Controlled By Circumstances

Last week, a friend of mine called me to ask if I would be interested in taking his tickets to the Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers game in Detroit (which was in the afternoon on Sunday, prior to the Super Bowl). I said, “Absolutely!” My son was out of town at camp with his youth group from church, so I went with a good friend of mine.

Needless to say, we had a blast. The Cavaliers won the game and Lebron James put on quite a show, but the thing that made the game more interesting and more fun were the 10 or so Cavalier fans who sat a few rows behind us. In talking with them at halftime I discovered that some of them went to high school with Lebron.

Anyway, what made them stick out was the fact that they were over the top in their passion for their team. They were actually downright obnoxious…but hilarious. They were chanting some funny things and they were also drinking pretty heavily.

At one point, we saw one of the guys spill his beer on a guy in front of him. Amazingly, the one who was now wet, took it very well and was actually laughing about it.

In contrast, another man was sitting with his wife and two children in front of these fans. He looked like he was having absolutely no fun whatsoever. He was obviously so furious that these “hooligans” were seated behind him that it looked like he would rather be anywhere but there. Here he had spent tons of money to take his family to this event and he was having a miserable time.

Two people sitting next to each other, basically experiencing the same thing, yet two very different responses. The first man was not going to let circumstances dictate how much fun he was going to have. The second one was letting these guys get under his skin. As I sat there I thought about how sad that was. I thought that I certainly wouldn’t let that happen to me.

Then, wouldn’t you know it, yesterday I had a very tough day (and was taught a great lesson). My planning and calendar software was totally freezing up (which it had been doing since last Friday) and I spent a good part of the day chatting with their customer support department. I was so frustrated and I was not dealing with it well. It was impacting my entire day!

Wow, did God put me in my place quickly. I realized last night that I was acting exactly the same way as the second man above. I was letting my circumstances dictate how I was feeling. I guess the Bible is right when it says, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (emphasis mine)

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Winning in Life

What a Super Bowl! Two years in a row we've had fantastic finishes. Last night the Arizona Cardinals seemed to have won the gave when Kurt Warner hit Larry Fitzgerald for the go ahead score with about 2 1/2 minutes to play. But Ben Roethlisberger led the Pittsburgh Steelers down the field and hit Santonio Holmes for an amazing catch in the corner of the end zone with 35 seconds left to win the game.

While all of the drama was great and there were some tremendous story lines, I wanted to share something with you that I received last week. It is a very touching story about one of the players in this game:

In a supermarket, Kurtis the stock boy, was busily working when a new voice came over the loud speaker asking for a carry out at register 4. Kurtis was almost finished, and wanted to get some fresh air, and decided to answer the call. As he approached the check-out stand a distant smile caught his eye, the new check-out girl was beautiful. She was an older woman (maybe 26, and he was only 22) and he fell in love.

Later that day, after his shift was over, he waited by the punch clock to find out her name. She came into the break room, smiled softly at him, took her card and punched out, then left. He looked at her card, BRENDA. He walked out only to see her start walking up the road. Next day, he waited outside as she left the supermarket, and offered her a ride home. He looked harmless enough, and she accepted. When he dropped her off, he asked if maybe he could see her again, outside of work. She simply said it wasn't possible.

He pressed and she explained she had two children and she couldn't afford a baby-sitter, so he offered to pay for the baby-sitter. Reluctantly she accepted his offer for a date for the following Saturday. That Saturday night he arrived at her door only to have her tell him that she was unable to go with him. The baby-sitter had called and canceled. To which Kurtis simply said, "Well, let's take the kids with us."

She tried to explain that taking the children was not an option, but again not taking no for an answer, he pressed. Finally Brenda, brought him inside to meet her children. She had an older daughter who was just as cute as a bug, Kurtis thought, then Brenda brought out her son, in a wheelchair. He was born a paraplegic with Down Syndrome.

