Unfinished Work - a message about how we look at ourselves

A few years ago, I went around a neighborhood asking people about their life. Specifically, I was asking them about their spiritual life. It was interesting and entertaining to do such a thing. People opened up to the "open ended questions" and I enjoyed visiting with them.

There was an interesting couple on my journey that I have never forgotten. They made me laugh inside. As we got around to talking about their spiritual life, I asked them about what church they attend. They told me but it was immediately followed with comments that they didn't really like it that well and they weren't that happy. I probed into their answer and asked them if they would ever consider going somewhere else. They replied with a "no." As the conversation continued, they basically said they were "set" with where they were at and not likely going to change.

What is it about people that they don't want to change? There are lots of reasons and the parameters of the topic will determine the ability of change in a person. We are all different. One of the things I like about life is that it changes. I change. My environment changes. Everything changes.

However, if we would be open to some changes, we'd likely be amazed at what we can do. That brings us to this week's quote...

Your are an unfinished work in progress. One of the good things about life's challenges: You get to find out that you're capable of being far more than you ever thought possible. ~ Karen Salmansohn

As you journey "between the dash" in your life, there are lots of stops along the way. You will change with each stop. They may be minor changes but there will be changes. You are a work in progress and you will change.

The other great thing is that what you are capable of is never quite known until you are presented with a challenge that speaks to that greatness. There are many great things hidden inside all of us that will bring out the best in us, within the realm of that obstacle.

When I was a freshman in high school, I took a typing class. I was lazy and barely made a "C" in the class. Over the years, I have been able to have a lot of experience in typing and am now pretty good and quick in my typing. I was able to rise to the challenge and overcome some of the obstacles.

My favorite challenge to overcome was the fact of what is now known as being "bullied." Living in the moment was not good but God allowed me to move past it and I revel in the fact of trying to encourage others through their challenges.

May you live up to the challenges that come your way. You are an unfinished work. There are great things ahead. Respond to the obstacles with greatness!

Now it's your turn...how has life presented you with challenges which you've been able to overcome? Are you experiencing challenges now that you need to overcome?

Waste of Energy - a message about feeling sorry for yourself

One of the things I wish we were not born with would be the ability to be selfish. I consider myself about as bad in this area as the average person. Too often I am thinking of myself in a situation - and the situations vary. Regardless of the variances, it still funnels down to I'm thinking of me. There are likely times when you would have to admit you tend to be like this, also to various degrees.

For some it could be "I want" and they may not receive. For others, it may be a sense of idealism in expecting people to react a certain way. No matter how you spin it the end result comes down to variances of selfishness.

An outcome of selfishness can be "feeling sorry for yourself." When this happens it can entrap us into a sentence we should not have to serve. This brings us to this week's quote...

Feeling sorry for yourself, and your present condition, is not only a waste of energy but the worst habit you could possibly have. ~ Dale Carnegie

During the times I have served the sentence of "feeling sorry for myself," looking back I would easily say that I was wasting my time. Like a millstone tied to someone and dropped into the ocean, to feel sorry for yourself simply drowns your life from being able to accomplish much.

Think back to the moments that you have wasted in feeling sorry for yourself. Someone once said that time is something you cannot get back. That statement is very true. Once we've spent time we cannot make it up, it is spent. Let us spend our time more wisely and not waste it on times like feeling sorry for yourself.

Now it's your turn...what have you learned from wasting time and energy in feeling sorry for yourself?

You Can Do It!

The power of the mind is extremely powerful when it comes to the body being able to accomplish something. I don't know how many times in my life I have had to change my mental outlook in order to have the physical portion of my body accomplish what it needed to do. Examples of areas in which I had to "push through" were exercise, tasks on my job, or homework. Once the mind was changed then I was able to press on to the goal.

I can remember several nights in preaching school where I would stay up late preparing for an exam. I would use multiple ways of studying to help me remember the subject matter. There have also been nights that I have worked through being tired to accomplish tasks for work. Those tasks were not even "last minute" but simply because I get a lot of ideas at night.

There are also times where I see the end coming up when I have been exercising and will push through to get to the end - to cross the line or hear the timer beep. It was challenging but the end is exhilerating!

