Have the right relationship with God, finding your joy there, and out of you “will flow rivers of living water” ( John 7:38 ). Be a fountain through which Jesus can pour His “living water.” Stop being hypocritical and proud, aware only of yourself, and live “your life . . . hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3 ). A person who has the right relationship with God lives a life as natural as breathing wherever he goes. The lives that have been the greatest blessing to you are the lives of those people who themselves were unaware of having been a blessing.
From 'My Utmost for His Highest' by Oswald Chambers for August 31
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Be teachable
‘Everyone fails. But the true failure is the one who doesn’t learn from his setbacks. That’s why a teachable spirit is so important. When you are in the midst of a desert, the fastest way out of that desert is to ask God to let you learn everything that He has for you in that experience. Stay open and stay teachable. God is not trying to ruin you. He is rebuilding you so that you can be used strategically. And the people God loves to use most are those who have learned to depend completely on Him. For many of us self – sufficient, confident types, that doesn’t come easily.’
Finishing Strong by Steve Farrar p 186
Finishing Strong by Steve Farrar p 186
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Coaches
'Training Days: Rolling of the Alabama Crimson Tide'
This special about the University of Alabama football team was on ABC today. It was informative and inspiring but it also showed the demands on the players to constantly improve, to get better at everything and not accept mediocrity or the status quo.
Some other comments that I noticed
Win every play
Win every day
Don’t let anyone beat you
Best thing about Alabama Football is winning
There are many lessons we can learn from this program and apply to our own life. Maybe the most important is to get a coach or mentor who can help you see your potential and navigate through the areas you are having difficulty with or don't even know about yet.
This special about the University of Alabama football team was on ABC today. It was informative and inspiring but it also showed the demands on the players to constantly improve, to get better at everything and not accept mediocrity or the status quo.
Some other comments that I noticed
Win every play
Win every day
Don’t let anyone beat you
Best thing about Alabama Football is winning
There are many lessons we can learn from this program and apply to our own life. Maybe the most important is to get a coach or mentor who can help you see your potential and navigate through the areas you are having difficulty with or don't even know about yet.
Insignificance
Men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their insignificance, until they have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God
R. C. Sproul, Theologian & Pastor
R. C. Sproul, Theologian & Pastor
Wishing & Thinking
What we wish, we readily believe, and what we ourselves think, we imagine others think also
Julius Caesar (100 – 44 B.C.)
Julius Caesar (100 – 44 B.C.)
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Grand Strategy and more
‘Alexander the Great’s maneuvers bewildered his staff: they seemed to have no logic, no consistency. Only later could the Greeks look back and really see his magnificent achievement. The reason they could not understand him was that Alexander had invented a whole new way of thinking and acing in the world: the art of Grand Strategy.
In grand strategy you look beyond the moment, beyond your immediate battles and concerns. You concentrate instead on what you want to achieve down the line. Controlling the temptation to react to events as they happen, you determine each of your actions according to your ultimate goals. You think in terms not of individual battles but of a campaign.
Alexander owed his novel style of strategizing to his mother and to Aristotle. His mother had given him a sense of destiny and a goal: to rule the known world. From the age of three he could see in his mind’s eye the role he would play when he was thirty. From Aristotle he learned the power of controlling his emotions, seeing things dispassionately, thinking ahead to the consequences of his actions.’
‘The battle referred to above occurred in 334 BC. ‘ Alexander led a united army of 35,000 Greeks across the Dardanelle Straits and into Asia Minor. In their first encounter with the enemy, at the Battle of the Granicus, the Greeks routed the Persians, Alexander’s generals could only admire his boldness: he seemed poised to conquer Persia fulfilling his mother’s prophecy in record time.’
From ‘The 33 Strategies of War’ by Robert Greene – p. 149 - 150
Not only does this piece discuss the importance of strategy but also the importance of vision, leadership, parental involvement and a mentor. It is no accident that Alexander the Great was one of the ‘greatest Greek warrior kings’ and one of the greatest warriors and rulers in history.
In grand strategy you look beyond the moment, beyond your immediate battles and concerns. You concentrate instead on what you want to achieve down the line. Controlling the temptation to react to events as they happen, you determine each of your actions according to your ultimate goals. You think in terms not of individual battles but of a campaign.
