Influence

The apostle Paul wrote this to the Philippian church: "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith." (Phil 1:21-25, ESV)

There are times that I get frustrated about my struggles and desire that God simply remove me from them. Most often, I am self-focused when thinking this. God doesn't have me remain here on earth for myself, but so that I can impact others with my life - my kids, my wife, my fellow believers, and most importantly, those who don't yet know Him. I think it is healthy to desire my heavenly home, but that desire needs to come in the context of a desire to be with the Lord, not to escape circumstances.

Learning

'“Facts are stupid things, until brought into conjunction with some general law.” It was a great and common fallacy to suppose that an encyclopedic mind is desirable. The mind was made strong not through much learning but by “the thorough possession of something.' - David McCullough describing the teaching style of Louis Agassiz

Desire

"There have been times when I think we do not desire heaven;
but more often I find myself wondering whether, in our heart
of hearts, we have ever desired anything else.... It is the secret
signature of each soul, the incommunicable and unappeasable
want, the thing we desired before we met our wives or made our
friends or chose our work, and which we shall still desire on our
deathbeds, when the mind no longer knows wife or friend or
work.... All your life an unattainable ecstasy has hovered just
beyond the grasp of your consciousness. The day is coming
when you will wake to find, beyond all hope, that you have
attained it." - C.S. Lewis

Real Joe

My favorite restaurant (non-Mexican, that is) in all of the Phoenix area is Joe's Real BBQ. Joe Johnston was the original owner. I have appreciated the positive influence he has had in the Gilbert, AZ community, with multiple establishments now in place (Joe's Farm Grill and Liberty Market are the two more recent additions to the community).

Here is a recent presentation he gave. Hope you enjoy it.