When I would cause my mental capacity to be stronger than my physical I knew I could do it! That brings us to this week's quote...

I have always believed that anybody with a little guts and the desire to apply himself can make it, can make anything he wants to make of himself. ~ Willie Shoemaker, Horse Jockey and Trainer

Some days there are going to be times when the physical side is more submissive to the mental side. In other words, it may be easy to push through your fatigue or lack of interest. Where as others are going to be the opposite. You are going to have to have your mental state climb high to become higher than your physical.

Of course, there are other areas that are not simply physical where you must climb high with the mental. Maybe it is an area like forgiveness, that you must work through some obstacles in order to allow yourself to release the weight you're holding on to daily. Another area may be spiritual. You are having lots of doubts in one or more areas of your spiritual belief or state. You are going to have to challenge yourself to work through and find what you need to achieve the belief that you're hoping for.

As you go through life, remember that the mental can be stronger than the other areas of your life. This will allow you to beat the odds when you are trying to accomplish things in life.

Now it's your turn...What areas in your life are you needing the "mental" to rise up so that you can make something of yourself?

Opening the Window of Opportunity

Just recently I was cleaning off my son's bed for the evening so he could go to sleep for the night. As I was doing that, I couldn't help but to think of all the toys he has. In amidst all the toys that he owns, he plays with only a handful of them. Not only that, but it seems that whenever we are at the store he wants more.

Why is it that he seems to not be happy with what he has already? Why does he want more all the time to add to the lot that he already has?

Most of this is simply being human. Some of it we, as his parents, may have taught him, especially since he was the first child. Either way, it can be frustrating to see all that he has and for him to appear to have little appreciation for the things he has already. Part of the humor in having a lot is when you "go through" toys to thin them down, he will see something he hasn't played with for a long time and become excited all over again.

As adults there are times which we are not any different. We like to have more, but being thankful for what we already have is also very important. With that thought, here is this week's quote...

There is no better opportunity to receive more than to be thankful for what you already have. Thanksgiving opens the windows of opportunity for ideas to flow your way. ~ Jim Rohn

There is a lot of energy which comes from a person who is wanting to do more. There is a drive that fuels the person who looks for the next thing to be better than the last. Similarly, when a person is not content with how things are in any area of various life aspects, and tries to get to the next level.

However there is danger in that, as well. Slowing down and being thankful for what you do have may be beneficial, no matter who you are. Allowing yourself to simply reflect on life and enjoy what life has brought you will bring some peace to the soul and provide a world of opportunity for things to come. It will allow you to appreciate what you already have as you "go through" what you already possess or have accomplished and become excited once again.

Take some time to be thankful!

Now it's your turn...what are some thing you're thankful for?

Allowing Others to Love the Real You

I remember when I was interviewing for my ministry job. I was very nervous and wanting everyone to be interested in me. Trying to get a group of people to be impressed by what you bring to the table in a short period of time is very challenging. I remember answering some of the questions and I would likely guess that I tried to answer them the way they wanted to hear them, all in hopes to land a job.

Though my personality was probably not too far from what is really "me" I would likely guess some of the other parts of the weekend was filled with "putting my best foot forward." That first experience taught me some lessons to take to other interview opportunities.

Time taught me some important lessons about showing the "real" me so that people will not be getting anything different than what they see initially. The other part of the challenge in landing a job is getting a feel for the other party and hoping to see the real them.

When you go through life, you should be letting people become attached to the real you so there are no surprises if things progress in the relationship. That brings us to this week's quote...

Don't change so people will like you. Be yourself and the right people will love the real you. ~ Unknown

One thing has definitely been learned from that first time, to show the real me. I have utilized this approach in many areas, including interviews. It has caused me to leave the interview knowing that what "they get" will not be a surprise. They will be hiring the person that they interviewed.

The same goes in life. Sometimes we try to make ourselves appear as someone we are not simply to try to impress. However, this quote challenges us to let people love the real you. This will do more than one positive thing - 1) No surprises, 2) Appreciating what they receive, and 3) develops trust. When we put someone that isn't "us" to others it will likely do the opposite of those three.

