Contentment

On my drive to Archbold, Ohio (about an hour west of Toledo) for some meetings this morning, I finished up listening to the story of Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson on tape (Standing Like a Stone Wall by James Robertson, Jr.). This was loaned to me by a good friend as it is not something I would normally listen to or read. It really surprised me--it was quite good and filled with some great leadership nuggets.

At the very end of Stonewall Jackson's life, he had been shot during the Civil War and was losing lots of blood. They decided to amputate his left arm and as he was recovering, the chaplain was very concerned with the fact that Jackson's arm could not be saved. Jackson answered him, "This is a blessing from God that I do not understand. I shall know what it means either in this world or the next. I am perfectly content."

How cool is that?!

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything in through Him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:12-13

Are You A Porsche?

I love my wife. She has this incredible heart for others. This was exhibited to me, yet again, yesterday as she was watching a documentary about Farrah Fawcett who passed away last week. I kept hearing my wife say things like, "Oh, that poor thing" and "I can't believe she had to go through that..." Then they showed a journal that Farrah wrote in that had a cross on it followed by a picture of her with a cross on a necklace she was wearing.

Connie (my bride), in her hopeful enthusiasm, said, "I think she might have been a Christian!" My 13 year-old son Robbie then said, "Mom, just because she has a cross doesn't make her a Christian!"

Connie knows that, she just wants what's best for people. What we know in our family, including my son, is that we can get caught in the trap of believing we are Christians simply because we go to church or we own a bible. Believe me, we know this all too well as this is where we lived for many years of our lives.

I love what Joyce Meyer says about this. She says, "Going to church doesn't make you any more of a Christian than standing in your garage makes you a Porsche!"

It wasn't until I humbled myself and realized that I needed Christ in my life and invited Him in (almost 10 years ago) that I actually became a Christian. Then my family followed after that and our lives have been changed forever.

If you have not done this and would like to learn how or you would like to investigate this a little closer, I encourage you to check out this site which was done by my friend John Beckett.

Make it a great week!

Storms

Last night, Connie (my wife) and I were driving to a meeting about a half hour away from our house. When we left our house the weather looked a little ominous but it was still clear. About half way there, we drove through a fierce storm with thunder and lightning and heavy rain. We couldn't see more than 20 feet in front of us.

In about three or four minutes we broke free of the storm and were in the clear. Connie said, "Isn't that amazing? A few minutes ago there was no end to the storm we were in and now we are in the clear!"

I mentioned to her that that was a great point and that it was a great illustration of life. When we are in the middle of our "storms," it can seem like there is no end in sight. However, if we just keep "driving," the "clearing" will be straight ahead.

While we were driving through this rain storm, we could have chosen to pull over to the side of the road. Had we done that, it would have been a lot easier; however, we would have remained in the storm for a longer period of time. In the same way, when we are caught in our storms, we need to keep pressing on, even though it will seem easier to remain still and do nothing (or pout). God will then give us victory!

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

James 1:12

Crickets

My friend, Brian Keel, who is CFO of the Toledo Area YMCAs writes a weekly devotional that he sends out via email. His from last week is one I needed to share:

The other night, as I was drifting off to sleep, I heard crickets chirping outside. It was the first time this year that their friendly, relaxing sound was audible to me. It’s a sure sign of summertime in Ohio, and I was pleased to hear it. There are other signs too… like fireflies and mosquitoes and cookouts and orange barrels on the Turnpike. Each is indicative of summer on its own, but in combination the message is hard to miss.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

Just as we can see the visible signs of seasons changing, we can also see the visible attributes of a Christian life. But unlike mosquitoes and orange barrels the fruit of the spirit is positive. As we grow in our relationship with Christ each attribute will likely manifest at a different rate based on our personality and circumstances. They are not a pick and choose list of “fruits” though. In combination, they are “the fruit” and their message is hard to miss.

It’s a message that each of us has undergone a positive change; that each of us is finding life with Christ preferable to our life without. And hopefully others will want to know more about the source of that change.

Share your fruit!

Growing Old

A good friend of mine who lives in Texas celebrated his birthday yesterday. Since he is a year older than me I sent him an email wishing him a happy birthday. Because I also wanted to needle him a little bit, I also said something like, "I just wanted you to know that I was thinking of my elders today."

One thing none of us can control are the hands of time. We are all growing older, moment by moment. Our hair tends to get thinner and gray. Our bodies don't seem to work as well as they once did. Our memories don't either. (What is it I'm writing about?) It can sometimes be depressing. But, it doesn't have to be.

