All Systems Check

Every once in a while it is great to review the systems you have in your life. It is always good to get a fresh perspective on what the follow through will be in the way you respond to things in life. Recently my friend, Jim, challenged me to review my work systems. This led me to also review my systems that surround all things out side of work. Family time, kid time, how I pay bills, save money, and keep up my house. I realized I have so many systems, but they are all necessary. So, what are ways systems that you could look at going into the Fall. This is a great time to get new systems started. I recently changed the way I organize my task list. It has worked superb to this point. I have synced my iphone, my ipad,and my work computer, to all carry the same info on it. So, I can be synced no matter where i am. i suggest you think about the systems in your life and how you can push yourself to become better. I am not perfect by any means, and I have some systems I am working out. A crazy life can lead to some crazy miscues, and I want to make sure I am on my game. So, take a few minutes and review a few systems in your life: how you follow up with friends, pursue friends, organize your home, projects, and create a place for the ones you love. This life lesson will work in all aspects of your life-and I suggest you streamline as much as you can in the cray world we live in. You could be out of control before you know it...or maybe you are already there.

How Will They Remember You?

Every once in a while, I will catch myself in a moment of regret. It normally plays out like this: One of my kids does something really lousy, not necessarily on purpose, but it creates a reaction from me. My initial reaction can be one that lasts no more than three seconds, but it leaves an impression. I'm trying to create an atmosphere where my kids will remember me for the fun-loving, playful dad that I can be, not the one who on occasion can lose my cool, at the hit of a sister, sass of a mouth, or a complete accident. As my kids get older, their memory of me will be chiseled into their minds for good. I want to make sure that is one that is a positive. Yes, discipline still has its place and they may dislike me for it at times. But, the quick tempered, short fuse, can be a detriment to my long term relationship with my kids.
How about you? What impression do you leave on those around you when the cookie crumbles, the sandcastle gets washed away, or life brings you a mess you didn't need or expect? I know it would be easier to punch something, yell, react, or even honk your horn. What I do know is that there are eyes on you, when you react with people around. Adults or kids, it doesn't matter. Self Control is a fruit of the Spirit, and I find myself daily asking God to give me it. I'm not going to make excuses of why I may react the way I do at times, but I will make an effort to try and live my life as an example to my kids.

Motivation SHMotivation

Motivation drives a lot of people. If you need motivational quotes to keep you going through life, here are my thoughts for you:

• Good luck with that!


• New quotes will come from the most random of places.


• You have 20 million+ places to find them in cyberspace.


• You will waste a lot of time trying to stay motivated.

What keeps you motivated? Perhaps recognition if you succeed. Is it a coach(or boss) challenging you? Maybe an EPIC movie (there are only a few of these by the way) that causes the hero to motivate the hero within you, by crushing a line that rings everyday in the back of your mind? A fortune cookie saying? Perhaps, it is a driven, goal-oriented mindset that is just "you". Most people are motivated by something.

Motivation is defined as follows:
1. the act or an instance of motivating; 2. desire to do; interest or drive; 3. incentive or inducement; 4. psychol the process that arouses, sustains and regulates human and animal behaviour.

Every once in a while I find myself in a place where I need to be motivated. I, like many, love to have goals sitting in front of me, and like many work real well under pressure to attain the goals I set. Find what you need to motivate you to move you forward. The worst thing you can do is sit back and wait for some movie, person, thought, poster, or tragedy motivate you to make the most of your life. Motivation Shmotivation, do something today while you still have a body to do it, a voice to be heard, and a heartbeat that keeps you alive to drive you toward a dream, concept, opportunity, or challenge.

Staying Alive, Staying Young, & Challenging Myself!

Recently I have grown out my facial hair. Not a full beard, but scruffy. Kind of like when I was a college kid and didn't shave because facial hair was new to me, and I hated shaving every morning. But lately I have seen some gray...NOOOOOOOOOOO! This week I turn 36 years old. This means that 1/2 a life ago I was graduating high school. So, at this point in my life, I have done quite a few things...I'm not at mid-life crisis mode yet, but I'm sure I'm a year closer now. I love challenges and so this year, I look to find something new to challenge me. Physically, I have done a few things like returned from a brain surgery, run a marathon, complete P90X and continue to work out regularly, and eat pretty organically. Spiritually-I have memorized scripture, read through the Bible every year, and am teaching my family how Jesus loves us. Mentally-I'm reading more, so that is a start. I've coached and am coaching. Socially-well I will hit 1,000 FB friends this year, most who I haven't seen or had a face to face conversation with in the last 5 years. (so that doesn't count-I think)

So, this is my goal this year...to find something to do that will challenge me in a person's HEALTH ZONES. I'm not sure what that is yet, but I guarantee you-I'm always up for a challenge.

Maybe I will conquer all my fears...climbing the Space Needle bare handed to conquer heights; wrestle a garter snake to get that one behind me; give blood more this year conquer my fear of needles (adding a tattoo is probably more fun)

All this to say..."36, you will not hold me back." 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 didn't even have a chance & neither will you.