Kurtis asked Brenda, "I still don't understand why the kids can't come with us?" Brenda was amazed. Most men would run away from a woman with two kids, especially if one had disabilities - just like her first husband and father of her children had done. Kurtis was not ordinary - - he had a different mindset.

That evening Kurtis and Brenda loaded up the kids, went to dinner and the movies. When her son needed anything Kurtis would take care of him. When he needed to use the restroom, he picked him up out of his wheelchair, took him and brought him back. The kids loved Kurtis. At the end of the evening, Brenda knew this was the man she was going to marry and spend the rest of her life with.

A year later, they were married and Kurtis adopted both of her children. Since then they have added two more kids.

So what happened to Kurtis the stock boy and Brenda the check-out girl? Well, Mr. & Mrs. Kurt Warner now live in Arizona , where he is currently employed as the quarterback of the National Football League Arizona Cardinals and has his Cardinals in the Super Bowl. Is this a surprise ending or could you have guessed that he is not an ordinary person.

It should be noted that he also quarterbacked the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI. He has also been the NFL's Most Valuable Player twice and the Super Bowl's Most Valuable Player.

Though he did not win the game last night, in the game of life, Kurt Warner is definitely a winner!

TGIF Part 2 - Get To vs. Have To

Yesterday I talked about how we can change the acronym TGIF from "Thank God It's Friday" to "Today God Is First."

I just read an article written by Jon Gordon, the author of The No Complaining Rule, Positive Ways To Deal With Negativity At Work which shares another change we can make in our attitude which can help us to change the TGIF acronym. In the article he talks about an important distinction between "get to" and "have to":

Who knew that two simple words could change one’s mindset, perspective and approach to work and life? Just two words have the potential to enhance joy, productivity, performance and change a complaining voice to an appreciative heart.

So often we say things like, "I have to take the kids to practice." "I have to go to this meeting." "I have to finish this project." "I have to go to work today." "I have to take care of this customer." "I have to share this new information with my team." "I have to see my family this weekend."

We act as if we don’t have a choice. As if we are imprisoned by a paycheck and the expectations of a world that forces us to do things we don’t want to do. But in reality we do have a choice. We can choose our attitude and our actions. We can choose how we view our life and work. We can realize that every day is a gift. It’s not about what we have to do. It’s about what we get to do.

We get to live this life while so many like Tim Russert and my Mom have left this world far too early. We get to drive in traffic while so many are too sick to drive a car. We get to go to a job while so many are unemployed. We get to raise our children, even if they drive us nuts at times. We get to interact with our employees and customers and make a difference in their lives. We get to use our gifts and talents to make a product or provide a service. We get to eat three meals a day while millions of people are starving. We get to work on projects, answer phone calls, serve customers, participate in meetings, design, create, share, sell, lead and suit up every day for the game of life.

Yes, there will be challenges and life isn’t easy, but each day we wake up we get another opportunity to make today better than yesterday and tomorrow better than today. We get to uplift, inspire, encourage, and impact others. We get to live this life. Let’s make the most of it by remembering that life is a gift, not an obligation.

TGIF

A great friend of mine owns a business in my community. He told me that for about ten straight weeks he would wear all black on Fridays. At about week seven, one of his employees noticed and said, "Bob, why are you always wearing black on Fridays?"

Bob responded by saying, "Because I am sad that this week is coming to an end and I will have to wait until Monday to see all of you again."

Kind of different, huh? And, very cool!

It seems in the workplace that everyone can't wait for Friday. In fact, I have seen studies which show that the highest incidence of suicide is on Sunday nights because people generally dread Mondays. Sad.

We all seem to live for Friday...for the weekend. TGIF is a famous acronym and I think we all know what it stands for. A restaurant chain has even become famous using it in their name.

Bob's attitude above is a tremendous one we all can adopt about our work. You see, Bob gets it. He realizes that his work has a much greater purpose than just providing a paycheck for him and his family.

