My "Don't Want" List.

So many of us have a "Want List". I want ___ for my birthday. I want ___ for Christmas. I want to be ___ when grow up. I want one of those (cars, houses, shirts, etc and etc)." Now don't get me wrong, I'm not condemning a want list; in fact, I have one of my own (though many material items are not as important to me as they used to be). The list I want to share is a list of don't wants, a list of things and ideas that will benefit me as a person and benefit others as well, a list not just focused on me and things I think will make me happy.

Here's the list, if you have some of your own please tell me and add them as comments. If you have questions, please ask. I encourage each of you to think about this and then create a list of your own don't wants and strive to live that way. Post your list as a comment or email it to me when you finish - joshua.hershberger@gmail.com.

• I don’t want to become so consumed with growing a church that I forget to minister to those God puts in my life.
• I don’t want my personal spiritual walk to be so stagnant that I don’t experience daily spiritual attacks.
• I don’t want to be "so in tune with God" that I can’t hear Him speaking through others.
• I don’t want "achievements" in life (i.e. my college degree) to limit my opportunities and goals in life.
• I don’t want to spend so much time ministering and planning that I don’t take time to pray.
• I don’t want to read so much “essential Christian literature” that I don’t have time to read the Bible.
• I don't want to just live life one day at a time, I want to learn life one day at a time.
• I don’t want (and can't) win the world for Jesus until I am first won over for Jesus.

I'll add to this as I think to, or as you create lists and I notice goals I want to incorporate into my life.

Vote Change and Country First 2008

This video does not promote a candidate specifically, but the choice is
obvious.

This election is crucial. This time we don't just have candidates that are different in thoughts and beliefs, but have candidates that are fundamentally different in thought and belief systems. We see more than just democratic and liberal views from Senator Barrack Hussein Obama, we see extremist views accompanied by eloquent words. While I am not a person to give a litmus test to a candidate, I feel this video focuses on some very important issues. I disagree with Sen. Obama on issues from how to restore this economy to his tax policies that will deceptively oppress ALL Americans, I disagree with his foreign policy and stance on family issues; and if I was a soldier, I would have no doubt that Senator John Sidney McCain III would make the best military leader because of his experience and vested interest in America's future. I make no qualm about it, I may have the right to a secret ballet, but I am proud to vote Country First - McCain/Palin 2008.

(Update 11/13/08 - this video was removed from the web so it can no longer appear on my blog. I voted McCain/Palin as I promised, but will support and respect our new leader, Barrack Obama.)

The perfect question to provoke thought just got better.

I like shock value and treasure honesty. I like things that make you stop and go, "Oh, life has a point and purpose and am I trying so hard to live I forget about it?" Since I like this, I enjoy being able to provoke thought within others and cause them to think beyond themselves. Recently, I have out of the blue been asking people, "What is the most important thing in your life?" This was my 'one phrase way' of getting people to really think and share about things deeper and significant in life.

When answered honestly, myself included, the answer generally comes with some self-questioning like, "Should this really be what is most important?" Within my Christian circle especially, the answer is always along the lines of "God", or "My relationship with God" or "Sharing my faith with others" etc. etc. I have even heard, "You mean, after God" implying that God is the obvious answer and in an unintentional way, discrediting the question.

God being number one is great and many people really believe that this is the most important thing in their lives, but I would like everyone to start asking themselves another question. "If my life was studied, what would appear to be the most important thing in my life?" A personal example is I really believe and can say with full integrity that my relationship with Jesus Christ is the most important thing in my life; but I need to ask myself what about my life really demonstrates and illustrates my answer - what proof and evidence do I have. If you review my daily routine and look over my life, I fear that maybe the conclusion isn't the same as what comes out my mouth. Once I have reached this level of honesty I need to ask, "What changes do I need to make to put what I need to be number one, actually number one?"

I challenge you to ask yourself the above questions and strive daily to live a life of integrity. This includes being honest to yourself because it's easiest to believe lies we create or want to be true.


"If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" - many people

A "Top 10" you will never see on Letterman... guaranteed.

I received this email today and after verifying the facts, I felt this was something we need to know and think about. After reading the facts, please refer to the related article for I which I have provided a link.

Top people you won't see endorsing the publicity of this information.

WHAT THE TOP TEN CITIES WITH THE HIGHEST POVERTY RATE HAVE IN COMMON...

Detroit , MI (1st on the poverty rate list) Democratic Mayor since 1961;

Buffalo, NY (2nd) Democratic Mayor since 1954;

Cincinnati , OH (3rd)...Democratic Mayor since 1984;

Cleveland , OH (4th)...Democratic Mayor since 1989;

Miami , FL (5th) has never had a Republican mayor;

St. Louis , MO (6th)....Democratic Mayor since 1949;

El Paso , TX (7th) has never had a Republican mayor;

Milwaukee , WI (8th)...Democratic Mayor since 1908;

Philadelphia , PA (9th)...Democratic Mayor since 1952;

Newark , NJ (10th)...Democratic Mayor since 1907.


It seems it is the disadvantaged who habitually elect Democrats --- yet are still disadvantaged.

Einstein once said, 'The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.'

For a great article related to this post, click here.