Like millions of Americans I am an avid iPhone user. I have more stuff downloaded to my phone than I will listen to/watch/fidget with, but I want it there at a moments notice so I can use it. You know what I mean. One of my favorite apps on the iPhone of late (aside from the Food Network app) is Slacker Radio.

This past week I needed some new music. I tend to listen to the same stuff over and over and needed to branch out. Slacker Radio has a station devoted to the top 50 songs of 2010 ten across all of their stations. I figured I would give it a listen. I have come to a few conclusions:

1. There is a lot of popular stuff out there that isn’t very good. A lot that is, but some of it is really bad.

2. I don’t like when musicians have to sing their name at the beginning of each of their songs. No offense Jason DeRulo, but I don’t need to be reminded it is you singing.

3. Music really is a sign of the culture. This was brought to my attention in the song Billionaire by Travie McCoy and Bruno Mars. It is a catchy tune, but left me scratching my head. I wouldn’t recommend this one to anyone for a few reasons. Let me explain.

The first line of the songs says, “I want to be a billionaire so $%^&*& bad, buy all the things I never had.” Not millionaire. Billionaire. Many Americans struggle to get by from month to month and live in massive amounts of debt. The idea of being out of debt is overwhelming. The idea of having a large amount of money saved up is a dream. For most people a million dollars could be doable over a long period of time (investing wisely over time, see Dave Ramsey), but a billion dollars! That is ludicrous. It might as wells say, “I want to win the lottery so %^&*(&^ bad.” Also, what is it that you never had that will cost a billion dollars to buy?

They go on to explain through the song all of the things they would do if they were billionaires: picture on the cover of Forbes (with Oprah and the Queen), playing basketball with the president, and a bunch of other stuff. Some of the stuff they mention is noble, some of it not so much.

Like I said, I have nothing against these guys. They are doing what they do and making a living at it. The song is just a reflection of the culture. There are many who pipe dream about what they would do with all the money, not realizing they can take the first steps to a better life today. Many who fritter their money away on lottery tickets and put their hopes in things that will continue to disappoint.

I choose to make good choices. I choose to spend and save wisely. Hopefully, one day I will achieve most of the goals I have set. (Many that are included in the lyrics of the song: adopting babies, helping the less fortunate, etc.) It won’t take a billion dollars to do that. Just the decision to do the best with what God has given me…and tons of hard work.

What are your thoughts on this?

 

I was sitting at work the other day and I couldn’t get it off my mind. It bugged me and bugged me and bugged me. I did my best to ignore it. But, it nagged me until I paid attention. I tried to put it off again. Fail. I tried again. Epic fail. What had me in its grip? Worry.

It doesn’t matter what it is that we worry about, once we let it get in there it is so hard to get it to go away. It could be about money, health issues, relationships, or a variety of other things that are important to us. They are often unfounded, or barely founded. But, once it gets in your mind it multiplies like wild fire.

I have spent more than my share of time battling it over the years. Finding out I had cancer in 2004 provided a ton of it. Losing a job years ago added a bunch. Complications with Trey’s delivery added more than I thought I could bear. What did it all amount to? A lot of stress that didn’t do me any good in the end.

There is a great verse that goes like this: who by worrying can add a single hour to his life? (Matthew 6:27) I have discovered this time and time again. Being concerned about things can be productive. Doing my part is necessary. But, letting those concerns shift to worry only makes us anxious and clouds our minds. Concern and hope can exist together. Worry chokes hope.

After my diagnosis in 2004 I decided that I was going to do everything in my power to live. I would endure the surgery. I would undergo chemotherapy. I would do everything I could to make sure I had the best chance possible. The results were up to God. I just wanted to make sure I did my part. I was concerned. I refused over and over to let it turn into worry. Thankfully, the outcome is what I wanted it to be. I am still here.

What do you worry about? Are the problems real or imagined? Are they things you can do something about? Do you need to ask for help? If they are things you can tackle, get after it. If they are things you need help with, ask. If they are things you have no control over, do what you can do.

Even if I have to make the choice a thousand times, I refuse to let worry overtake me. I know it won’t do me any good in the long term and it makes the short term miserable.

 

For the past couple of years I have volunteered as a mentor at a local elementary school. It was a ton of fun. I hung out with a kindergarten student each year and helped them read and spell and do basic math. This year I thought I would step up my game a bit and be a mentor to a high school student. Our first mentoring session several months ago. I made a good choice.

It is amazing how much I don’t remember about Algebra 1. Ok. I can get most of the answers right, but working them on paper! Oy vey. After the initial shock the fog lifted from my brain and I started to help him with his homework. (I was also amazed to think it has bee over half my life ago that I was in Algebra 1!) We did about 10 problems together. I loved it. I think he enjoyed the time as well. I know he was happy to have his math homework done. More than that, I think he was happy to have someone older sit with him and work through the problems until he understood.

Mentoring is a big need these days. Sharing our knowledge and time with people who need it is vital. I think the need gets overlooked and often. We live in a very individualized society. Many people choose the path of “I did it all by myself”. Should that really be a badge of honor? Should we have to struggle through things needlessly? I don’t think so. While we are individuals, we contribute to a community. If one person in the community suffers we all do. If we have chances to help others and inspire, we should.

As we worked through the problems he looked up at me and grinned. The expression of understanding spread across his face. Something that was confusing became clear. I love that moment.

I want to live my life like this. I want people to see a good model for living. When I need help I want to ask for it. Where I can give help I want to offer it. I want to be who God created me to be. If I get to be that and help others do the same, I think I will be satisfied when it is all said and done. I improve as I help others improve.

People are watching anyway. Do I lead them to being better, because I am striving to be better? Or do I settle, and watch the world around me do the same?

Who do you know that needs a mentor?