Create The Noise. Change Your World.

This is a continuation in a blog conversation with Albert Foong from Urbanmonk.net.

 It finally happened to me. I’ve heard stories about them, but never been confronted by one. Maybe I look too innocent. Actually, they probably know that I’m going to burn.

I was jogging by the lake as I always do in the evenings. Sweat was pouring down my face (I must’ve gone at least a quarter mile) and I noticed a guy in front of me. He was leaning against his bike and talking with someone who seemed annoyed. She was sweating. He wasn’t.  It just so happened that when I began to jog by him, he was ready to start a conversation with me. He handed me a pamphlet from the 70’s with two men shaking hands and asked me a question.

 

Do you see yourself as a misfit? Are you cool with the fact that everyone gives you a funny look. Are you ok that nobody ever gives you a second look?

We naturally want everyone to like us. They don’t need to be in awe of us, but we do like to be accepted as part of the group. It is not being self-serving. It is just life.

We want to be liked.

My Story

I’ve always thought I was liked by everyone. I prided myself in my ability to share and befriend people from various demographics. It was just a gift that I had. I could ask the right questions and give a caring smile. I never thought twice that people might not like me.

For those of you who read my blog from an rss feed, you might want to come and check out the new Christmas theme I put together for Altnoise. I think it adds a little feeling of comfort to the site. Many websites seem so distant from the real world, but I was hoping altnoise can be a place that you can come and feel like home.

 I’ve been thinking about the Christmas theme for awhile, but the idea really surged into motion when I was reading Darren Rowse’s article on optimizing our blogs for Christmas. I think he is doing a wonderful job of keeping the blogosphere a friendly and welcoming environment.

Popularity: 14% [?]

Last week, I was traveling in a large 15 passenger van packed with college students. We were driving back home to Orlando from a convention in Atlanta.

It was a long drive.

We talked about everything from the genius in ‘classic’ Will Farrell movies and albums like Linkin Park’s Hybrid Theory to the problems with the labels of modern and postmodern culture. They reminded me of how obnoxious naive I was at 19-20. They reminded me of how classic I had gotten as I remember Zoolander being an above average film not a great one.

It was a long drive.

What should we do with our lives?

Welcome to the first edition of tales of everyday inspiration.

I have been inserting my articles into several blog carnivals and thought it would be good for me to add one to Altnoise.

Many of you might want to ask, “What is a blog carnival?” In simple terms, it is a collection of articles from several different blogs that all have the same theme. They are arranged together so that it is easier for a reader to find similar blogs.

an online magazine of sorts.

 This carnival is about personal stories of inspiration - hence the title, “Tales of Everyday Inspiration”. There were dozens of submissions and many of them very excellent articles. A few of them I had a hard time weeding out, but they didn’t fit the theme.

I used to be self-righteous.

      I’m not now… I don’t think.

Have you ever noticed in the number of topics that you are an expert?

Last week, I was in a conversation with several other individuals and they began talking about the idea of faith. I looked around and knew that I’ve investigated this topic more than anyone else in the room. I know what the scholars think. I knew what was right.

I’m an expert.

I chose to listen.

A few years ago, I would consciously consider myself on a higher field than others because I thought I knew it all. I’m not a spoiled and self-centered premadonna. I’m just human. 

I have recently been accepted by the blog advertising site payperpost.com to work with them and promote certain products and websites. I am excited about it because it can bring in a little income to help support the family and I am able to get paid to blog, but I am also worried about it.

Payperpost works when a company wants their product or service known across the world wide web. The best way to accomplish this is through the viral marketing of bloggers. These companies then promote their services on payperpost to potential bloggers. They will offer the blogger a certain amount of money to review their services and write a post about it (hence the name payperpost).

Albert Foong has replied about our email conversation over at his blog. I am always impressed with his articles and the simple enlightenment that he brings to them. The entire post is an amazing investigation about compassion and selflessness. I became deeply inspired and motivated to seek Christ’s justice by reading it.

The best part might be the end of the article when he asks his readers a question.

I was reading some Christian literature recently, and everywhere I go I find this saying: “God works through me. I am merely His instrument.” Is it possible this is what they are pointing to?

Go check it out.

Popularity: 23% [?]

 Do you see the world as an opportunity to succeed or as an opportunity to build?

[photo by: Muddy Funkster]

Albert Foong from Urbanmonk.net and I have started emailing each other and discussing different topics in personal growth. We actually started it from the beginning with the intention of placing it on our blogs. We decided to keep the topic simple for the first rounds of conversation and first tackle the relationship between selfishness and sacrifice.

Albert Foong - The Urban Monk

Albert is the creative voice on Urbanmonk.net. He writes deep articles on personal growth. Going beyond the typical “If you follow my advice then you will feel happy”, and diving into the psychological, philosophical and spiritual realities behind issues such as compassion and aloneness.

We all know that it is important to help improve our global community by giving to those in need. Many times, we will give a young lady in a white shirt an umbrella to walk across the street in the pouring rain. Other times, we give our extra Egg Mcmuffin to the homeless man standing outside the McDonalds. We don’t mind being charitable in this fashion. It is easy.

What about the rest of the time? 

When Charity is in need of your money?

 In the first examples, we weren’t worried about the one in need of help taking advantage of us. We had complete control, and we didn’t lose anything of major value. Money is different. We’ve all heard the stories of fraud and horrible money management when it comes to charity organizations. Who Should we trust?