::Inspired::

::Inspired::

What if we all were living inspired and passionate? If everyone were, I think we'd live in a far more peaceful place. Some of the most alive people I know are the ones living out of their passions. Some of the most depressed people I've ever met have been those living a life way too un-inspired.

I have a friend who just recently jumped into his passions with his whole family and has begun writing full time. This itself inspires me! My father is a pilot and absolutely loves his job. There is not an ounce of bordem or helplessness in his eyes. He loves his job and couldn't be happier doing what he does for a living. I have another friend who works soldering circuit boards together for a space company. This guy couldn't be happier doing this.

Note: That would drive me up a wall, but I love the fact that he gets all pumped up about it!

One of my favorite quotes came from a book called "Wild at Heart" by John Eldredge. He said "Don't ask the world what it needs. Find out what makes you come alive and do that, because what the world needs are more people who have come alive. " How does this work though? Does this mean that we should be doing what inspires us for our occupation?

I have two huge passions. One passion of mine is family. If it were up to me, I would probably be Dan-Bob Duggar. I would love to have a hundred kids. My other passion in life is music. In case you were wondering, a mediocre musician cannot feed himself let alone a family of 5. What do we do about these situations?

I recently read the book by Brian McLaren "Finding our Way Again." Towards the end of this book, he speaks about faith-ing our practices. He says find what things we're already doing and practicing. Breathe God's inspiration into those things. As I play music, my enjoyment is a celebration of God. This is a form of worship for me.

• What are you inspired by?

• Can you do it for a living?

• If not, can you figure out how to practice this inspiration on a regular basis and allow God to infuse your faith into this passion?

Were we all created with a purpose in life? Can we find this purpose by looking at our inspiration?

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Live - Modern Day Abolitionists

February 1, 1865 - President Lincoln signed a joint resolution with the house and senate that later became the 13th amendment to outlaw slavery.

May, 1995 - 17 year old Dan Fedick does a 45 minute presentation in the 1st person as President Lincoln. It was probably the most nerve racking day of my life. 45 minutes.. Yes I said 45 minutes with a fake beard (Hey.. I was only 17) and the full costume. 45 minutes and 2 days later I find out that all that work I had been putting into the year end presentation would end in a "C." Why did I get a C? Well, I'm sure my timidity for speaking in front of large crowds (15 kids) had something to do with it. The teacher told me the reason for the "C" had to do with my broken small toe that had me in a blue stability cast. I couldn't receive the full "A" because it wasn't realistic enough. Thanks Mr. Gillespie. Awesome... At that time I assumed slavery was 17 year old children having to do a 45 minute presentations.

Summer 2004, - 12 year old Zach Hunter - a fellow classmate of my brother at CFC in Ashburn, VA starts a campaign with the International Justice Mission. "Loose Change to Loosen Chains." 12 year old Zach was studying the same subject. Slavery in the 1800's in his classroom and tells his mother that if he was alive then he would have been an abolitionist. His mother (who at the time worked at IJM) looked at him and said "Zach, you can be now. There is still a problem with slavery.....Today." This moved in Zach's heart and so he did. Since then he has been known as the modern day abolitionist. Now 17, he has been around the country speaking and writing books for the last 5 years. He just released his 3rd book called "Lose your cool." This kid has an amazing heart and I saw it in him 5 years ago when I met him and his mother just as my son Jaron was born.

January, 2010 - Daniel and Julie Clark (Doma International) - Project Greenlight.

Doma International starts a project called "Project Greenlight." Their initiative is to take their city and move the underground red light district and turn Columbus into a green light district through intervention and education to the community. Check out Dan Clark and Julie Clark's blogs to find out what they are doing.

There is common day slavery. It has nothing to do with homework assignments. It has to do with real people enslaved today. Thank you President Lincoln.

Thank you for all of those modern day abolitionists!! You are working towards a new freedom for people stuck in darkness in a tangible way and your doing it now.

To find out more:

Project Greenlight:

Loose Change to Loosen Chains:

Also, check out the Rockumentary called "Call+Response."

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Share - Haiti needs our help

Jan Sochor Images

Port Au Prince! First introduced to me through none other than Wyclef Jean's "The Carnival" in the late 1990's. I took French in high school, so when Wyclef started singing the beautiful Creole language with it's French mix I was in heaven.

A few years later my wife and I went to a big music festival ( before we were married and had 3 kids :). There was a booth that had a table full of beautiful children's pictures all over the table. I started to talk to the guy standing behind the booth and he was telling me that for 30-40 dollars a month I could help any one of these children have access to food, water, medical attention and an education. I have to say, I couldn't turn that deal down. At the time I was living with my grandmother with virtually no expenses and working as a contractor for the government. Here in front of me, these children could have more access to their needs for just about the same amount of money that I had just spent on the T-shirt and other crap they were peddling at the concert.