JACKPOT leads to some marriage advice

This weekend we celebrate 12 years of marriage. OMG, I know, we look so young. Life has been pretty crazy the past 12 years. 4 moves, 3 kids, 2 jobs, 1 brain surgery, and life together is just starting to rock. I married way out of my league and every one knows it. Heck, I was just glad she said yes, because she played hard to get and just to date her was a challenge. I remember when I first was attracted to Jenelle, there was something different about her. I am 3 years her elder and although we were in the same church, same youth ministry, we were in completely different worlds. Once our world's collided after college, I finally realized, she was pretty cute, grounded, and a go-getter. She had the call of God on her life and that was one of the things that attracted me to her. That and she is FINE! (not only using vocab from my high school days, but also scoring some major points) For the record, I really don't need them-I score them all the time. I know that in the game of life, I have hit the JACKPOT, because I have someone like her to share life with. She is my biggest fan, and also my honest helpmate. I love her honesty- she tells me when I'm hot and when I'm not. She compliments me by being the detailed chick in the house. My big ideas are often brought to fruition or reality because of her. She makes me better in so many ways too.
When we took our vows, we included that we would be with each other in sickness and in health, and little did she know 9 days after saying those vows, she would walk with me through a brain tumor discovery and then surgery to remove it. But she did. She is so strong as a woman of faith, and has been amazing to see her even grow so much in our 12 years together. As far as MOM goes to our kids, she is a Rock Star. Juggling a career, wife, homemaker, mentor, and then add a full scale pastor's wife who is super involved, makes the case for SUPERWIFE. But balance is the reason we have made it. Looking back there are some thoughts for you based on how we have kept our marriage strong. For all you looking for love, here ya go:

• Be Flexible with each other.


• Say, "I Love you" a lot.


• Be the first to admit you are wrong, if you are.


• Be spontaneous and have some fun.


• Unplug from everything electronic occasionally.


• Set goals & dream together.


• Make date nights)without the kids) a priority in your week. (at least bi-weekly)


• Treat your spouse as if the whole world was watching you.


• Open the door for her, gentlemen.


• Impress and win her like you had to when you were dating.


• Pray together.


• Put together a family plan that will help you concentrate on the areas of your marriage you want and need too.


• Put amazing couples around you that you can lean on when things get tough, and laugh with when things are going great.

Well, this works for now. We ask ourselves all the time, "can you believe we got married?" 20 years ago, no one would have ever thought that, but hey a lot can happen in 20, and also 12.

NEVER GIVE UP

There have been a few times in life when I wanted to give up. I remember the time my high school basketball team was down by 20, and our coach pulled the guys who were screwing around on the court-because they had given up. I've always had the never give up mentality. I mean really, if I would have taken my last girlfriend's first response when I asked her out, I would not have the wife I have today. I didn't give up, and eventually she said yes. In life you can become discouraged for whatever reason. Life happens and so does encouragement. In Hebrews 10:32 this is a verse written to Christ followers who were discouraged, and by this they were ready to throw in their faith. They had been waiting a long time for God to reveal Himself. This verse in Hebrews uses the word "illuminated". It is a Gk word photidzo, meaning lighten up, or to shine, to illuminate, to make visible, to radiate. Have you ever seen a brilliant light that left an impression, this is that thought here. Like a photograph, these followers were to hold time and remember when they first heard God's Word and were illuminated. When God reveals truth to you, or the Holy Spirit shows you something powerful, it is the idea that it is a permanent impression.
If you are at a place and you feel you are going to give up, remember that time when you were first illuminated by God's Word. Look for the rewind button in your life right now, remember the power of God, the joy, the experiences you have had with the Lord. Let Him be an illumination of light during your darkest time. Then put that illumination into action so you will not forget what God has done in your life, so that others may see it through you. When you go back and rehearse these in your mind, it is a great way to encourage you, to stir you, and to give you power through your struggle. Don't let the enemy get a foothold of discouragement in your life. Let your light shine brilliantly even in the days when you feel like the lights are dimming.
Declare it right now! Never give up!

Surprise!

So, as I reflect on this past week, I am still in awe of what we celebrate every Easter. For the Christian faith, it is the ESSENTIAL and most important part of the story. Jesus is alive! This is not some renaissance, cool idea, but it is all about this thought here: God's power went ballistic in the tomb, reconnecting Jesus' body with the Holy Spirit, taking His corpse and put life back into it. If there is a time to use the word EPIC- this would be your cue! (Insert here) As you read through the gospels you will see different accounts. When put in order chronologically it makes complete sense. The guards sealed the tomb per Pilate's request. The women proceeded to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus. As you read this passage, an earthquake takes place. This earthquake was simultaneous to the resurrection. It did not happen as the women came upon the tomb. The word used to describe the earthquake in the Gk is idou. It carries the same connotation of our use of "wow, amazing, & wonder." Matthew writes this years after the event, yet is still throwing this word in because of the impact and experience he still remembers.
As the women enter the tomb, they are perplexed. As if they lost their way is how the wording is interpreted.
This is the point, when you have an encounter with the living God, Jesus, you may have a hard time understanding what happened, because God works in the supernatural, not the natural. You may even babble or have a hard time communicating like the women did upon finding the tomb empty. Bu God, through His Holy Spirit, speaks through us when we tell people of this Jesus. So, don't lose heart, and don't think you are speaking gibberish-When God gives you the opportunity to tell someone of Jesus-the words coming out of your mouth will be clear and precise, so that more can hear about this great story of Resurrection.
Jesus surprised a lot of people by raising from the dead, even though He gave them every indication He would. So what is Jesus telling you, that you may be missing.