Alexander owed his novel style of strategizing to his mother and to Aristotle. His mother had given him a sense of destiny and a goal: to rule the known world. From the age of three he could see in his mind’s eye the role he would play when he was thirty. From Aristotle he learned the power of controlling his emotions, seeing things dispassionately, thinking ahead to the consequences of his actions.’
‘The battle referred to above occurred in 334 BC. ‘ Alexander led a united army of 35,000 Greeks across the Dardanelle Straits and into Asia Minor. In their first encounter with the enemy, at the Battle of the Granicus, the Greeks routed the Persians, Alexander’s generals could only admire his boldness: he seemed poised to conquer Persia fulfilling his mother’s prophecy in record time.’
From ‘The 33 Strategies of War’ by Robert Greene – p. 149 - 150
Not only does this piece discuss the importance of strategy but also the importance of vision, leadership, parental involvement and a mentor. It is no accident that Alexander the Great was one of the ‘greatest Greek warrior kings’ and one of the greatest warriors and rulers in history.
You know what's in there
You have most likely heard many memorable commercials through the years. And many were so memorable that you can repeat many of the words and sentences from the commercials if you were asked.
I have been thinking that there is a current commercial that could tell us a lot about people if we changed the words. This is the commercial with the Vikings running amok and terrorizing the good citizens of the community because they don’t have and use the Capital One credit card.
What line is most memorable? “What’s in your wallet?”
What we carry with us tells others a lot about us. Credit cards, watches, cash, phones, cosmetics, jewelry, clothing, bags and anything else you may carry. What they tell about us can be many things. What we like. What our interests are. What we think about ourselves. And what we want others to think about us.
But what really tells the most about us is what we carry around inside of ourselves. That would be our attitudes and beliefs and some of us don’t do too well here. Our attitudes and beliefs are released when we deal with others. Do you know any obnoxious well dressed bastards?
These attitudes and beliefs are stored in the heart. ‘Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks’. What you put in is what will come out. Good in good out – courage, respect, appreciation, integrity, love, encouragement, serving others. Bad in bad out – judgment, envy, hate, jealousy, greed, profanity, pornography, bad attitude, selfishness.
So the question to answer is, What’s in your heart? If you don’t like what’s in there or you don’t like the way you are, you can change. It will take effort but there is someone who tells us he will help us do that.
I have been thinking that there is a current commercial that could tell us a lot about people if we changed the words. This is the commercial with the Vikings running amok and terrorizing the good citizens of the community because they don’t have and use the Capital One credit card.
What line is most memorable? “What’s in your wallet?”
What we carry with us tells others a lot about us. Credit cards, watches, cash, phones, cosmetics, jewelry, clothing, bags and anything else you may carry. What they tell about us can be many things. What we like. What our interests are. What we think about ourselves. And what we want others to think about us.
But what really tells the most about us is what we carry around inside of ourselves. That would be our attitudes and beliefs and some of us don’t do too well here. Our attitudes and beliefs are released when we deal with others. Do you know any obnoxious well dressed bastards?
These attitudes and beliefs are stored in the heart. ‘Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks’. What you put in is what will come out. Good in good out – courage, respect, appreciation, integrity, love, encouragement, serving others. Bad in bad out – judgment, envy, hate, jealousy, greed, profanity, pornography, bad attitude, selfishness.
So the question to answer is, What’s in your heart? If you don’t like what’s in there or you don’t like the way you are, you can change. It will take effort but there is someone who tells us he will help us do that.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Maturity or Impulsiveness?
Would you write something on a blog or Facebook that is brutally honest and could hurt someone else if they read it although you know it would help him/her if he/she read it and started living it?
I saw something that is good and insightful in an e-mail newsletter. It is written by someone with a lot of experience and who is recognized as an expert in his area.
This is the same area of expertise as the person that I know, and would be beneficial if heeded by him/her, in my opinion, and many others in the same profession.
Do I need to mention that this person and I don’t have the best relationship, cordial at best, and I don’t think I have a great deal of credibility with him or her.
It may be one of those things that I have to wait to do or direct to a mutual acquaintance and have that person pass it on when the time is right. There is something about timing.
Lord, help me to be mature about this and not impulsive.
I saw something that is good and insightful in an e-mail newsletter. It is written by someone with a lot of experience and who is recognized as an expert in his area.
This is the same area of expertise as the person that I know, and would be beneficial if heeded by him/her, in my opinion, and many others in the same profession.
