Be Still

For our anniversary this year, Connie and I decided to take a weekend getaway to Kelleys Island. We had gone there last year and stayed in a bed and breakfast there which was great so I decided to make reservations there again. Unfortunately, I was a little late in doing so, so we got one of their smaller rooms which did not have its own bathroom.

When we arrived, we were surprised to see that the room not only was smaller, but the bed was too (It was a double bed!). Some of you may be wondering why this is a big deal. Well, I'm 6' 8" tall so I was going to be hanging off the bed more than normal.

In any event, we tried not to focus on that and to just enjoy each other and the island. Well, that is exactly what we did. We had an awesome time and even were able to sleep a bit though we weren't as comfortable as we would have liked. It truly was a fantastic, relaxing weekend!

We both realized that we need to carve out more time out of our hectic schedules to be with each other. We also recognized that we need to do the same with God.

Be still and know that I am God.

Psalm 46:10

Dreaming

I just received something from John Maxwell that I thought was worth sharing regarding our dreams and the five key things that keep us from them:

Most of us never see our dreams come true. Instead of soaring through the clouds, our dreams languish like a broken-down airplane confined to its hangar. Through life, I have come to identify five common reasons why dreams don't take flight.

#1 We Have Been Discouraged from Dreaming by Others

We have to pilot our own dreams; we cannot entrust them to anyone else. People who aren't following their own dreams resent us pursuing ours. Such people feel inadequate when we succeed, so they try to drag us down.

If we listen to external voices, then we allow our dreams to be hijacked. At some point, other people will place limitations on us by doubting our abilities. When surrounded by the turbulence of criticism, we have to grasp the controls tightly to keep from being knocked off course.

#2 We Are Hindered by Past Disappointments and Hurts

In the movie Top Gun, Tom Cruise plays Maverick, a young, talented, and cocky aviator who dreams of being the premier pilot in the U.S. Navy. In the film's opening scenes, Maverick showcases his flying ability but also displays a knack for pushing the envelope with regards to safety. Midway through the movie, Maverick's characteristic aggression spells disaster. His plane crashes, killing his best friend and co-pilot.

Although cleared of wrongdoing, the painful memory of the accident haunts Maverick. He quits taking risks and loses his edge. Struggling to regain his poise, he considers giving up on his dream. Although the incident nearly wrecks Maverick's career, he eventually reaches within to find the strength to return to the sky.

Like Maverick, many of us live with the memory of failure embedded in our psyche. Perhaps a business we started went broke, or we were fired from a position of leadership. Disappointment is the gap that exists between expectation and reality, and all of us have encountered that gap. Failure is a necessary and natural part of life, but if we're going to attain our dreams, then, like Maverick, we have to summon the courage to deal with past hurts.

#3 We Fall into the Habit of Settling for Average

Average is the norm for a reason. Being exceptional demands extra effort, sustained inspiration, and uncommon discipline. When we attempt to give flight to our dreams, we have to overcome the weight of opposition. Like gravity, life's circumstances constantly pull on our dreams, tugging us down to mediocrity.

Most of us don't pay the price to overcome the opposition to our dreams. We may start out inspired, but through time we fatigue. Although never intending to abandon our dreams, we begin to make concessions here and there. Through time, our lives become mundane, and our dreams slip away.

#4 We Lack the Confidence Needed to Pursue Our Dreams

Dreams are fragile. They will be buffeted by assaults from all sides. As such, they must be supplied with the extra strength of self-confidence.

In Amelia Earhart's day, women were not supposed to fly airplanes. If she had lacked self-assurance, she never would have even attempted to be a pilot. Instead, Earhart confidently chased after her dream, and she was rewarded with both fulfillment and fame.

#5 We Lack the Imagination to Dream

For thousands of years, mankind traveled along the ground: by foot, by horse-and-buggy, by locomotive, and eventually by automobile. Thanks to the dreams of Orville and Wilbur Wright, we now hop across oceans in a matter of hours. The imaginative brothers overcame ridicule and doubt to pioneer human flight, and the world has never been the same.

