Beyond Mediocrity Blog

(Image  courtesy of http://static.wixstatic.com.) Christmas is just around the corner, sometimes more literally than just on the calendar.  As I drove home for Christmas vacation yesterday, nativity scenes were everywhere.  Shepherds wearing their cloaks surround Mary and Joseph and the manger inside a wood and straw hut.  And more often than not, the Magi are depicted (although historically inaccurate) bringing their gifts to baby Jesus.  Still, what a well-known and powerful scene of Christmas.

(Image courtesy of http://heraldsgospelsinengland.blogspot.com.) A Christmas Poem I love flannel shirts. They keep me warm, yet make me feel "cool" at the same time. I think they're stylish. But even if I had all the flannels in the world, I wouldn't have complete warmth.

(Image courtesy of http://libertychat.com.) After spending a good Thanksgiving in Wisconsin with my family this year, I had to abruptly turn around and drive ten hours south to Tennessee.  On my lonely driving trips, I usually go through a few phases.

(Image courtesy of http://www.wikimedia.org.) Butterflies do not start out as butterflies.  This we all know.  They start out as a small caterpillar, devouring leaves, trying not to get stepped on or eaten.  After a while, change is called for, and the caterpillar transforms into a chrysalis (or cocoon).  Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar goes through yet another

(Image courtesy of Gladiator , 2000.) "Where are all these people going?"  "What are their families like?"  "Why is that person walking down the sidewalk right now?"  If you have been around me long enough, you will know that I ask these types of questions from time to time.  I think it's because I enjoy watching people.  I honestly enjoy hearing peoples stories, or at least

(Image courtesy of http://pixgood.com.) For some reason, over the last few years, I have been searching for the answer to why we feel shame and guilt when we do what is evil. The obvious church answer is that we are apart from Jesus. This is true. But I wanted to