Missional Heart

Great tactic and political prowess...

I think this NYTIMES article is a great article and brilliant for the Huckabee campaign. I'm not picking a candidate for some time, but this does seen to have gripped my attention. His last statement is weighing in on my thoughts.

“It’s never too late to do the right thing,” said Huckabee.

Best of 2007...

I'm working to put together my Best of 2007, I was hoping to get others from my viewers.

Let them fly.

A bed of penny's

There is over a million dollars of penny's in this photo by Common
Cents Penny Harvest. Visit www.commoncents.org.

Please continue to pray for Adam and Lora Mayfield!

Spam, spam, spam

This is a great ad from 1979... Love it!

2008 New Years resolutions in 300dpi...

2008 will be the year...

I will love my wife and she will love me, more and together tell the world and everyone in it they are second
I will develop myself as a man and just stop being BOOMER
I will lose those pesky 40lbs of man-boob and love handles I have always dreamed of
I will choose 4 life passions (Kingdom Engineering, Photography, Writing and ???) that I will leave my mark on
I will devote my time to changing the world, patiently and with longevity
I will manage my time, GTD (Getting Things Done) and less BOOMER time
I will learn the concepts, but not fully grasp the "whys" till 2009 (gotta have something else for next year)
I will achieve the goals I set for the next 365 days one day at a time
I will...

Here are 3 realistic, tangible ways to measure success for me in the New Year.

1) MyChurchPromos.com grosses 100K

2) Complete my first manuscript. Struggles of Becoming: A look at a 20-somethings' desire to learn life.

3) Another year in NYC

These are in no specific order, but I think the installation of the "I WILLS..." above will usher in 2009 with momentum from victories in 2008. Lord willing...

I know some will go: well, those are great and all, but what about God how will He affect your life, will you grow closer to Him? I say to you, show me a man who has lived his days and achieved his dreams and goals apart from God... I don't think the desires of our hearts will be given to us unless we are faithful to the one who makes those things so...

These are going on the mirror in the bathroom, the fridge, the living room computer desk, my wallet and on my heart.

My Christmas experience through music video...

So I thought I would put together a succession of music videos/videos that best describe my typical roadtrip for the Christmas season.

Hope you enjoy!!! be sure to watch them all, it's well worth it.

I have broken the trip up according to driving segments.

NYC-ATL enjoying a Christmas, Gilstrap/Griswold style (wife's maiden name, I know!!! Don't comment on the last name... my in-laws read this, HAHAHAHA.)

ATL-NASHVILLE

This video says it all for my side of the family. It's by far the most accurate and hilarious of all on this post

NASHVILLE-NYC

Finally, back to reality.

My family wishes you and yours a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year no matter how you celebrate, whether it's with Bloody Marys, with 8 million others in NYC or with Cousin Eddie...

Trying on suits

Here's a great concept.. Its not the suit on the manequine that's
looks fabulous its the size of the manequine that is fabulous!!! -
erick bauman @ macy's 12/20/2007

Erick Bauman 863.430.1200 (cell)

Sent from my iPhone.

200 to spend @ macy's

What on earth do I buy?

Velvet blazer? Black or brown... Possibly something else? Crap!!!

Erick Bauman 863.430.1200 (cell)

Sent from my iPhone.

On Love and Loving Others

"Real love occurs when it is given, not taken." -Erick Bauman

"Love's oxygen is the action of giving." -Erick Bauman

"Love is a producer of more love." -Erick Bauman

"Love can do no less than make others love more." -Erick Bauman

"Love sustains and reproduces itself by making its carrier's main desire to infect others with love- It's a disease." -Erick Bauman

"Love can only be modeled by observing the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. A life that was secured by love, given in love and made by love to see others love with others loving more in mind." -Erick Bauman

"My dog is sure of being loved, therefore he licks faces for free. He doesn't lick faces in return for love, but because love makes him love outwardly." - Erick Bauman

"If you can't love externally, are you doubting being loved by God internally?" - Erick Bauman

A video of intentionality...

This video made me think of ways to create more. Intentionally more. Not something that is haphazardly taking place because I was in the right place at the right time. Right now in my life, I'm living off of fumes, my proverbial tank is running empty, especially this time of year. I'm closing relationships, and intentionally refocusing my efforts into others. That's what I'm doing, but why I'm doing this is because I want to love people for the right reasons. Not just love people because I should and I need to be loved back, which is what I do, currently.

It strikes me as odd to think of Jesus in this context.

Here's a guy that had things done to him by people who said they loved him that would clearly scream "Enemy," How can the Church proclaim they offer relationships when the Head of the body says that we will be hated? I'm not sure we got this right. Question what are the Jesus criteria for a Jesus like relationship? How did he love his friends and his "enemies." How did he hold them accountable? What was his stance on best friends and worst enemies? Was He concerned about being loved back, did that mean he knew who would love and who would not, did that change how he "told" people to follow him. Does the Bible and the story of Jesus spell out how to have a relationship other than manage crisis control amongst followers of the Way?

Lastly, do you think being loved back is the most important way to sell relationships and can we sell the thought of them as authentic, when they are about receiving back what you put in. Could you imagine creating something that wouldn't or chooses not to love you.

I'm beginning to think selfishness can not love, no matter how hard it tries, no matter how much it dies. Selfishness wilts all expressions of authenticity. How does the Gospel change that... is it refraining from by deploying self-control prowess or through practicing disciplines?