Do I need to mention that this person and I don’t have the best relationship, cordial at best, and I don’t think I have a great deal of credibility with him or her.
It may be one of those things that I have to wait to do or direct to a mutual acquaintance and have that person pass it on when the time is right. There is something about timing.
Lord, help me to be mature about this and not impulsive.
Authenticity
From the ‘Strategic Living’ Newsletter
DEFINE YOUR PAYOFFS!
Dr. Phil's web site has a section titled "Taking Responsibility for Your Life." In that section, he makes this statement: "Define your payoffs: you're getting something from your behavior, or else you wouldn't do it!"
Oftentimes, we behave certain ways because we think we are getting a payoff: being accepted, being comfortable, showing others who's boss, etc. But, acceptance, comfort and confidence can have many counterfeits. They may appear to satisfy a need but only produce relational strife, underperformance and isolation. Consider setting a goal to be real and experience authentic joy - free from the games and masks that go on every day in every setting. "What is the end game" you may ask: How about higher vocational performance, more satisfying relationships with friends and family, ability to go deeper spiritually. Why is that? Because in living an authentic life, you will begin to eliminate baggage, focus on the right things, and be able to increase your effectiveness in working with people.”
******
The authentic life is being real, being who you are. You can stop pretending to be who or what you aren’t. Becoming authentic can be a challenge but in the long run it is worth it. I think it was Shakespeare who said ‘to thine own self be true.’
DEFINE YOUR PAYOFFS!
Dr. Phil's web site has a section titled "Taking Responsibility for Your Life." In that section, he makes this statement: "Define your payoffs: you're getting something from your behavior, or else you wouldn't do it!"
Oftentimes, we behave certain ways because we think we are getting a payoff: being accepted, being comfortable, showing others who's boss, etc. But, acceptance, comfort and confidence can have many counterfeits. They may appear to satisfy a need but only produce relational strife, underperformance and isolation. Consider setting a goal to be real and experience authentic joy - free from the games and masks that go on every day in every setting. "What is the end game" you may ask: How about higher vocational performance, more satisfying relationships with friends and family, ability to go deeper spiritually. Why is that? Because in living an authentic life, you will begin to eliminate baggage, focus on the right things, and be able to increase your effectiveness in working with people.”
******
The authentic life is being real, being who you are. You can stop pretending to be who or what you aren’t. Becoming authentic can be a challenge but in the long run it is worth it. I think it was Shakespeare who said ‘to thine own self be true.’
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Hey Man. Be a Man!
'How do you know when you become a man? Is it when you win your first fight? When you get married? Have kids? “If,” written by manly writer Rudyard Kipling, is an amazingly insightful poem on the attributes of what makes a man a man. Becoming a man isn’t just one event, but rather a series of attributes developed over a lifetime. If only more men desired to obtain these characteristics, the world would be a much better place.
“If”
By: Rudyard Kipling
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream–and not make dreams your master,
If you can think–and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings–nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And–which is more–you’ll be a Man, my son!'
Posted at ‘The Art of Manliness’ web site
“If”
By: Rudyard Kipling
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream–and not make dreams your master,
If you can think–and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings–nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And–which is more–you’ll be a Man, my son!'
Posted at ‘The Art of Manliness’ web site
Good old days or just old days?
Were the good old days that good or do we just think they were that good?
Probably some of both.
Recently I got thinking that the reason that we talk and think about the good old days is because we know the outcome of the events that we went through in the past. The events with the good outcomes. And it is easier to look back and think about them. I guess that's why we call them the good old days.
We don't seem to look back fondly on the bad events. But hopefully we look back at the bad events we went through and see the lessons we learned so we don't continue to repeat those events.
Good or bad we went through them and we will continue to have good and bad days. In the book of James we get the advice to count them all joy. Difficult advice to accept but truthful none the less.
Probably some of both.
Recently I got thinking that the reason that we talk and think about the good old days is because we know the outcome of the events that we went through in the past. The events with the good outcomes. And it is easier to look back and think about them. I guess that's why we call them the good old days.
We don't seem to look back fondly on the bad events. But hopefully we look back at the bad events we went through and see the lessons we learned so we don't continue to repeat those events.