I read something that tied into this "growing older" theme that I wanted to share. It was written by 90 year-old Regina Brett in The Cleveland Plain Dealer:

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me... It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:"

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone...
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first pay check.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words “In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life.
Proverbs 16:31

Managing Disappointment

As a father, I find it difficult to see my children disappointed. But I know that there are times in which me withholding something from him, which causes disappointment, is in his best interest.

My son is going through a season right now in which he would like to play video games 24/7. When he does this for any length of time, he becomes a different person...very lethargic and not fun to be around.

I have imposed stricter limits on his video game time as well as TV time this summer. To say he is disappointed is an understatement.

Although he is not happy, I believe that he knows this is for his own good...that his dad knows what is in his best interests. He has been reading more and he has been outside a little more, which he knows is good. He also has been feeling better about himself. But, he still is not 100% happy about this.

I think the same is true of us in life. We sometimes are not happy with the hand we are dealt. We can be disappointed. Yet, when we fully realize that we have a heavenly Father who loves us deeply and wants what's best for us, this can be a very freeing place to be. When we know that God will withhold things from us for our own good or will allow us to go through certain challenges to strengthen us, we can then rejoice no matter how disappointed we are.

Max Lucado had this to say from his book Let the Journey Begin:God's Roadmap for New Beginnings:

Don't ask God to do what you want. Ask God to do what is right.

When God doesn't do what we want, it's not easy. Never has been. Never will be. But faith is the conviction that God knows more than we do about this life and he will get us through it.
Disappointment is cured by revamped expectations.

I like that story about the fellow who went to the pet store in search of a singing parakeet. Seems he was a bachelor and his house was too quiet. The store owner had just the bird for him, so the man bought it. The next day the bachelor came home from work to a house full of music. He went to the cage to feed the bird and noticed for the first time that the parakeet had only one leg.

He felt cheated that he'd been sold a one-legged bird, so he called and complained.

"What do you want," the store owner responded, "a bird who can sing or a bird who can dance?"

Good question for times of disappointment.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28

Love and Support

As Chapter President, I get the privilege to lead three Truth At Work roundtable groups in the NW Ohio area. In these 4 hour monthly meetings, one of the hours is spent in what we call open roundtable time. During this time members will share their most pressing issues with the group in hope of getting helpful feedback from a Biblical point of view.

To begin this time, I will ask each member to tell me what their roundtable score is for the month. This is a ranking of the severity level of their issue. The two highest ranking issues are what we will spend that hour discussing...a half hour for each. In most meetings there will be an "8" or a "9" and maybe a "6" or "7".

In a recent meeting of one of our groups that has been together for 8 months, the group of 10 individuals didn't have one roundtable issue that was scored above a "5". I thought the group was "sandbagging" and holding back so I told them what I thought was going on.

One of the members responded by saying, "Jim, I have to say that, because of the love and support from this group, my '8' and '9' issues now feel like '3' and '4' issues." The rest of the group agreed.

Wow. I was not expecting that.

That really showed me the power of community. We were made to do life together!

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Ecclesiastes 4:12

Introduction

Have you ever been to a banquet where a guest was introduced to much fanfare and you thought how the introduction was way overdone?

Have you ever been to a football game and wondered why people were acting so crazy over a game? (Those who know me better not say anything...yes, I get a little nuts at games in Columbus!) Have you ever thought, why can't people in church be this excited about Jesus?

Check out this 3 minute introduction of Jesus from comedian Steve Harvey. This introduction and ovation are much deserved!

Redneck Fire Alarm

No great revelations here today...other than the thought that "laughter is good for the soul." I was recently sent this picture of a Redneck Fire Alarm. Just had to share it...

Fish Story

I don’t have any problems with professional athletes making the money they make. After all, it is us, the fans, that allow them to get paid what they get paid. I do, however, have a problem with the way these athletes seem so ungrateful for what they have been given. It seems like it is more the rule than the exception anymore, that an athlete demands a higher salary than what was agreed to a year before when he signed his contract. Very disappointing.

I just began listening to the story of Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson on tape (Standing Like a Stone Wall by James Robertson, Jr.). So far, it is fascinating. Jackson is one of America’s great military leaders from the Civil War and the Mexican-American war.

I am learning that he was also a Christian man of great character. Last night I heard of “the fish story.” Apparently, when he was a youngster, it was told that Mr. Conrad Koester offered to pay him $.50 for each pike that Thomas would catch. This went on for quite some time and Thomas was paid quite well as he was quite the fisherman.

One day, he caught a 36” whopper and was carrying it down the street. One man yelled out that he wanted to buy the fish for a dollar.

Thomas said, “It’s sold to Mr. Koester!”

“I’ll give you a dollar and a quarter.”