Many of us play small because we do not allow ourselves to dream. We trap ourselves in reality and never dare to go beyond what we can see with our eyes. Imagination lifts us beyond average by giving us a vision of life that surpasses what we are experiencing currently. Dreams infuse our spirit with energy and spur us on to greatness.

Letting Go

Yesterday was a monumental day in our household. It was the day my son, Robbie, cut our lawn by himself (well, almost by himself) for the first time.

This is a big deal for several reasons. One, it gave my son a shot of confidence. And two, because it means that I might be willing to let it go.

What I mean is, I tend to be a bit picky about our lawn. It's kind of a hobby of mine. (I know, I need to get a life).

Anyway, I like the lines to be straight when it is mowed. After my son was done, they were not quite as straight as I normally like to see them (that is an understatement).

However, I am extremely proud of my son because he worked hard and worked at it with all his heart (Col. 3:23). I also recognize that he is much more important than any patch of grass. I just need to let it go and not worry so much about how the lawn looks and focus on his heart.

Axioms

About two months ago I completed reading Bill Hybels' great leadership book Axiom. I would highly recommend it. It contains many leadership axioms, or truths that you can begin to apply to your own life immediately.

Here is another list of axioms I happened across on Raptitude.com recently. While this list does not mention the Bible, many of the nuggets here are Biblically-based and very good:

1. You can’t change other people, and it’s rude to try.
2. It is 100 times more difficult to burn calories than to refrain from consuming them in the first place.
3. If you’re talking to someone you don’t know well, you may be talking to someone who knows way more about whatever you’re talking about than you do.
4. The cheapest and most expensive models are usually both bad deals.
5. Everyone likes somebody who gets to the point quickly.
6. Bad moods will come and go your whole life, and trying to force them away makes them run deeper and last longer.
7. Children are remarkably honest creatures until we teach them not to be.
8. If everyone in the show you’re watching is good-looking, it’s not worth watching.
9. Yelling always makes things worse.
10. Whenever you’re worried about what others will think of you, you’re really just worried about what you’ll think of you.
11. Every problem you have is your responsibility, regardless of who caused it.
12. You never have to deal with more than one moment at a time.
13. If you never doubt your beliefs, then you’re wrong a lot.
14. Managing one’s wants is the most powerful skill a person can learn.
15. Nobody has it all figured out.
16. Cynicism is far too easy to be useful.
17. Every passing face on the street represents a story every bit as compelling and complicated as yours.
18. Whenever you hate something, it hates you back: people, situations and inanimate objects alike.
19. Ralph Waldo Emerson’s works alone can teach you everything you need to know about living with grace and happiness.
20. People embellish everything, as a rule.
21. Anger reveals weakness of character, violence even more so.
22. Humans cannot destroy the planet, but we can destroy its capacity to keep us alive. And we are.
23. When people are uncomfortable with the present moment, they fidget with their hands or their minds. Watch and see.
24. Those who complain the most, accomplish the least.
25. Putting something off makes it instantly harder and scarier.
26. Credit card debt devours souls.
27. Nobody knows more than a minuscule fraction of what’s going on in the world. It’s just way too big for any one person to know it well.
28. Most of what we see is only what we think about what we see.
29. A person who is unafraid to present an unedited version of herself to the world is as rare as diamonds.
30. The most common addiction in the world is the draw of comfort. It wrecks dreams and breaks people.
31. If what you’re doing feels perfectly safe, there is probably a better course of action.
32. The greatest innovation in the history of humankind is language.
33. Blame is the favorite pastime of those who dislike responsibility.
34. Everyone you meet is better than you at something.
35. Proof is nothing but a collection of opinions that match one’s own.
36. Knowledge is belief, nothing more.
37. Indulging your desires is not self-love.
38. What makes human beings different from animals is that animals can be themselves with ease.
39. Self-examination is the only path out of misery.
40. Whoever you are, you will die. To know and understand that means you are alive.
41. Revenge is for the petty and irresponsible.
42. Getting truly organized can vastly improve anyone’s life.
43. Almost every cliché contains a truth so profound that people have been compelled to repeat it until it makes you roll your eyes. But the wisdom is still in there.
44. People cause suffering when they are suffering themselves. Alleviating their suffering will probably remove their inclination to create it for others.
45. High quality is worth any quantity, in possessions, friends and experiences.
46. The world would be a better place if everyone read National Geographic.
47. If you aren’t happy single, you won’t be happy in a relationship.
48. Even if it costs no money, nothing is free if it takes time.
49. Emotions exist to make us heavily biased towards or against something. This hinders as often as it helps.
50. Addiction is a much greater problem in society than it’s made out to be. It’s present in every person in various forms, but usually we call it something else.
51. “Gut feeling” is not just a euphemism. Tension in the abdomen speaks volumes about how you truly feel about something, beyond all arguments and rationales.
52. Posture and dress change profoundly how you feel about yourself and how others feel about you, like it or not.
53. Everyone thinks they’re an above average driver.
54. The urge to punish others has much more to do with venting frustration than correcting behavior.
55. By default, people think far too much.
56. If anything is worth splurging on, it’s a high-quality mattress. You’ll spend a third of your life using it.
57. There is nothing worse than having no friends.
58. To write a person off as worthless is an unparalleled act of violence.
59. Try as we might to be otherwise, we are all hypocrites.
60. Justice is a human invention which is in reality rarely achievable, but many will not hesitate to destroy lives demanding it.
61. Kids will usually understand exactly what you mean if you keep it to one or two short sentences.
62. Stuff that’s on sale usually has an annoying downside.
63. Casual swearing makes people sound dumb.
64. Words are immensely powerful. One cruel remark can wound someone for life.
65. It’s easy to make someone’s day just by being uncommonly pleasant to them.
66. Most of what children learn from their parents isn’t taught on purpose.
67. The secret ingredient is usually butter, in obscene amounts.
68. It is worth re-trying foods that you didn’t like at first.
69. Problems, when they arise, are rarely as painful as the act of fearing them.
70. Nothing — ever — happens exactly like you pictured it.
71. North Americans are generally terrible at accepting compliments and offers of help.
72. There are not enough women in positions of power. The world has suffered from this deficit for a long time.
73. When you break promises to yourself, you feel terrible. When you make a habit of it, you begin to hate yourself.
74. A good nine out of ten bad things I worry about never happen. A good nine out of ten bad things that did happen never occurred to me to worry about.
75. You can’t hide a bad mood from people who know you well, but you can always be polite.
76. Sometimes you have to remove certain people from your life, even if they’re family.
77. Anyone can be calmed in an instant by looking at the ocean or the stars.
78. There is no point finishing a book you aren’t enjoying. Life is too short for that. Swallow your pride and put it down for good, unfinished.
79. There is no correlation between the price of a brand of batteries and how long they last.
80. Breaking new ground only takes a tiny amount more effort than you’re used to giving.
81. Life is a solo trip, but you’ll have lots of visitors. Some of them are long-term, most aren’t.
82. One of the best things you can do for your kids is take them on road trips. I’m not a parent, but I was a kid once.
83. The fewer possessions you have, the more they do for you.
84. Einstein was wiser than he was intelligent, and he was a genius.
85. When you’re sick of your own life, that’s a good time to pick up a book.
86. Wishing things were different is a great way to torture yourself.
87. The ability to be happy is nothing other than the ability to come to terms with how things change.
88. Killing time is an atrocity. It’s priceless, and it never grows back.

Fanning The Flames

This weekend was unusually cool so on Saturday evening, my son and I went out to our backyard firepit to get a fire started. We rolled up some paper and then stacked a few pieces of wood, lit the fire and watched as it burned for a little while, then went out.

It seems we didn't account for the fact that the wood was a little damp from the rain we had received over the previous several days. So we tried again several more times.

When we got a little fire going, we began to fan the flames using newspapers. This helped considerably and finally we had ourselves a full-fledged fire.

Fanning the flames like we were doing reminded me of something my wife and I learned about on Friday evening. We had hosted a marriage seminar for our Truth At Work members, their spouses and guests Friday. Dan Rogers (CEO of Cherry Street Mission) and his lovely wife, Crystal led our discussion which was great.

They said that all relationships, and especially marriage need a solid infrastructure. The only way to build it is to work on it regularly. In other words, you need to fan the flames.