Good or bad we went through them and we will continue to have good and bad days. In the book of James we get the advice to count them all joy. Difficult advice to accept but truthful none the less.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Hangups
Celebrity comes with a price.
As an example, I just hit the winning shot in the big game. It came down to the last few seconds. I took the inbound pass and started dribbling up the court with such skill and flair people got their money’s worth in those few seconds of watching me.
After evading what seemed like an endless number of defenders I crossed mid court and the clock in my head was ticking down. It was in sync with game clock. I knew I had to act fast if we were to win the game.
All of sudden I heard the fans yelling 5…4…3… so I pulled up and took a jumper from downtown (just across the mid court line) and I heard one of the greatest sounds in sports. You guys know what I mean. It was nothing but plastic bag. It was the liner in the trash can in the men’s room.
I so impressed the guys who were in there that they wanted to high five. No way! Or hug. Definitely no way! Or carry me on their shoulders. Out of the question.
All that can wait til we are out of the men’s room. We men have to maintain a level of professionalism and decorum. Besides it’s weird having any kind of contact with a man in the men’s room.
Well, time to get back to work.
As an example, I just hit the winning shot in the big game. It came down to the last few seconds. I took the inbound pass and started dribbling up the court with such skill and flair people got their money’s worth in those few seconds of watching me.
After evading what seemed like an endless number of defenders I crossed mid court and the clock in my head was ticking down. It was in sync with game clock. I knew I had to act fast if we were to win the game.
All of sudden I heard the fans yelling 5…4…3… so I pulled up and took a jumper from downtown (just across the mid court line) and I heard one of the greatest sounds in sports. You guys know what I mean. It was nothing but plastic bag. It was the liner in the trash can in the men’s room.
I so impressed the guys who were in there that they wanted to high five. No way! Or hug. Definitely no way! Or carry me on their shoulders. Out of the question.
All that can wait til we are out of the men’s room. We men have to maintain a level of professionalism and decorum. Besides it’s weird having any kind of contact with a man in the men’s room.
Well, time to get back to work.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Behavior Modification
Does something as simple as modeling a behavior have such a profound impact on people, groups and society?
'This is the principle of modeling, and learning almost any complex skill requires it. In fact, Albert Bandura, the renowned psychologist who taught for many years at Stanford University, claims that most human behavior is learned observationally through modeling. His pioneering work in this field has shown that modeling is the greatest form of unconscious learning there is'.
From 'Iron Sharpens Iron' by Howard & William Hendricks
How does this concept impact your life, your family, your business, and your relationships? Notice the reference to 'unconscious learning'. Does that explain why your kids may be picking up some of your habits?
'This is the principle of modeling, and learning almost any complex skill requires it. In fact, Albert Bandura, the renowned psychologist who taught for many years at Stanford University, claims that most human behavior is learned observationally through modeling. His pioneering work in this field has shown that modeling is the greatest form of unconscious learning there is'.
From 'Iron Sharpens Iron' by Howard & William Hendricks
How does this concept impact your life, your family, your business, and your relationships? Notice the reference to 'unconscious learning'. Does that explain why your kids may be picking up some of your habits?
Monday, August 9, 2010
Can you control it?
From the book 'Finish Strong'
• Sin will take you farther than you want to go
• Cost you more than you want to pay
• And keep you longer than you want to stay
• Sin will take you farther than you want to go
• Cost you more than you want to pay
• And keep you longer than you want to stay
The Practice of Discipline
'Discipline yourself to do what you know you need to do to be the very best in your field. Perhaps the best definition of self discipline is this: "Self discipline is the ability to make yourself do what you should do when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not."
It is easy to do something when you feel like it. It's when you don't feel like it and you force yourself to do it anyway that you move your life and career onto the fast track.
What decisions do you need to make today in order to start moving toward the top of your field? Whatever it is, either to get in or get out, make a decision today and then get started. This single act alone can change the whole direction of your life.'
Source: 'Time Management Success' by Brian Tracy - 8/9/10
It is easy to do something when you feel like it. It's when you don't feel like it and you force yourself to do it anyway that you move your life and career onto the fast track.
What decisions do you need to make today in order to start moving toward the top of your field? Whatever it is, either to get in or get out, make a decision today and then get started. This single act alone can change the whole direction of your life.'
Source: 'Time Management Success' by Brian Tracy - 8/9/10
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Do you have Spiritual Indifference?
