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It seems that a lot of my reading lately has revolved around becoming a great listener. I’ve always considered myself a decent listener, but realize that there are many times I do not honor the person speaking due to my inattention or preoccupation with looking smart. I’ll write more on this before the week is out — just finished The Servant by James Hunter and want to give you my review — but for now I’ll leave you with this quote:

A good listener is not only popular everywhere, but after a while he knows something.
Wilson Misner

I took a quick quiz, and this is what came out… pretty interesting. I’ll think about it a bit and let you know if I agree with the results:

Kristen and I are moving out of our apartment this weekend. Did I say yet how much I love moving?

The rain let up enough this afternoon for me to make a couple of trips to our mini-storage unit. We’re throwing everything in storage and crashing with my folks for a few weeks/months as our condo finishes escrow and we complete the subsequent home improvement projects.

We’re very excited to own our own place, and our list of ideas for projects seems to get longer each day. The latest has been looking at desk configurations for our office. I saw a built-in L-shaped desk in a model home a few weeks ago and loved the idea. I think a desk like that could be built rather simply and inexpensively, but still would be a great workspace for us. We have two computers and Kristen loves to scrapbook, so we need to have areas for both of us to do a little working/playing. If I end up tackling this one, I’ll post the plans and keep you in the loop as it progresses.

For now I’m off to bed. Moving wears you out in ways you don’t expect, and I hope to make it to play basketball with the dawn patrol at 5:30 tomorrow so I’d better get some sleep.

Cheers!

I tend to over-analyze things. I’m a planner, a dreamer, and on good days, a decent implementer. Once in a while, more often than I’d like to admit, I end up over-analyzing a project or situation and miss the opportunity that it represents.

Lately I’ve been involved in re-considering the overall direction of a project at work. Our team has thrown around several ideas, and talked through several scenarios, but we’re still on the same general path. It may be a matter of timing - it may not be the right time to implement this new direction. It may be a matter of preparation - we may not be ready for this new direction. Or it may be a matter of momentum - maybe we’re stuck, afraid to plot this new course and strike out into the unknown. Either way, we’re not moving on it. Yet.

For me, over-analysis is just another form of procrastination. I tend to minimize risks, and avoid situations where I may fail. Procrastination is a sure way to avoid failure - accept it is actually a form of failure. Failure to accomplish what I set out to do.

I know this much: if I over-analyze and try too hard to minimize risks, I’ll never implement this new direction. I’ve got to dive in at some point and say, “OK, follow me. I’m not sure exactly what’s ahead, but if we’re not moving we’re falling behind.”

My first step is to gather a bit more expertise, and to talk to an adviser either through SCORE or through UCSB’s Technology Management Program. Once I understand the pieces we need to pull together, I think we can confidently move forward, even if all the angles haven’t been analyzed.

I’m going to make an appointment in my calendar to take the first step. Er. Wait. That sounds too much like procrastinating.

OK. Just fired off an email to the TMP at UCSB. Now I just have to follow through and I’m on my way along the first step!

I was asked recently what I think of singing hymns as a part of a church worship service. To give you some history, as with most churches, there has been a tension between praise choruses and hymns within our church. I think everyone means well, and just wants to worship God in the way they are most comfortable — well, okay not everyone means well, but I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. I’m returning to this church after six years away, and have seen a healthy blend has been accomplished. I’m sure both sides of the debate still want more of their favorites included, but I think there is a good balance.

My answer to the question was that I love them - when they are done simply, and done well. When they are done poorly, they sound “old” and are too monotonous. But when led simply, with just a few instruments and a good worship leader, I love the depth and passion that is contained within them.

Hymns add a rich texture to a church worship service that can often draw me into worship more than a praise chorus. The knowledge that I’m singing a song that has been sung for 200 or more years can be an amazing experience - and demonstrates to me the transcendent “otherness” of God. He is worshiped across generations, and across continents, but sometimes with the same songs!

As I was thinking on this subject, I thought I’d try to write down a few of my favorite hymns. As I started writing, I was amazed at how many I truly cherish. Here’s the list I’ve come up with so far.

What are your favorites?