Here are 10 ways they suggested you fan the flames in your marriage relationship:

1. Daily prayer for your spouse
2. Rest (one day per week – remember the Sabbath)
3. Quality time together every day – Determine love language for each other
4. Weekly dates with your spouse – What can we do that we shouldn’t or wouldn’t do with someone else? – Don’t need to spend money to have a great date
5. Get away with your spouse for a couple days once per quarter
6. Attend a seminar every 6 months for mental stimulation. Commit to learn something new every six months
7. Building lasting memories – don’t be event centered
8. Taking a family vacation at least once per year
9. Apologize to your spouse when you don’t understand (not just for major issues) – Think about how you would treat a friend…Am I as thoughtful with my spouse?
10. Forgive your spouse internally – Do you trust God with changing your spouse or do you try to change them?

Even Eagles Need a Push

"You never know when one act, or one word of encouragement can change a life forever."
Zig Ziglar

Have you ever known you needed to do something, but froze in fear of doing it? Have you ever had someone come alongside you and encourage you to just do it? Maybe they even gave you a push of sorts.

Afterwards you may have even looked back and said, "Wow, I am so glad they encouraged me to do that! That was just what I needed to do! I don't know what I was fearing!"

We all need people to push us because our natural tendency is to remain in our comfort zones. Yet, the only way we can grow is to get out of that comfortable space.

So, who do you allow to push you? If you can't think of anyone, I would suggest asking someone you respect. Who do you push and encourage? Again, find someone! As the above quote and video shows, it could change a life forever.

But let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching
Hebrews 10:25b

Mistakes

Yesterday morning I was leading our Truth At Work group that meets every third Wednesday of the month. In the first 60 minutes of our four hour time together we typically go through a case study which sheds Biblical truth on a business issue. This month I was to share a video which went along with a workbook each member has.

About 10 minutes into the video, I realized that the video did not match up with the outline in our books. I had a surge of panic go through my body. I had brought the wrong DVD! I immediately began to run down my list of options. None were very good.

So, I did something out of character for me. I just let it go.

At the end of the 40 minute video, I explained that I had obviously made a mistake. Everyone in the group seemed a little surprised because they each mentioned how awesome the message in the video was. In fact, they wanted to see parts 2 and 3 to the video I showed.

So even in my mistake, God used it for good. I hope I can remember this and regularly apply this to my life so that I can chill out and not fret about it when things don't go as I had planned!

For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

Philippians 4:11b

Humility And Hard Work

I'm a golf fan and I missed it. I was at a cookout on Sunday afternoon and I was unable to see the improbable. Tiger Woods lost for the first time when leading in a PGA major heading into the final round.

While I was watching earlier in the day, the announcers were all but giving Tiger the Wanamaker Trophy (which goes to the PGA Champion). After all, in 14 previous majors, Tiger had the lead heading into Sunday. And in all 14 of those opportunities, he was the champion.

However, little-known, 37-year-old Y.E. Yang had a different script.

Had I been watching, I probably would not have been rooting for Yang, simply because I would be rooting for someone from the U.S. However, after what I have read, I have determined that I really like this guy.

Consider this:

• He is the first Asian born male to win a major
• He was ranked 110th in the world
• He didn't begin playing golf until he was 19 years old
• Because he could not afford lessons or greens fees, when beginning to play, in order to hit balls on the driving range, he agreed to pick up balls as a "trainee"
• He calls himself "just an average Joe"

Humility and hard work, a pretty good combination!

Second Chance

I'll bet you can name five or six of them right now without even thinking. Celebrities, politicians or athletes who have been caught in some sort of scandal and denied it or blamed someone else. You probably even know some people personally who have done this. Heck, you may have even done this...I know I have.

I have to tell you that, even before his dog-fighting scandal, I have never been a huge Michael Vick fan. However, after this past weekend my opinion of him is rising.

I didn't see his interview on 60 Minutes last night but I did record it and plan on watching it soon. I did catch part of his press conference on Friday in which he was introduced as a new member of the Philadelphia Eagles.