I looked around and found a packet that stuck out to me. Nicolas Morento. Port Au Prince, Haiti born on September 1st. That day was significant to me because it was my brother's birthday and that made it special. We have been working with Compassion International for over 6 years now. So when I was at the gym the day the earthquake happened and looked up at the news on the overhead television, it floored me.

Almost a month later I still don't know what has happened to Nicholas. I want to know more than anything. I also want to know what else I can do to help. If you're like me, you're trying to figure out how to make a difference but the task seems way too broad and daunting and it paralyzes you.

Who do I give to? What are the needs? Who is going to put money to the best use? As Americans, we have the ability to give even a small amount and make a difference in a place like Haiti. Here are some ways that I know of to get involved.

1.) Go to your local church and ask what are they doing to help. It's always better to serve together as a community. It brings people together and is very life giving!

2.) World Vision and Compassion International - World Vision and Compassion International have been working in Haiti for a long time. They know the culture, they've lived there for years and have a proven relationship in the community. Check these guys out for ways to continually give as well as one time donations to help with resources in Haiti now.

4.) One.org - One.org is the organization that you see Bono and Matt Damon and many other compassionate music and movie stars working with to help end extreme poverty in this world. Not a small task if you ask me, but it's not stopping them. Right now you can go and vote to help end Haiti's debt. http://www.one.org/us/actnow/drophaitiandebt/. Now is the time to help rebuild and our voice is all they ask for.

5.) Reject Apathy - This is an offshoot of the popular magazine "Relevant" which I've been reading for years. They've been trying to find a way we as 20-30 somethings can help and the first way to help is to "Reject Apathy." It's a great resource for ways to get informed and involved in regards to unjust war, creation care, preventable disease, extreme poverty, and the prevention of sex trafficking. It's a great resource and I highly enjoy their magazine as well.

6.) Doma International - Doma works in the lives of vulnerable children through crisis prevention and early intervention locally and abroad. They've done work in Uganda, Ukraine, Russia. Do you enjoy running? They are running in the Capital City Half Marathon and Fun Run in Columbus OH this year and raising money for vulnerable children in Haiti as well. My wife is going to be running this year at the 5k fun run and I am going to stay back and watch the children. (I ran the last half marathon and she watched the kids :) Go Tiffani!!!

7.) Last but definitely not least, Pray. Simple prayers can do more than you think. God hears the cries of the innocent and he desires our compassion for others!

So please, don't sit back and think there's nothing you can do. You can give money and time. Just because we're not on the ground floor in Port Au Prince doesn't mean there's nothing we can do.

There are trusted organizations who have been working and are working with the Haitian people and will continue to be there for them.

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Crave - "This Low"

If you've never heard of the band "The Swell Season", you'd probably recognize their music. You might have been introuduced through the 2008 film "Once." You know, the one that won the Academy Award for music written for a motion picture... Falling Slowly.. No? That's ok, I don't follow sports, so this is what I do with my spare time. If you get a chance, and you love music at all, check out the movie "Once".

The album from the motion picture did so well, they figured they'd go out on tour together. They went out and formed "The Swell Season." Their latest album, "Strict Joy" is definitely worth a listen whether it's your kind of music or not. There's a depth of emotion on this album that has a way of somehow delving deep into hurt and the struggles of love. It's almost as if they have a psychology degree in pain and it comes out on screen and in their music. Their dynamic tension lends to the feeling that they've tapped into this real life and it hurts but it's beautiful.

I fell in love with the song "This Low." It starts off as a couple is discussing their parting of ways and then during their discussion there's this switch in direction. They start talking about Light.

Shine the light, Don't hide the light, Live the light, and give the light, seek the light, and speak the light, crave the light, and brave the light, stare the light, and share the light, show the light, and know the light, raise the light, and praise the light, thread the light, and spread the light

You see this depth of pain in parting but also they're holding on to this expectancy that there is a future. There's a possibility they might be able to get out of "This Low" and there's really no place but up from here.

This song screams a way of life that is better. There is a way out.. There is a life to be lived. There's a light for us all to seek after and wrap ourselves up in. There's a light to chase after with tears in our eyes. There's a light to muscle after.

This song reeks of an eternal truth that whether we're parting ways with someone or have fallen into a pit of despair with some struggle, there's always an eternal light to show us the way out and to bring us hope.

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Strict Joy [Deluxe Edition] - ...

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