Relationships do not need "surprises," lack of appreciation, or a lack of trust. Those can create a rocky relationship, long term.

Let us show the real "you" so people will love that same person!

Now it's your turn...What do people need to see in you to see the "real you" so that they can love the "real you?"

Stumbling in Life (...how to deal with it)

You have all seen those people who are walking along, minding their own business and bam something in their path causes them to stumble. Then, they look around to see who was watching or blush in embarrassment when they were seen. You may have been one of those "someones." Barring any kind of injury, we keep going on with our journey toward our destination.

We don't aim to stumble but it happens. We don't aim to be embarrassed but it just happens. We don't aim to have something happen in life that is not pleasant but it just happens. What do we do with it as a result...that's your choice. As we think of that, it brings us to this week's quote...

When you stumble...make it part of the dance. ~ Unknown

The times when I have had the unfortunate opportunity to stumble and keep going it can be embarrassing. However, there are other times when I not only stumble once or twice, but the end result is falling. Along with that, it may not always be stumbling, but also slipping can cause problems.

Either way, there are situations that we are going to encounter which may not be the most pleasant, but we will make it through. We may have to "dance" our way through a bit till we get on our feet, but we make it. We may have to admit error or laugh at ourselves a bit, but we make it through. We may fall, on occasion, but we get right back up there and make it through.

The next time you are experiencing a sense of stumbling in life, make it out to be some kind of funny dance and move on with life. Life is too short to worry about the stumbles and falls. They are temporary. May we enjoy the rest of the journey as we go through life.

Now it's your turn...when have you had to dance your way through a stumble?

Living Up to Challenges

I really enjoy the times when I am challenged within a given project. I remember, in ministry, when I was invited to speak at a "Theme Day" for an area congregation. I would speak three times (1 Adult Bible Class, Morning Sermon, and Evening Sermon). The theme they gave me for that day was from ONE verse. This was within my first three years of ministry and they were expecting me to come up with three 20-45 minute talks over one verse? "How is that possible?" I thought. Believe me I did a lot of questioning and wondering about how to accomplish this task.

Thankfully, through prayer and study, I was able to break the verse down into three different parts and focus on those areas in each of the three talks. It was one of the most fun times I had planning something that someone else gave me. It took a lot of time but it was worth it!

Sometimes those are the types of things that are needed for us to see "what we're made of." We need to be challenged and accept the challenge instead of looking for the escape hatch. That is the easy way out in so many situations. This thought brings us to this week's quote...

Find a purpose in life so big it will challenge every capacity to be at your best. ~ David McKay

Are there things that you are seeing in front of you that seem to great? Maybe they are things that are on your "to do" list but you are struggling to know how to approach them. Maybe it is through fear, lack of confidence, lack of motivation, or any number of excuses.

I challenge you to go at what you see as a purpose in life and let the challenges bring out the best in you! When you've completed it (or as you venture through it) you can see how many positives you've experienced along the way!

Wishing you many successes!

Now it's your turn...What successes have you experienced, within this context?

Keeping a Calm Center

I have seen many-a-people in my day "blow up" over various things. Sometimes it is a coach towards a player or official, sometimes it is a person in a meeting, sometimes it is in a marriage conflict, sometimes it is parent to a child and there are various other situations. For one reason or another the conversation went "south" causing one party to lose their cool.

I cannot say that I am innocent in never losing my "cool" and I've tried to learn from those mistakes to become much more calm, even when I feel stepped on or wrongly accused. It is a discipline and can be tough at times. However, the end is usually beneficial to the one who does not choose to "blow up." With that said, here is this week's quote...

The cyclone derives its powers from a calm center. So does a person. ~ Norman Vincent Peale

When I was in college, there was a roommate discrepancy. What it boiled down to was "truth wins." One roommate was trying to have one story be the right story until he was confronted with the "truth." Upon having the truth put forth, in a calm way, he had no leg to stand on. He had no other choice other than to surrender to the idea he was in the wrong.

All this came about with a calm center. There was much power in that center, similar to how Peale points out the cyclone also has its power. As you go through life, no matter what is happening, try to remember to keep calm and think about how you will respond. Keep that calm center to bring about much power. Even if the power may not win the argument, it will definitely show that there is power in you that is respectable.