I was impressed. Contrary to most people in the spotlight these days, I saw a guy who appeared to be genuinely sorry for his actions. I saw someone who humbly is accepting responsibility for his actions, is asking for forgiveness and is very grateful for a second chance.

Though there are still those who will not forgive him and are protesting his re admittance into the NFL, it's amazing what an attitude like that does to help public opinion. Imagine what that could do for you when you make a mistake.

When we make a mistake, we can learn from this and do the following things:
1. Admit it and accept responsibility.
2. Apologize to God and to those who were hurt and ask for forgiveness.*
3. Decide to repent and walk away from this action in the future.

*God will forgive us, but if the offended party doesn't forgive us, that is their issue. If we do these things, we are set free.

Interruptions

Do you ever feel like the guy pictured above? I do, more than I'd like to admit.

This past Wednesday was one of those days. There is a lot of stuff going on right now--most of it really good stuff. However, it seems like it is all hitting at the same time. As a result, I have been a little stressed...particularly on Wednesday. I was feeling like I was in way over my head and maybe even a little out of control.

When I am like this, any little interruption seems like a huge deal and I oftentimes don't handle those well. For some reason this is particularly true if it is a family member who is doing the interrupting. Sad.

Anyway, God has been revealing to me that these little interruptions are oftentimes appointments that He has for me. He is telling me that I need to embrace these breaks in my schedule as being from Him and I need to trust Him that He will take care of my "stuff" I want to get done.

I know in my heart this is true. However, this is still a stretch for a task-oriented guy.

Anyway, it must be God, because yesterday afternoon (in the middle of the workday!), I spent three hours with my wife going around town looking at fixtures for our bathroom she is re-doing. That is proof that God can work with anyone!

Church Bulletins

It's time for a good chuckle...I hope you enjoy!

The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.
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The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water.' The sermon tonight: 'Searching for Jesus.'
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Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8 PM in the recreation hall. Come out and watch us kill Christ the King.
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Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.
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The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a schedule conflict.
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Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say 'Hell' to someone who doesn't care much about you.
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Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.
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Miss Charlene Mason sang 'I Will Not Pass This Way Again,' giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.
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For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
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Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir.They need all the help they can get.
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The Rector will preach his farewell message, after which the choir will sing: 'Break Forth Into Joy.'
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Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24th in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
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At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be 'What Is Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practice.
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Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
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Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
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Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.
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The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.
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Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - Prayer and medication to follow.
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The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.
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This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.
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Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at10 AM. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done.
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The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.
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Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.
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The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
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Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use the large double doors at the side entrance.
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The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday : 'I Upped My Pledge...Up Yours'

Aren't you glad you're not the only one who makes mistakes?

What Do You Ask From A King?

In our Truth At Work roundtable group this morning, one of our members told a story that really stuck with me (the details might be a bit sketchy, but the point of it is still there!).

Apparently, years ago, Jack Nicklaus was playing golf in a foreign country with the king of that country. The king was so grateful after the round that he told Nicklaus that he wanted to give him a gift. Jack kept saying, "No, you don't need to give me anything."

Finally, someone from that country approached Nicklaus and told him, "You really need to accept a gift from the king. To not do so would be an insult."

The king said again, "Mr. Nicklaus, what would you like?"

Jack, not wanting to be too much trouble responded, "Well, how about a golf club?"

The king said, "It is done. I will give it to you before you leave."

The next morning Nicklaus awoke and went to say goodbye to the king. When he arrived, the king presented him with a deed to a golf club...18 holes and all!

So the moral of the story is this: In the presence of a king, don’t ask for small gifts.

Well, guess what? We are in the presence of a King at all times. So you know what to do!

The Old Normal Has Left The Building

On Thursday last week, Bill Hybels kicked off the Willow Creek Leadership Summit with a talk entitled, Leading in a New Reality. He mentioned that "the old reality has left the building." We need to understand we are and we will be leading in different times.

As a result, he said the one thing that he has found has been happening to him, and to others around him, is that he is spending more time at work. He has gotten caught up in that temptation to just work harder to get out of this hole. God has begun to speak to him about this, much like he did 20 years ago when Hybels was on the verge of complete burnout. God has been saying, "You can't sustain this."