We have influence over others each and every day and when we begin to realize this, we know that we can have an affect on their lives. It is our choice as to whether we make a positive or negative impact on them. God wants us to choose to have a positive impact.

If we can really get this, each and every day we can say, "Thank God It's Today!"

So let's change our thinking from "Thank God It's Friday" to "Today God Is First!" And who knows...you may even start singing like the Seven Dwarfs, "Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Off To Work I Go!"

Forgiveness and Trust

I am a big proponent on forgiveness, in fact I often talk at length about it when I speak to groups. I believe it is an essential trait to practice as a leader.

However, I don't believe that forgiveness and trust are the same. I believe you can receive forgiveness but you need to earn trust. I have often heard, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."

With that in mind, I was dismayed to see the article in The Toledo Blade yesterday stating that Timothy Geithner was confirmed as President Barack Obama's new Treasury Secretary despite having not paid all of his taxes for three years in a row. Even The Toledo Blade, a very liberal paper, started the article in this manner:

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Monday evening confirmed New York Federal Reserve Bank chief Timothy Geithner as President Barack Obama's treasury secretary despite tax problems that might have sunk his nomination in less desperate times.

I believe that Mr. Geithner should be forgiven; however, I am not sure he has earned the trust of the American people yet (at least he hasn't earned my trust) and I don't believe he should be in such a powerful position until he has. I believe that leaders are held to a higher standard than others. This case is no exception.

Any thoughts?

Peace

I have heard nothing but negative reports about our economy, even from optimists. These are indeed very scary times for many. I recently read an old email I received with some advice for us during the Christmas season that I thought would apply to us now. I have slightly modified this short article from Justin Pinkerman:

For managers concerned about Wall Street to soldiers patrolling the streets of Baghdad, peace would be a welcome visitor around here now. Economic reports showed a loss of 550,000 jobs in November alone. Literally millions of Americans are suffering from layoffs, salary reductions, and a depressed housing market. Thousands more are spending this winter stationed in the mountain ranges of Afghanistan or deserts of Iraq to protect America.

As leaders, we have the tremendous opportunity to be heralds of peace to our families, friends, and colleagues during this season. However, we won't convincingly deliver a message of peace if we're inwardly ruled by fear. Here are four ways to find peace during these turbulent times:

Let In...
The loved ones in your life. Laugh together, cry together, share stories from the year. Take joy in being with the friends and family who care about you most. Now is not the time to barricade yourself in the office to plan for the coming months. Pause, reflect, and be reminded of what matters most on this earth - relationships.

Reach Out...
To those in need. Brooding on our problems sinks us into the ugly muck of self-pity. To counteract self-pity, take intentional steps to bless another person in need. Donate toys or food to a local shelter. Visit a shut-in or take flowers to a nearby nursing home.

Strangely enough, you may find that being generous pulls you out of the dreariness of your circumstances. Focusing on another person's world takes your mind off of whatever may be wrong in your own. Giving our time and resources helps us to regain perspective on the most meaningful pursuit in life - blessing others.

Work Out...
Your body to counteract the nasty habit of overeating. Don't compound your problems by adding pounds to your waistline. We have enough to fret about without worrying about being overweight.

Toning the body heartens the spirit. Our bodies are holistic - not compartmentalized. Staying in shape (or improving our shape) adds to our self-confidence and strengthens our resolve to deal with the challenges around us.

Look Up...
To heaven. If you're a follower of Christ, make time to draw from the reservoir of comfort that can be found in Him. Spend time in prayer, and partake of the hope offered through Jesus.

Bumpers

Last Wednesday through Friday my wife and I attended the Call2All Congress in Dayton, Ohio. It was amazing!

One of the speakers in the business track talked about the importance of having "bumpers" in our life. He said that a bumper is like a bumper used in a bowling alley for kids to keep their ball out of the gutter.

In life, a "bumper" is someone you have given permission to to speak Truth into your life and to hold you accountable. It could be that you need to be bumped because of your eating habits, your lack of exercise, your looking lustfully at members of the opposite sex or spending quiet time with God.