Now it's your turn...when have you seen this become true? Whether there wasn't a calm center and had a lack of power or there was a calm center and much power.

Shaping Life

When I was younger I remember being told that I needed to choose my friends wisely. Those I hung around would have an influence on my future. Occasionally, I was reminded of this when my mom didn't like my ongoing behavior; accrediting it to my peers.

Those who we are around can have a great influence on us. That influence could be toward the negative or the positive. That influence could project us forward, drag us behind, or keep us stagnate. How we choose will make a difference in our life, so the choice is yours. That brings us to this week's quote...

You must constantly ask yourself these questions: Who am I around? What are they doing to me? What have they got me reading? What have they got me saying? Where do they have me going? What do they have me thinking? And most important, what do they have me becoming? Then ask yourself the big question: Is that okay? Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change. ~ Jim Rohn

As you read through that quote, how did you respond? What is your current situation(s) like with those you are around? How are they treating you? Are you challenged to read anything? Do they make you move toward the positive in your thinking or challenge your thinking? What will you "become" because you know them and hang around them?

Are you okay with where your life is going? What do you need to do to make things become better? What changes in a portion of your life must you make?

This challenges me to keep going with people and situations that can make a positive difference in my life, rather than have people that will drag it down.

Now it's your turn...What will your life look like in the next six months after you answer these questions?

Knowledge vs. Wisdom

I grew up loving to build and be creative. I remember my first exposure to Lego blocks was in 3rd grade. That was the days when the blocks were simply that, blocks. There weren't a lot of other things that connected together. Mostly what we had were the blocks that numbered 4, 6, or 8. The boys made tons of guns throughout that time, practically every day. As I grew older my younger brother and I would build cars and crash them into one another to see who could build the most indestructible car. (I think I won most of the time)

Then, as I grew older, I can remember watching my father "tinker" with engines, specifically the lawn mower engines. I eventually had my time in having to take a small engine apart and put it back together - that was my freshman year of high school. It seems that throughout my life I've enjoyed doing this kind of thing. Sometimes I've taken things apart to find that I cannot get it back together. One trick I will use the next time that I learned from American Restoration is to take pictures along the way.

As the subject is about taking things apart, that brings us to this week's quote...

Knowledge comes by taking things apart, but wisdom comes by putting things together. ~ John A. Morrison

I am sure you have had opportunities to take things apart. How successful were you at getting them back together? The simple things, probably more successful. The more challenging things, maybe not so successful?

I would guess that with either situation - successful or unsuccessful - of taking things apart and putting them back together, you became a bit more wise. You have the knowledge of something as you take it apart but you gain something more as you put it back together successfully. I have been on this side and the "Eureka" moment is worth every bit of time and challenge that the project brought about.

What about non-mechanical items? What about working with people - individually or collectively? When we "tear down" someone or a team, and then put it back together, is there a greater sense of wisdom, not just knowledge? I hope to not mean that we are hurting someone or a group of people - physically or mentally. However, I simply mean one may break bad habits and help a team or group become more unified in the end, for example.

How about learning in school. Anyone hate story problems like I did? Now I can probably handle them much better than I could then, but they were sure frustrating then! However, once you "got it" you really understood what the problem consisted of.

Maybe it is even us that needs to be taken apart. What in you needs to be taken away or just cleaned up so that even you can understand yourself a bit better?

May we take time to take things apart, but remember to take pictures. You will gain some knowledge, but then when you put it back together you will have some wisdom!

Now it's your turn...What areas has this quote pertained to you in your life?

Suffering to Become a Champion

I can remember when Muhammad Ali was on an episode "Diff'rent Strokes." The character Arnold looked up to "The Champ" so much and was mesmerized by his presence. Ali took the time to encourage Arnold and it made a huge impact.

To have Ali make it to the success he aspired to achieve, took some great effort and sacrifice. That brings us to this week's quote...

I hated every minute of training, but I said, "Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion." ~Muhammad Ali

I can only imagine all the hours and hard work that Cassius Clay (aka Muhammad Ali) went through in his life to become the "Champ." To be able to shoot off his mouth with phrases like "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. His hands can't hit what his eyes can't see. Now you see me, now you don't. George (Foreman) thinks he will, but I know he won't."

