of copies, standing around and talking.
He’s turned a simple moment like talking to a girl into a “Situation Room” at the Pentagon type of event.
Dipper doesn’t just want to talk to Wendy! Oh no…he wants to assess the possibilities of communicating with a member of the opposite sex by simply analyzing the time and space as well as depth and frequency of the communication in a fellowship fashion.
In other words….”HE WANTS SOMETHING, BUT AFRAID OF WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN.”
I used to…NO…scratch that, STILL is that. I still struggle with “what if’s” and have had friends and family tell me to stop trying to “stress test” every single thing that goes through your mind.
You want to talk to that girl…GO…just be yourself!
You want that opportunity…GO…just apply yourself and see what happens!
You want to write that epic story….what’s holding you back!
I can tell you now, if I made multiple copies of me, I’d drive myself nuts. That, or end up like Dipper, “literally” fighting myself.
Here’s something that has been on my heart for a few days now and I want to share it with you:
Proverbs 3:5-6, which says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths,”
This text has been on me because just like Dipper, it was a matter of trust. He leaned on himself and his ideas. He leaned and depended on copies of himself. He leaned and depended on his list to keep the conversation between him and Wendy going. But what worked, was that he was simply himself. He let go.
That might be your struggle today!? You might be holding back a lot of things for you because you are in your own way. In my own personal Christian walk, I have found that trusting the Lord keeps me from getting myself or the situation confused and keeps me focused on the fact that it’s not in my strength or personal ability that I grow successful, whether its talking to someone or making it through various struggles, but through the Lord, whom directs my path.
My prayer for you is that you learn not to pull a “Double Dipper” so often, and learn in the assurance that God got your back…yes, even for the “talk to Wendy” moments!
For a few days now, I asked the question, “is going to college to pursue my Master’s even worth it!?” I began to question the validity of what I was studying and what I was even doing in school. I know I originally started so I can pursue my Master’s in Christian Education / Christian Ministry, but, it just didn’t make sense to study that and yet enjoy cartooning, writing and blogging. Wow, even as I write that, it still doesn’t seem to connect.
My hope is that once you finish reading this, you’ll see why it actually can make sense.
I posed a thought on my Facebook wall Saturday morning about the fact that I might actually take a semester or two off from school. Why, you may ask…so I can pursue the goal of completing my book that I’ve been working on! Its a book that God gave me the idea for about 7 years ago! Needless to say, it needs to be completed. You could imagine how much my head spun when I got multiple answers like “stay in school” and “try to do both the book and school” and “what’s the point of college anyway.”
I realized I made a rookie mistake…never just drop a question onto a social media page like that! Start with God FIRST!!! Needless to say, I did that LONG before I posted on Facebook, but hey, I came up with the bright idea of allowing commentary to occur. Now, I am very grateful for the commentary, the thought and the prayers and well wishes, but I will say it made the debate tiring.
What led me to vote “YES” on staying in school for the long haul was the following:
1.) I had to have a plan: I realized that I wanted to pursue my book, but, I didn’t have a writing schedule planned. I haven’t even bothered to look at what kind of sacrifices I would have to make to actually make to allow room for time to study and do homework and the time to edit and write my book. Needless to say, I can already say that I actually CAN make the time if absolutely needed.
2.) I had to look deeper into what I was studying: While the title “Master’s of Christian Education / Christian Ministry may seem a little bit misleading, one has to understand what the degree consists of. The courses that are in this program that I’m going through are thorough in the study of scripture, doctrine and theology. While the first few courses go into an area of focus that are a little deeper than what I find necessary, the courses later in the program towards exactly what I desire to do….media writing and publication. Kinda pushes the point to stay doesn’t it!?
3.) I have to remember the purpose: About a years ago, I wrote down that my life goal was to earn my Master’s in ministry so I could go into ministry full-time. I also wanted to potentially earn my Master’s in Communications as well. Why all of the education!? Well, I want to be taken seriously both in ministry and in the field of broadcasting and communications. More importantly, I want to be able to teach in perhaps a college level how to use animation and cartoons to teach for the purpose of ministry.
In fact, when I came back to my apartment, I took a look at my goal planning board. I almost forgot that I wrote some of these particular goals down. In fact, its been about a year to two years since I did! All of them for the most part are either accomplished or in progress!
Look at what it says in the picture:
My Goals List
With that…I’m going back to school!
Just keep me in your thoughts and prayers!
Please check out the following One Year Anniversary Video: http://youtu.be/YI0mTXUJ4XA
Yes You Can (c) Kendall Lyons, Cartoon Daily News, 2012
“Yes You Can!”
At the time, Senator Obama, was running on this very slogan. This slogan was more than a slogan…it was a thought. This thought allowed kind of a ripple effect that sent everyone to the polls to vote for the possibility of hope and change.
Before I continue, I want to make it clear that this is neither support nor criticism towards the President or any elected official, but, towards a thought.
Its a thought, in my opinion, should be in the mind and heart of every person living on earth: “Yes You Can.”
Now, stay with me. I was at a “Back To School Rally” in Terrell, Texas at Shiloh Baptist Church and had the delight of preaching for the first time. The Pastor there, Pastor Daniels, welcomed me in and gave me the opportunity to share my gift of preaching and speaking to the youth there.
I started my sermon off with expressing the point that “Yes You Can” was a thought! But, its a thought that is actually missing power. I can say “Yes I Can” all day and all night, but, I need help to move beyond “Yes I Can” to “Yes I Can Through Him.”
Philippians 4:13 says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
“I can…”
Think about it…I can… I really can do it and you can too!!! But you also have a choice to decide that you can do it through certain means….either through your own strength and your own mental capacity…or through the one who Loves you and died for you and who has the ability to give you the strength and peace needed to succeed!
When I first tried to draw, I was terrible. I tried doing all kinds of things with my talents and skills by myself. Doing so left me feeling alone, depressed and disappointed. I hated what I was doing and in turn I hated my talents because I didn’t understand them. I had to go to God and Christ…my talents and abilities began to gain a focus, a focus I couldn’t even see coming. I realized what I was supposed to do with my talents and gifts and because of that I realize that…well….”I can!”
More importantly, “I can…through Christ…who strengthens me.”
I’ll have to write later to tell you how important that word “ALL” is!