This was a great analogy and I also believe we all should have bumpers in our life. This is tough, though, because having bumpers in your life will force you to change and to grow. Change and growth many times is painful. We might have to give up something that we really like. But, this is the path to true growth and fulfillment in life.

I feel so blessed to have a number of bumpers in my life. These are other men who pray for me, encourage me and speak the brutal truth to me. I had breakfast with one this morning and I have breakfast with another tomorrow.

Do you have bumpers? If not, I challenge you to seek them out and ask them to breakfast or lunch.

Goals

We are quickly closing in on the end of the first month of 2009...can you believe it? This is typically the time when New Year's Resolutions begin to crumble, if they haven't already. I hope that is not the case with you!

I know some people who are not fans of resolutions. I think they believe they are empty promises. They believe goals are better. I think resolutions get a bad rap.

Here is what dictionary.com says resolution means:

1. a formal expression of opinion or intention made, usually after voting, by a formal organization, a legislature, a club, or other group.
2. a resolve or determination: to make a firm resolution to do something.
3. the act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc.
4. the mental state or quality of being resolved or resolute; firmness of purpose.

Those definitions sound anything but empty to me. A resolution to me looks to be a pretty firm goal. In any event, I think resolutions are a good thing. They are setting the bar high at the beginning of the year...or at any time of the year.

Zig Ziglar recently had this to say about the importance of setting your sights high:

In one of our major universities a professor of economics gave a test to his class. The test had several sections of questions, each of which contained three categories of questions. He instructed the students to choose one question from each section on the test. The first category in each section was the hardest and was worth 50 points. The second category in each section was not quite as hard and worth 40 points. The third category in each section was the easiest and worth only 30 points.

When the students had taken the test and all the papers had been turned in, the students who had chosen the hardest questions, or the fifty-point questions, were given A's. The students who had chosen the forty-point questions were given B's, and the students choosing the thirty-point questions, or the easiest questions, were given C's. Whether or not their answers were correct was not considered. Understandably, the students were confused and asked the professor how he had graded the exam. The professor leaned back and with a smile explained, "I wasn't testing your knowledge. I was testing your aim.

"I believe it was Browning who said, "Your reach should exceed your grasp, or what's a Heaven for?" Langston Hughes wrote, "Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die then life is like a broken-winged bird that cannot fly." Yes, we need those dreams or, if you prefer, a vision. Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, said, "My people perish for lack of vision." Helen Keller was asked the question, "What would be worse than being blind?" She responded that it would be infinitely worse to have 20/20 eyesight and no vision than to be blind but have that vision.

In the declining years of his life, Albert Schweitzer was asked, "How goes it with you, Dr. Schweitzer?" The aging medical missionary responded, "My eyesight grows dim, but my vision is clearer than ever." Think about it. Develop your own dream, your own vision, and I'll SEE YOU AT THE TOP!

Judgement

From a recent email I received:

One day God was looking down at Earth and saw all of the rascally behavior that was going on. So he called one of His angels and sent the angel to Earth for a time.

When he returned, he told God, "Yes, it is bad on Earth; 95% are misbehaving and only 5% are not.

God thought for a moment and said, "Maybe I had better send down a second angel to get another opinion." So God called another angel and sent him to Earth for a time.

When the angel returned he went to God and said, "Yes, it's true. The Earth is in decline; 95% are misbehaving, but 5% are being good."

God was not pleased. So He decided to e-mail the 5% that were good, because he wanted to encourage them, and give them a little something to help them keep going.

Do you know what the e-mail said?

...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Okay, I was just wondering, because I didn't get one either.

While I don't agree with the theology of this, I do think it's funny...and a bit true. We all are messed up. Isn't it refreshing to know that you are not the only one who has issues? We all do. We should remember this when dealing with others.

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Matthew 7:1-2

Change

I think all of you can agree that we are living in different times. The same old way of doing things may not work anymore. As a result, changes will need to be made in some, if not many, areas of our lives.