This section from the book ‘Finish Strong’ by Steve Farar was especially helpful for me. Hopefully it will be of help to you also if you are experiencing some of these symptoms.
And before you say ‘I don’t need this’ you may want to read some parts or all of this chapter because there is a lot about pride.
Farar uses a quote from Thomas Carlyle at the beginning of the Chapter – ‘The greatest fault is to be conscious of none’
Here it is:
‘We should be aware of spiritual indifference.
Blindness to Spiritual things doesn’t come first. Arrogance and presumption don’t come first. There is something that comes before these things; there is something that provides the necessary soil for these poisonous plants to germinate and grow. And that something is spiritual indifference. It’s an ever-so-gradual cooling of your spiritual temperature. It’s an ever-so-subtle fading of your love for the Lord Jesus. It’s as silent and subtle as a slow moving shadow…’
Source: Finish Strong by Steve Farrar, Chapter 5, p 120
And before you say ‘I don’t need this’ you may want to read some parts or all of this chapter because there is a lot about pride.
Farar uses a quote from Thomas Carlyle at the beginning of the Chapter – ‘The greatest fault is to be conscious of none’
Here it is:
‘We should be aware of spiritual indifference.
Blindness to Spiritual things doesn’t come first. Arrogance and presumption don’t come first. There is something that comes before these things; there is something that provides the necessary soil for these poisonous plants to germinate and grow. And that something is spiritual indifference. It’s an ever-so-gradual cooling of your spiritual temperature. It’s an ever-so-subtle fading of your love for the Lord Jesus. It’s as silent and subtle as a slow moving shadow…’
Source: Finish Strong by Steve Farrar, Chapter 5, p 120
Friday, August 6, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
What's it all about?
There is an old song with a line ‘What’s it all about, Alfie?’
Replace ‘Alfie’ with your name and try to answer that question for yourself. What’s it all about for you?
What did you come up with? Is it all about,
Your job or your career?
Your business?
Your Investments?
Your favorite sports team?
Your house or vacation house?
Your kids?
Your spouse?
Your conquests?
Your achievements?
Notice the word common to each line. Yea, I did set it up that way but to try to get you to see a point.
Most of what we pursue is for our own joy, satisfaction or pleasure. This stuff won’t last forever or, in the case of your family, they won’t always do what you want, or be there.
There are opportunities more enduring that can provide you with more satisfaction and enjoyment. You can even feel some accomplishment all when you do things for others.
It will require some changes. And you won’t be a wimp doing stuff for others. It requires courage, leadership and discipline. Requires you to become more of a man or woman.
But you can do it! There is someone who can help you do it.
Replace ‘Alfie’ with your name and try to answer that question for yourself. What’s it all about for you?
What did you come up with? Is it all about,
Your job or your career?
Your business?
Your Investments?
Your favorite sports team?
Your house or vacation house?
Your kids?
Your spouse?
Your conquests?
Your achievements?
Notice the word common to each line. Yea, I did set it up that way but to try to get you to see a point.
Most of what we pursue is for our own joy, satisfaction or pleasure. This stuff won’t last forever or, in the case of your family, they won’t always do what you want, or be there.
There are opportunities more enduring that can provide you with more satisfaction and enjoyment. You can even feel some accomplishment all when you do things for others.
It will require some changes. And you won’t be a wimp doing stuff for others. It requires courage, leadership and discipline. Requires you to become more of a man or woman.
But you can do it! There is someone who can help you do it.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Is everyone a critic?
Have you criticized anyone today? How about more than one person?
So what was the outcome?
Initially you felt better and they felt bad or discouraged. But ultimately both of you may be feeling bad and your relationship may be strained.
What was accomplished by doing this?
Hopefully by thinking about this you’ve grown personally or in your maturity level and you realized there may be a better way to make your point without upsetting someone else, yourself and creating a long term problem in your relationship.
Challenge yourself to find a better way to point things out to others without creating relationship tsunamis.
So what was the outcome?
Initially you felt better and they felt bad or discouraged. But ultimately both of you may be feeling bad and your relationship may be strained.
What was accomplished by doing this?
Hopefully by thinking about this you’ve grown personally or in your maturity level and you realized there may be a better way to make your point without upsetting someone else, yourself and creating a long term problem in your relationship.
Challenge yourself to find a better way to point things out to others without creating relationship tsunamis.
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