Some things in life I have tried but not completed. Other things, I won't quit on. May we continue to pursue things in life by seeing that there may be suffering now, but we can live the rest of our life as a champion!

Now it's your turn...What areas have you seen your hard work pay off?

Go Farther to See Farther

One of my biggest traveling disappointments came when I was really young and we were traveling to Colorado from Kansas. It was the first time to go and I was excited beyond compare to see the mountains. I was old enough to have learned about them in school and just couldn't wait to get a glimpse of the Rocky Mountains.

So, we traveled a little over an hour before we came to the Kansas-Colorado state line. Wouldn't you know it, there were no mountains in sight? Then we traveled another hour, still no mountains. My views of Colorado were not living up to what I had thought! I was disappointed to not be able to see any mountains thus far.

To me, Colorado equaled mountains. Obviously, at this point in my traveling, Colorado wasn't what I thought it was going to be.

As we kept traveling, I saw a faint outline of mountains. From then on I would guess my face was plastered to the window, with awe, awaiting a clearer view of the mountains.

They are magnificent, but I had go a little further until I finally could see them. That brings us to this week's quote...

If you go as far as you can see, you will then see enough to go even farther. ~ John Wooden

Whether you are traveling or going through life, sometimes seeing the end is a bit hidden. You may know you want to arrive at a certain destination, but the effort to make it is not without work.

The good thing is, when you make it a bit down the journey toward a goal you can now see a little farther. When you make it even farther, you will see even farther yet.

As you go through life may you continually be able to see even farther from one day to the next!

Now it's your turn...When has this quote held true in your life?

Change Happens

I am young enough that my first computer wasn't purchased until the late 1990s. The internet was in full swing by then. I remember a commercial that was being played around then that showed a screen on the computer "You've reached the end of the internet." I think it is amazing the good that is out there on the internet, even back then.

That first computer was a 4.3 GB hard drive. My second was 12 GB and was a laptop. My third was a desktop and was 120 GB. Now, I've seen computers that are 1 TB (one terabyte - 1000 GB). Things have really changed in the past 14 years!

I remember forgetting our directions to go on a trip during this same time frame. I didn't take my atlas because I thought we had directions. Long story short, we got lost. If we would have had a navigation tool, like a GPS we would have had no problem making it to our destination. Times have changed! This brings us to this week's quote...

Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future. ~ John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Think about all the things that have changed since John F. Kennedy was around? Technology and industry are ever changing. The Apple company introduced "apps" a few years ago with the infamous phrase "There's an app for that." Now apps are all over...many for free and in additional platforms (Android, Blackberry, etc)!

The big key is to understand that things are going to change and there is nothing we can do about it. However, if we concentrate on the past or present, we will miss out on an exciting future.

Don't get left behind!

Now it's your turn...what is one of your favorite modern-day inventions or concepts that you may think "how did I ever live without it?"

Henry’s Mural

A few years ago a close friend of ours was getting ready to have a baby.  I had said I could paint a mural in their nursery if they wanted. They took me up on it.  The mural space was 5 1/2 feet by 11 feet.  The first night I went to work on it, by the time I was done for that night I had lines on the wall.  LINES…that’s all.  No color, gradient shading, etc.  Just lines.  I believe my friend was a bit disappointed.  However, the end result was what I was hoping it would be, but it took a vision to get to the point at the end of the project.

That brings us to this week’s quote

Look closely at the present you are constructing: it should look like the future you are dreaming. ~ Alice Walker

What we are doing today greatly affect what tomorrow looks like.  I think this is something that parents need to realize.  How they deal with today affects what their children grow up to be.  Whether it is how they manage conflict, marriage, money, religion, friends, etc.  Everything done today paves the street of tomorrow.

When I was drawing that mural, I knew what the end result was hoping to be even if the owner didn’t know where I was heading (except they could go by the picture I was using as a guide). If I hadn’t known where I was going I would have simply been fitting parts of a puzzle together any which way.  It is vital to see the present and have the future in mind as you are constructing it daily!