As a result, Hybels is on a mission to reclaim his life...to put some margin back in his life...to replenish his bucket. Here are three things that he is doing that we all can benefit from:

1. Ask, "Who do I need to be around more? Who replenishes me? And, who drains me?
2. Physical exercise - he has doubled what he was doing
3. Starting every day with God. Instead of getting to the office early where he usually spent time with the Lord, he has been spending the first part of his day with God at a designated place in his home. This way, there is no temptation to tackle the mounds of work on his desk at the expense of his time with the Lord. He says that when you show up at work with a fresh spirit, everyone around you benefits in tangible ways.

What do your followers and colleagues see? Are they worried about you? Do they see someone who is exhausted and fearful? Or do they see someone who knows God is in control and knows that He is going to do something amazing in our time (like in the verse below)?

Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known.

Habakkuk 3:2a

Holy Huddle

At the Willow Creek Leadership Summit yesterday, the day was ended with an inspiring talk by Harvey Carey. Harvey is the lead pastor of a multi-cultural church in Detroit who are doing great things.

He asked us to picture this. You purchase a ticket to a football game. You walk in the stadium and the game begins. Your team huddles up. And, they continue to stay huddled for an hour or so. Then they break and go into the locker room. Not one play run...game over. As a fan, wouldn't you feel cheated?

He went on to say that many of us in churches are no different than this team. We get together once a week and "huddle" for an hour or so. Then we break and go home and never run a play. Wow.

So, are you going to stay in the huddle or will you run a play and do what God asks you to do?

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

James 2:17

Summit Bound

This is one of my absolute favorite times of the year for one reason...Willow Creek Leadership Summit. I am getting ready to leave for this and I can't wait (we will be attending at a satellite location in our community).

It seems that each year, they seem to top the previous year. If you have never attended, you owe it to yourself to check it out. Great stuff!

Choices

I have heard it said that life is about choices and our choices will determine how fulfilled we are in our lives. I believe this 100%.

Joyce Meyer has said that love is not a feeling, it is a choice. When we are married, there will be times that we don't really like our spouses. However, we need to choose to love them anyway. Hollywood messes up our minds on this by trying to get us to buy in to the notion that love is a feeling. Not true.

A friend of mine asked me the other day, "Jim, if someone spit on you does that make you angry?"

I said, "Absolutely!"

He said, "No, it doesn't. It makes you wet. It is your choice to become angry."

After thinking about this for a second, I had to agree. Again, choices.

Jesus promised us trouble in John 16:33. When trouble or adversity strikes, it's not what happens that will determine our destiny; it's how we react to what happens. It's the choice we make that will matter.

Check out the above video to see some inspiring stories from others who have decided to make great choices.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
John 16:33

Cut or Pruned?

Early this morning a crew came to our house to cut down a large Maple tree in our yard as well as prune some other trees. I had worked out this morning and was pretty "sweaty" when they arrived. I went to shower and came downstairs and this is all that was left of our Maple, a stump. Just so you know, I take pretty fast showers...these guys are efficient!

Anyway, I was looking at this stump and thinking about how this tree was unfortunate in that his life was just cut short while the other trees in our yard get off easy by just being pruned.

This is much like our lives. In John 15:1-2, Jesus tells us, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."

So, it sounds like we are going to get sliced no matter what we do, either we will be cut or pruned. So, we might as well bear fruit and be pruned rather than face the fate of my poor Maple tree.

Re-entry

We returned from our incredible vacation early Friday morning. It was very enjoyable with some great family time and some quality relaxation time. This was the first time we had ever returned from a trip with a three day buffer like this. Normally we would return on a Saturday or Sunday night with the workweek staring us right in the face. This has made my re-entry most enjoyable (or at least not as painful as normal).

I was able to catch up on some things in the office on Friday as well as get unpacked and sort through the mail. That allowed us to relax a bit on Saturday and Sunday and enjoy the incredible weather we are experiencing. I told Connie last night that we need to schedule trips with a three day buffer at the end all the time.

Because this buffer, or margin existed for me, this reduced my stress level considerably. This just serves as a reminder that I need to look for ways to add this same margin into my schedule every day as well!