The problem is...change is typically painful. Have you ever started lifting weights for the first time. How do you feel the next day? That's right, very painful. Yet, if you continue with the program, that pain will diminish and eventually go away altogether. That pain will also go away if you quit the program; however, you will not change and see any new results.

As a leader, helping other people to change can be very difficult. Change requires that people break out of their comfort zones...and we as humans, like to be comfortable so we resist. This short video (click on the purple box) gives some great pointers on helping others to change. I hope you enjoy!

Adversity

In our men's group this morning, one of the guys shared that he was homeless as of today. He has no money and he's not sure what he is going to do.

But you know what else he shared? He said that he cannot explain it, but, he feels almost privileged. He feels as if he is being purified. He actually described himself as feeling "white hot" (and this on a day that is -12 degrees!). Another phrase he used was that he is "almost thankful" for this.

Amazing!

He inspired all of us this morning with his words and the peace that was in his face. We read some verses together which discussed the very things he shared:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. James 1:2-3

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Thankfully, he has some options for where he is going to stay. And, we all know that God has a great future planned for him! (Jeremiah 29:11)

Pride Before The Fall

I was watching American Idol last night with some of my family. This was the second show this season, and if you have ever watched it, you know that in the early shows they will showcase both people with talent and others who clearly do not have musical ability.

It was easy to spot when someone would do well or when they would flop. The people who would flop were typically the ones who would sound cocky and say that they would be the next American Idol.

Last night, one girl said that she thought the judges would be very surprised that such a powerful voice would come from a cute little girl. Well, Simon Cowell (one of the judges) actually said that her singing reminded him of a cat falling off the Empire State Building. Ouch!

Anyway, this shouldn't be surprising. The Bible warns us of this thing called pride quite frequently.

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 16:18

The 5% Difference

Tom Ziglar, proud son of the great speaker and author, Zig Ziglar, had this to say about his dad and the way he approached life on his blog recently:

I am sure you are familiar with the headlines “make this your best year ever!” So how do you make 2009 your “best” year ever?

I think you can learn a lot from how Dad would prepare his speeches. He would invest hours and hours studying (for many years at least three hours every day) and then he would spend three or four hours preparing for and “fiddling” with his next speech. What amazed me is that his next speech would appear to me to be just like his last speech, but if you listened closely there was always a slight change.

No matter how good the reviews from his last talk, Dad always tried new things and customized the next talk. Without realizing it, Dad was benefiting from the 5% difference. Every speech, short or long, was always about 5% different and new from the previous one.

Some of the changes became permanent while others only got prime-time once.So how do you make 2009 your “best” year ever? Determine the three or four things that you do that have the greatest impact in your personal life and your professional life, and every day study how you can make them better, and then put in an extra 5%. Now you have set a new standard for yourself! As the shampoo instructions say: Repeat!

Simple things that demonstrate The 5% Difference
1. Write your spouse or child a love note
2. Go one more minute in your workout
3. Prepare three minutes before your big phone call
4. Get to work ten minutes early
5. Trade a bad food choice for a good one
6. Write a list of seven things you can do this week, and then do one each day

Moonshadow

Oh, I'm being followed by a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow

Leapin and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow

And if I ever lose my hands, lose my plough, lose my land,

Oh if I ever lose my hands, oh if.... I won't have to work no more.

And if I ever lose my eyes, if my colours all run dry,

Yes if I ever lose my eyes, oh if.... I won't have to cry no more.

And if I ever lose my legs, I won't moan, and I won't beg,

Yes if I ever lose my legs, oh if.... I won't have to walk no more.

And if I ever lose my mouth, all my teeth, north and south,

Yes if I ever lose my mouth, oh if.... I won't have to talk...

Did it take long to find me? I asked the faithful light.

Did it take long to find me? And are you gonna stay the night?

