Reaction vs Response

Reactions can be costly. They have lost games, they have gotten people fired, they have hurt people, reactions have even stateed wars. Responses can ease a situation and turn something that could have been dangerous into something good. My reactions sometimes get the best of me, and I end up trying to go back and clean up the mess I created. My reponses, normally help smooth over a situation and for the most part keep me level-headed. Recently I have been watching my reactions play out. Whether it is a news story, a debate, a credit card company trying to hose me, an opinion I don't agree with, or my kids acting out-it can be easy to react. I notice a lot of people who react through social media these days because it is easy to hide behind an avatar or a online screen name. Here is the deal, we need to take moments that come in conflict, a need to speak up, or even a need to grwo from an expereince-and we need to make these moments teachable. I can react all day long, and seomtimes it has got me in trouble; other times it has put me in a position to have to issue an apology. As I grow older, I am am aware of when I need to respond versus react. This week was a little crazy in our household-we had a vacation with lots of family under one roof, my kids had bed time battles, I ran into a tree with my car(sliding on ice), and life happened. IN these times of craziness-and my life has plenty of them-I get to decide whether I respond or react. Sometimes I pick wrong, and end up wishing I didn't-so here is to a day when I say-let's respond not react to the things that come our way. Your life will be better for it, your day will be better for it, and those in your life whether family, friend, co-worker, or whomever-will appreciate you for it.

IMAGINE THAT!

Some of the best imaginations in the world belong to people who are under the age of 10. I have a great time listening to my kids and their friends talk about things I would never even think of. I love the creative element that each of us have been given, but sometimes I am taken back to my childhood. I think about my imagination of where I would be. I was going to be the next Steve Largent (yeah look him up in the NFL Hall of Fame). I also was going to be the next Mario Andretti. However, somewhere my imagination of things got sidetracked. Maybe in junior high when I started caring about what people thought and even worried about what their response would be to certain imaginative things. I still have an imagination and the way I filter it is different. I have had people dash my dreams if certain things because they said I wasn't too good, or maybe they said nothing at all. Here is the deal, if you imagine something and are passionate about creating and making it happen. I say GO FOR IT! You never know where it may lead. I'm thinking of re-trying some things I haven't done in quite a while. Cooking, Painting, Creating a Brand, and a few other things to imagine. Imagine what would happen if I actually put to practice the imagination God gave me. I think I would succeed especially if God gave me the ability to do so. Imagine that-me using my imagination. Maybe you should Imagine what God could do with your imagination. Imagine that!

Emotional Health-It's a MUST!

Recently I have realized that I have become emotionally unhealthy. I was trying to figure out why I could speak to the topic, yet feeling like I was emotionally drained. A few nights ago I realized as I tossed and turned that I was having problems sleeping. This was effecting every aspect of my life: eating, exercise, family, reaction, motivation, temper, and so on. Over a week ago, my wife said it seemed like i was gasping for air while I slept. So, reading up on a bunch of different sleeping issues, I have decided to get myself checked for sleep apnea. I seem to have the symptoms of a candidate. Here is the deal, knowing that I need to be emotionally healthy for the sake of my relationship with God, wife, kids, family, and friends, I have scheduled the course of action to take. I want to be emotionally healthy so I can live out a healthy lifestyle. When people become emotionally unhealthy, it causes train wrecks in many different areas of their life. I have coached people through these, and I am now finding myself in the position to get some much needed help, so I can be mentally sharp, emotionally sound, and a fun person to be around. I realized when I don;t get sleep, I become a grouch, and no one like a grouch. So, are you emotionally healthy? There are some tests to take out there and although sleep apnea may not be your result of unhealthiness, I would encourage you to find a solution to why you feel the way you do. I am looking forward to re controlling my life through actions, love, and words. To do that I had to come to the realization that I need to address my lack of sleep. This means doctors appts, so 3 are scheduled in the next week. I'm excited to get back in the flow of life with good sleep, then those around me will see that I am back to the fun, out-going, creative, and happy guy that I am. I am intentional about living and this means intentional about getting back to health.

I am not but I know I AM

Living in the iculture that seems to be ruinning rampant these day, it is a nice reminder every once in a while to realize I am not. This past week I was reminded as I studied and read up on the various I AM statements that Jesus speaks in passages of the Bible. This week my focus, along with our churches, was I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD. Here are some thoughts from my messsage based on John 10:11-18:
John 10:10 is the result of the gospel, but the essence of the gospel is found in the next verse!
The Good Shepherd tenaciously cares for His flock because He is not a hireling. He is THE SON!
It is common SONship with God that will draw us together.
In laying His life down, He became the DOOR. In Rising Again, Jesus becomes the Good Shepherd.
The Shepherd became a lamb, that the sheep might know the Shepherd.
A great portion of this passage is tied to our ultimate look at the Lord, ou Shepherd. This is found in Psalm 23 and is worth a read today.
Once again from this passage I'm reminded. I am not, but I know I AM.