“If you are going to get any of this fish, you are going to have to get it from Mr. Koester.”

When he presented the fish to Mr. Koester, Koester wanted to pay him double for it.

Thomas said, “No sir. You have paid me for a lot of small fish. I won’t take any more for this one.”

How many would have taken the better offer from someone else? I know most of today’s athletes would have. Isn’t it refreshing to hear stories of young Stonewall Jackson and the integrity that he exhibited?

Celebrate

I feel like I need to go to work so that I can rest. On Saturday of this weekend, we attended graduation party #1. Shortly thereafter, we attended a wedding in which our daughter was the maid of honor.

Yesterday after church, we attended graduation party #2 which was next door. Then we attended graduation party #3. We returned from #3 and then went back to #2.

Whew. I'm tired.

It was great to see so many good friends and catch up. However, I really long for a day of doing nothing.

Maybe me looking forward to doing nothing is a good sign. I don't relax well normally. Perhaps part of God's commandment to rest on the seventh day is starting to sink in with me.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Jesus in Matthew 11:28

Underachiever?

Some say that Mickey Mantle was the greatest all-around baseball player of all time. No one would argue that he is among the all-time greats to ever play the game.

I read something yesterday that I didn't know about him. He actually said he under-achieved and did not use his God-given gifts to his fullest potential. That surprised me. I don't believe there are many who would call Mickey Mantle and underachiever.

John Maxwell wrote this great piece which talks about the role discipline plays in helping us to live up to our potential:

He may have been the most naturally gifted baseball player of all time. He was clocked rounding the bases in an incredible 13 seconds. Yet, his speed was nothing compared to the power of his hitting. It's been said there were home run hitters, and then there was this man - in a league of his own. The Guinness Book of World Records credits him with hitting the longest home run ever measured, at 643 feet.

The player I'm describing is the great Mickey Mantle. By the age of 19 he had been called up to play for the New York Yankees. He won a World Series his rookie year, and his teams would capture seven championships over the course of his career. By the time he retired, Mantle had played more games as a Yankee than any other player, and had been named MVP of the American League three times. He still holds the all-time World Series records for home runs, runs scored, and runs batted in.

Yet, in spite of his impressive accomplishments, experts believe Mickey Mantle never reached his potential. Most blame Mantle's chronic knee injuries for preventing him from doing more. But injuries weren't the root of the problem. What most people didn't know was that Mantle was a raging alcoholic.

At age 62, with his health and family life a mess, Mantle checked into the Betty Ford Clinic and started the long road to sobriety. Looking back from this vantage point, he assessed his career:

I never fulfilled what my dad had wanted [to be the greatest player who ever lived], and I should have. God gave me a great body to play with, and I didn't take care of it. And I blame a lot of it on alcohol.

Everybody tries to make the excuse that injuries shortened my career. Truth is, after I'd had a knee operation the doctors would give me rehab work to do, but I wouldn't do it. I'd be out drinking... I hurt my knees through the years, and I just thought they'd naturally come back. Everything has always come natural to me. I didn't work hard at it.

Despite his great natural talent, Mickey Mantle never disciplined himself off the field. By the time Mantle was ready to change, it was too late. His liver was ruined from a life of alcoholism, and he died at age 64 from inoperable cancer.

Four Truths about Discipline

What were you born to do? What is your dream? To become the person you have the potential to be, you have to cultivate a life of discipline. Consider these truths concerning discipline:

Discipline Comes with a Price Tag

Discipline is costly. It demands a continual investment of time, energy, and commitment at the expense of momentary pleasure and ease. Discipline means paying hours of practice to win the prize of skill. Discipline means giving up short-term benefits for the hope of future gain. Discipline means pressing on to excellence long after everyone else has settled for average.

Discipline Turns Talent to Greatness

When you read about someone like Mickey Mantle, you realize that too much talent can actually work against someone. Super-talented individuals can coast on sheer ability and neglect building the daily habits of success that will sustain them. Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow shared much insight when he wrote:

The heights by great men reached and kept
Were not attained by sudden flight,
But they, while their companions slept,
Were toiling upward in the night.

If you want to reach your potential, attach a strong work ethic to your talent.

Discipline Focuses on Choices, Not Conditions

In general, people approach daily discipline in one of two ways. They focus on the external or the internal. Those who focus externally allow conditions to dictate whether or not they remain disciplined. Because conditions are transitory, their discipline level changes like the wind.

In contrast, people with internal discipline focus on choices. You cannot control circumstances, nor can you control others. By focusing on your choices, and making the right ones regularly, you stay disciplined.