Those are the lyrics from Cat Stevens' song Moonshadow. That took on a new meaning to me last night. I don't know if this was a universal thing or just something that happened where I live, but did you happen to look outside last night? It was amazing!

It was as light as I have ever remembered it (at least for 10:30 PM). And this all because of the shining of the moon (well, actually the reflection of the sun off the moon...). You could see distinct shadows from our trees in our yard and the whole atmosphere had a blue hue to it. It truly was beautiful. Someone mentioned to me that this weekend would be the brightest moon of the year. I'm not sure if that's true, but I believe it.

How about we take a cue from the moon this week and let our light shine wherever we go. Remember, you may be the only Bible someone you know ever reads.

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise you Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

Determination

Did you happen to see this in the news yesterday? It seems a six year-old boy missed his school bus in Virginia and was so intent on getting to school on time, that he drove his parents' car.

According to reports, he made at least two 90-degree turns, passed several cars, and ran off the rural two-lane road several times before hitting an embankment and utility pole about a mile and a half from school.

"He was very intent on getting to school," said Northumberland County Sheriff Chuck Wilkens. "When he got out of the car, he started walking to school. He did not want to miss breakfast and PE."

Obviously there are some bad parts of this story...but don't you love his determination and persistence?

Go here to read the whole story.

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:14

Math Question = Forgiveness

A backhoe weighing 22 tons is on top of a lowboy trailer heading east on Interstate 70 near Hays, Kansas.

The extended shovel arm is made of hardened refined steel and the approaching overpass is made of commercial-grade concrete, re-enforced with 1 1/2 inch steel rebar spaced at 6 inch intervals in a criss-cross pattern layered at 1 foot vertical spacing.

Solve: When the shovel arm hits the overpass, how fast does the driver have to be going to slice the bridge in half ? Assume no effect for headwind and no braking by the driver.

Extra Credit: Solve for the time and distance required for the entire rig to come to a complete stop after hitting the overpass at the speed calculated above. Yes, you can neglect friction.










I couldn't solve it either, but who cares!

Just remember this the next time someone around you makes a mistake and know that mistakes can and will happen...and most of them won't be as costly as the one above!

So forgive easily!

"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

Matthew 6:14-15

Bummer

Well, the annual Ohio State bowl loss happened in the desert last night in the Fiesta Bowl. Actually, it just kind of feels that way lately. Ohio State has had some incredible bowl wins in recent years; however, they have lost the last three.

Two years ago, they were pounded by Florida in the national title game. Last year they were soundly beaten by LSU in the championship game and this year they were edged out by a very good Texas Longhorn team on a Colt McCoy touchdown pass with 16 seconds remaining to lose 24-21.

In their last two bowl losses I did not feel good about the games because I felt that the Buckeyes just did not play well. In fact, many say they did not show up at all. The same cannot be said about their play last night.

Nobody was giving Ohio State a chance against the high-powered Texas offense and the experts had Texas as an 8 point favorite. Ohio State held them to their lowest scoring output of the season in nearly upsetting them and I thought they played very well and gave it their all.

No matter what we do in life, whether it is playing football or making a sales call, if we give it our best that is all we can ask. We can then rest easy knowing the outcome is in God's hands.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for men.

Colossians 3:23

Sabbath

One of my goals in 2009 is to do a much better job of practicing a Sabbath. I have known for a long time that it is one of the 10 commandments, yet, I haven't taken it very seriously. After all, I have lots of stuff to do!

I am starting to look at it a little differently, thanks to God's whispers (and sometimes shouts) in my ear. I am beginning to see a day of rest as a gift to me from God. When I don't take advantage of that and accept that gift, I will be less effective the rest of my week. I will actually be robbing myself.

Yesterday, I had a day of rest and, while it was a bit awkward at first (I was still looking for things to do from time to time), I thoroughly enjoyed it. I do feel more refreshed and ready to take on this week. Thanks God!

"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy."