Crown Him with Many Crowns
I Will Sing of My Redeemer
Come Thou Fount
Be Thou My Vision
God, All Nature Sings Your Glory
How Firm a Foundation
How Great Thou Art
Complete In Thee
When I Survey The Wondrous Cross
Blessed Assurance
Amazing Grace
Great is Thy Faithfulness
A Might Fortress Is Our God
Holy, Holy, Holy
Ancient of Days
Praise to the Lord, The Almighty
Here Is Love
All Creatures of Our God and King
Fairest Lord Jesus
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

I heard it once said that we spend more time in the valleys of life than on the mountain tops. I’m not in a valley today, but I’m not on a mountain top either. For me I find I’m generally somewhere in the middle. Not too high, and not too low.

I’ve been encouraged in some areas lately, especially in the responses I’ve heard to some of the lessons I’ve been teaching at church. I think much of the praise is really due the author of the text I’m teaching from, but it is exciting to see people beginning to grasp the concepts and apply it to their lives.

In other aspects, I’ve been challenged to remain positive and patient when everything in me wants to either sprint or quit… not to persist along at this pace that sometimes seems to crawl. I realize that some projects take time, whether building a business or building a ministry - my role today is to be faithful in the little steps I control, and allow God to be God - allow him to control what I cannot. Letting go seems to me the hardest part.

I came across a song today that was a favorite of my buddy Chris in Santa Barbara - The Valley Song by Jars of Clay. It isn’t like me to do this, but I have been letting it loop over and over on my stereo, amazed at how it lifts my spirits, and encourages me. The song talks about how God carries us through seasons of hard times in life, but then lifts us to seasons of great joy.

Today in church we prayed for a family that has been in the middle of one of these seasons of hard times for the better part of the past two years. I know I have not experienced a rough patch of life on the scale they are facing, so it is hard to relate to the struggles they face.

However, I am incredibly impressed at their joy in small parts of their faith - the smile that spreads on their faces when they are in church - the delight they overflow with when our small group meets in their home each week.

When I see their joy, it makes me realize that even when the endeavors I pursue do not yield the results I dream of in the timing I’ve defined, I can rest knowing that God will carry me where He wants me to go. And I’ll be content when I arrive - even if the destination is not what I had fashioned in my heart.

If rivers of joy are what await me, I’ll gladly pay the price of entry - even if it means letting go of the control I so innately crave.

The lyrics are as follows:

The Valley Song
Jars of Clay

You have led me to the sadness
I have carried this pain
On a back bruised, nearly broken
I’m crying out to you

Chorus
I will sing of Your mercy
That leads me through valleys of sorrow
To rivers of joy

When death like a gypsy
Comes to steal what I love
I will still look to the heavens
I will still seek your face

But I fear you aren’t listening
Because there are no words
Just the stillness and the hunger
For a faith that assures

Chorus

Alleluia, alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia

While we wait for rescue
With our eyes tightly shut
Face to the ground using our hands
To cover the fatal cut

And though the pain is an ocean
Tossing us around, around, around
You have calmed greater waters
Higher mountains have come down

Chorus

Alleluia, alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia

A couple years ago, Kristen and I took our summer vacation in Montana. I was sorting some of my pictures and came across this picture I took while there.

It took a couple of seconds to realize that the billboard said what I thought it did, and by that time we had driven past it. Later I made point to drive back and take this picture. It was too classic to pass up.

I’ve never done a home inspection before, but we walked through the condo Kristen and I are buying with her dad today.

We didn’t discover anything earth-shattering, but they did install a non-firedoor leading into the garage that will have to be remedied. The owner also seemed a bit on edge as we were walking through. I think she could sense that we were going to find a few things that needed work, and she wasn’t keen on the idea of having to pay for them.

I’m not sure how things will go, but we’ll submit our inspection report and ask our Realtor to see to the items being completed or allowances made to the purchase price to reflect the changes. It certainly has been a learning process for me.

As it stands now, the plan is to do some improvement projects while Kristen and I bunk with my folks, and hopefully we’ll move into the place late March or early April. If you are bored and in the area, drop me a line and we’ll have you over once we’re settled!

Cheers!
Jeff Pruett