Someone to Talk too

The other day I saw that there was a certain celebrity that was able to talk a suicidal man down off a building, where the rapper celebrity happenened to be doing a radio interview. Pretty awesome to see someone talk a jumper down. The point I took away was this: We all need someone to talk too! Life happens and sometimes sucks. There are natural frustrations in life, and sometimes there are things that happen that we need people to be able to just listen to us vent and get the frustration out. Those who bottle it up sometimes make irrational decisions. Some people have no one to talk too. Some may be the person doing the listening. Either way, both roles are important and it is wise to have in these people in life. Some people come home from work having a bad day, maybe home life isn't any better, maybe a financial turn blows your plan, and maybe what you thought was right turned out wrong. The point is this, all of us need to be able to have a friend, or confidant you can talk too. I know I need those people in my life and I know I am that person for others. Instead of getting to the point of this man, last week who was ready to end it all, I thought-this guy had no one to turn too that would listen? He didn't have any options? I pray and hope that either I am that person for someone who is this desperate, or I pray that when I need to talk to someone-they will listen. I know who those people are in my life, the question is...DO YOU?

Stand Behind What You Say!

This time of year brings out the "he said, she said" statements as political campaigns are in full force of smearing each other. I just mute or change the channel now, because I already know people are screwing up America. We have also moved to a place in our society where many public statements, and even private, have to be retracted, because someone was offended by a remark of another. So, this is what I have to say about that...if you can't say something you can stand behind, then shut your friggin' mouth. I'm tired of people having to apologize for statements they said because people had their feelings hurt. I realize people say stupid stuff, that is because we are human, and in case people have forgotten, we are not perfect. I also understand the new trend is too attack people who don't agree with you on certain political, religious, or even social issues. So, we have too many people apologizing for things said-to put a band aid on a minor scratch, and get people back on board of "like me again" campaign. This political correctness is leading us down a very slow and painful death as a country. It seems this is the season when attacks are vicious and every word is micro scoped til death of a candidate. Tis the season! I have said some things I regretted. I have said thing behind closed doors, and I have said things in front of groups of people, that made me feel like an idiot later-but hey, who hasn't ever felt like an idiot at least once in their life? If you have a solid belief or stance on something you should feel free to stand up and speak up and don't feel the need to apologize. The warning is be careful about what you say. A wise man once told me to think before I speak, and make sure that what comes out of my mouth is what I intended to come out. If I operate by these standards then I should not have to issue some statement apologizing for my error in judgment pertaining to my vocabulary or delivery of a statement. Words have hurt me, words have helped me, and words have been used to correct me-that my friends, is called life. James gives us a great warning revolving the use of the tongue: James 3:5-6 (NIV)
Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. [6] The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
So there you have it- James warns us, the tongue can be a dangerous weapon if used improperly, so if you are going to say something, think before you speak and then be able to stand behind what you say!

Who's Your Tour Guide?

In my life I have had numerous tour guides. I have toured national landmarks, power plants, churches, radio stations, wineries, parks, production sets, and television studios to name a few. Even the Jungle Ride at Disneyland gave me a tour guide to make sure that I didn't get lost or eaten alive. Each tour guide offered me insight and wisdom. The question for you right now is, who is in your life guiding you? Guidance is something all of us need in our life on a regular basis. Guidance comes in wisdom and counsel of the wise. Those in your life that offer guidance can come in many shapes, sizes, and relationships. I know that I am in need of having wise people around me to help me understand things I have yet to grasp. I also realize I may be that person for someone else. As I was writing this blog I got a call from someone who needed guidance. I was able to give my professional opinion and encouraged them in finding faith and relationship with Jesus. I love some tour guides and others are hard to handle- I love the words of the tour guide in Proverbs, where we are encouraged to not get sidetracked and resist temptation in chapter 4. It goes on to say, "hold close to you instruction and dont let it go. The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble." I know I want to be wise, and follow the right tour guide. There are plenty of tour guides out there leading people to wrong decisions, time wasters, and boring tours. Make sure you have a great tour guide and if the opportunity presents itslef, make sure you are giving the right tour yourself-one that leads to great reward.