jamesellsworth:

mebaker:

#1 Know your audience (Kelly Clarkson always wins).
..probably should have written down the other 9

2. Always have “a guy.”

3. Sit down. I don’t care.

4. Do something simple, well.

5.Timing, is; everything.

6. Act like you know what you are doing.

7. If it ain’t broke, don’t break it.

8. Look in a mirror, seriously.

9. Win like a loser, lose like a winner.

10. Have fun.

Yesssssss

#1 Know your audience (Kelly Clarkson always wins).
..probably should have written down the other 9

So as the summer has started I’ve been busy settling into a schedule, making new friends and playing lawyer.  And all that’s great, but I’m learning some less legal things along the way too.

At Anthem this Sunday the message was the last in a series on Guardrails.  The endcap focused on Daniel and how he was faithful to the God of his ancestors when he was thrust into a new place with the wealth and excess of the Babylonians at his fingertips.  All he had to do to live a lush life was to lay aside his past and just accept this new future. And I’ll be honest, the Bible doesn’t make this sound like a hard choice for Daniel but I know anyone in this day and age would definitely, at the very least, consider such an offer.  The good life? The real, real good life. That’s temptation.

But Daniel, he’s the man. He stays true and I have an incredible amount of respect for him. It ain’t easy saying no.   Daniel is faithful and God blesses him.

This is such a simple lesson that I botch in application all too often. Not to say I’m prone to worshiping idols on a daily basis but my consciousness about the things I do and how I am being faithful to God is normally pretty low.  It’s not on the radar as long as I am crossing most of the T’s and dotting some i’s.

That’s what needs to change this summer more than the exercise, the work stuff and the friendships.  It’s not about being perfect because, well, being perfect is outright boring.  It’s about being aware and making true and clear strides.

I won’t give up.

Another summer in Gainesville and I’ll be honest, I don’t hate it.  I like things slow and this place keeps it real slow during the summer months.  No crazy crowds and the traffic on University Ave isn’t as loud so I can actually sleep.

Last summer was really the beginning of the school year that followed it: I started running, tried to eat better and began a quest for professional development (whatever that means). 

Those habits translated well into Fall 2011-Spring 2012.  I ran 2 half-marathons, lost 25 lbs and have some semblance of an understanding of how the legal system functions in the real world.

This summer takes it up a notch.  I’ll be a Certified Legal Intern at the Public Defender’s Office. Yeah, they’re going to let me talk in court. And represent clients.  Scary stuff.  With that experience I hope to really hone my attorney skillz for real life (coming to a Matt Baker near you, Summer 2013).  All kidding aside, I’m excited about this opportunity.

I need to keep running because the Disney Wine and Dine Half-Marathon is in November.  Also, I’m shooting for 200 on the scale by 9/1 and that’s about 13 more lbs. It’s going to require even more discipline than I had before but I’m going to take the challenge because it won’t get easier as time goes on.  And I bought a new suit for $50 last weekend that can’t handle me gaining any.

I want to get more serious spiritually this summer too. Last weekend I had a great growing experience bringing the message at my home church and, between the writing of the message and its’ delivery, I realized it’s time for me to step up to the plate as an adult in my faith.  Yeah, at 25 this is what I get.  I’ve found a church in Gainesville and it’s time for me to get serious about being in community with others, even if it is only for the next year.  Surprisingly God’s done a lot more with a lot less.

Time to hunker down and have fun. 

Shake and Bake out.