Discipline Does Not Bow Down to Feelings

As Arthur Gordon said, "Nothing is easier than saying words. Nothing is harder than living them, day after day. What you promise today must be renewed and redecided tomorrow and each day that stretches out before you."

If you do what you should only when you really feel like it, then you won't build disciplined habits. At times, you have to act contrary to emotions. If you refuse to give into your lesser impulses, no matter how great they will make you feel in the moment, then you'll go far.


Summary

Discipline is a matter of taking total responsibility for your future. Choose not to blame circumstances for the outcome of your life. Choose to go beyond your natural talent. Choose to make wise decisions repeatedly. Choose discipline as the path to your potential.

The Strangest Secret

This is an excellent excerpt from Earl Nightingale's book, The Strangest Secret:

George Bernard Shaw said, "People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, they make them."

Well, it's pretty apparent, isn't it? And every person who discovered this believed (for a while) that he was the first one to work it out. We become what we think about.

Conversely, the person who has no goal, who doesn't know where he's going, and whose thoughts must therefore be thoughts of confusion, anxiety and worry - his life becomes one of frustration, fear, anxiety and worry. And if he thinks about nothing... he becomes nothing.

How does it work? Why do we become what we think about? Well, I'll tell you how it works, as far as we know. To do this, I want to tell you about a situation that parallels the human mind.

Suppose a farmer has some land, and it's good, fertile land. The land gives the farmer a choice; he may plant in that land whatever he chooses. The land doesn't care. It's up to the farmer to make the decision.

We're comparing the human mind with the land because the mind, like the land, doesn't care what you plant in it. It will return what you plant, but it doesn't care what you plant.

Now, let's say that the farmer has two seeds in his hand- one is a seed of corn, the other is nightshade, a deadly poison. He digs two little holes in the earth and he plants both seeds-one corn, the other nightshade. He covers up the holes, waters and takes care of the land...and what will happen? Invariably, the land will return what was planted.

As it's written in the Bible, "As ye sow, so shall ye reap."

Remember the land doesn't care. It will return poison in just as wonderful abundance as it will corn. So up come the two plants - one corn, one poison.

The human mind is far more fertile, far more incredible and mysterious than the land, but it works the same way. It doesn't care what we plant...success...or failure. A concrete, worthwhile goal...or confusion, misunderstanding, fear, anxiety and so on. But what we plant it must return to us.

You see, the human mind is the last great unexplored continent on earth. It contains riches beyond our wildest dreams. It will return anything we want to plant.

To see a 3 minute video on this topic, click here and then on the movie icon.

Perseverance

The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.
-- Chinese Proverb

If you have 12 minutes or so, it would be worth your while to check out this video. It tells the story of DJ Gregory, a 30 year-old Georgia native who was born with Cerebral Palsy. He fell in love with the game of golf and dreamt of walking every hole of every golf tournament played on the PGA tour.

In 2008, that dream became a reality. During the season, he garnered the admiration of many throughout the world, but especially that of the players he followed. They saw his determination and persistence and their respect of him grew.

During the season, he fell only 15 times...but each time he got up and pressed on. DJ had this to say to each of us, "If you have a dream, go after it! Don't let anybody say you can't do something." Great advice!

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
Hebrews 10:36

We Are Family

We are family

I got all my sisters with me

We are family

Get up ev'rybody and sing

In 1979, Sister Sledge released this great single, We Are Family. This past week, I got to experience what they were singing about.

At the Call2All Gathering in Hong Kong last week, there were representatives from over 100 countries. I met people from many different cultures and I will have to say I had my eyes, and my heart opened.

All of these people from different walks of life were gathering under the banner of Christ, for one purpose, to see His love spread throughout the world. It was incredible, to say the least.

I truly felt part of something much bigger than myself. I felt true unity. I saw myself as having millions of brothers and sisters...as one big family. As a result of this, I have a renewed love for all people.

I met many wonderful people, including Sylvester from Kenya, Maria from China, Mary from the United Kingdom, Vareena from South Africa and Eddie from Hong Kong (our waiter who prayed to receive Christ at our table with us!). All awesome people. My family!

"Love your neighbor as yourself."

Matthew 22:39b

Sleepless in...Hong Kong?

Well, it's 1:44 AM Hong Kong time and I'm wide awake. Last night was my first night here and I actually slept pretty well...about 5-6 hours. This after 21 hours of travel to get here with very little sleep on the plane.

I guess jet lag has caught up to me.

On a positive note, God truly revealed Himself to me today! He showed me some of what my purpose is in being here and also gave me some other great things. He sure is good!

Well, back to bed for me to try for some Zzzzzs. Thanks for all your prayers!