Exodus 20:8-11

Eat That Frog In 2009

Yesterday we talked about the importance of developing good habits. A really good habit to develop in 2009 would be to eat a live frog first thing each day. You may be saying, "What?!!!"

Watch this short movie and then you'll understand. As Mr. Nike would say, "Just Do It!"

Have a happy and safe new year's celebration!

Habits

Do you have a New Year's Resolution?

Each year, I try to evaluate my life and look at changes I can make to help me in my life. My eating habits are almost always on the list. This year I have several other things that God is working on in me that are important changes for me to make.

I recently read this from an unknown author which I thought was very good:

I am your constant companion.

I am your greatest asset or heaviest burden.

I will push you up to success or down to disappointment.

I am at your command.

Half the things you do might just as well be turned over to me,

For I can do them quickly, correctly, and profitably.

I am easily managed, just be firm with me.

Those who are great, I have made great.

Those who are failures, I have made failures.

I am not a machine, though I work with the precision of a machine and the intelligence of a person.

You can run me for profit, or you can run me for ruin.

Show me how you want it done. Educate me. Train me. Lead me. Reward me.

And I will then...do it automatically.

I am your servant.

Who am I?

Many of you know this, but the answer is "a habit."

We all have habits, some good, some not so good. Habits are very powerful, but bad habits are not so powerful that they cannot be turned around. With God's help anything is possible!

I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13

Click

I am not usually a huge fan of Adam Sandler movies; however, yesterday afternoon I watched Click with my wife. It was an incredible movie with a great message--I highly recommend it, especially if you are one who possibly works too hard at times.

In the film, Sandler plays a work-aholic architect who is climbing the ladder of success...only to find that it is leaning against the wrong wall. He finds a universal remote control which allows him to fast forward through his life to get to the "good stuff" (his promotions, etc...). However, what he discovered is that by doing this he missed out on the truly important stuff.

This message hit home with me as God is really working on me in this area of work and life balance. I sometimes have a tendency to take things into my own hands and to try to "make" them happen rather than doing my best and leaving the results to God. I tend to have an "outcome based" definition of success.

God is showing me that success has nothing to do with outcomes. Success is just being in His presence.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Check out this very cool video with Josh Groban singing O Holy Night.

Christmas Stress Management

I asked someone yesterday if they were ready for Christmas and they replied with a sigh and grumbled, "I just can't wait till it's all over!"

That's sad; however, I think a lot of people feel the same way. It seems that we have turned Christmas into a bunch of "to dos" instead of a celebration of the birth of our Savior.

I just received this video link in an email that might help you to de-stress. So, if you are feeling a little frazzled, this might just be what you need. Or, if you live around me, your landscape is covered in ice so this video may be what you need to remind you that warm weather will be here before you know it. Click here and enjoy!

A New Perspective

For years my favorite movie has been It's a Wonderful Life. We watched this in our house on Saturday. Actually we do this every year. Really, my family does this for me, because they know I love it so much. They also like to watch me cry at the end.

I suppose I love this movie because one of the main themes of the film is that we all make a difference in the lives of others, even if we don't realize it. In other words, we all have a purpose.

In the movie, George Bailey (played by Jimmy Stewart) is a depressed, frustrated young business man who is never able to chase his dreams. He feels trapped and feels that his life is a waste. When he finds out that his company (a savings and loan) is short a large sum of money (due to an error on his uncle's part), he realizes that he would be better off dead than alive. His life insurance money would more than cover the deficit.

Clarence, George's guardian angel visits him and shows George what life would be like had he not been born. It takes George a little while before he realizes he truly has had a wonderful life and that others have been greatly impacted because of his presence in their lives. He realizes the truth of his situation and he decides he wants to live again regardless of the circumstances.

God hears that prayer and he rushes home to find the bank examiner and the police waiting for him to arrest him. He says to the policeman, a friend of his, "And I'll bet that's a warrant for my arrest, isn't that wonderful!"

This reminded me of the apostle Paul who, while in prison, told us to "Rejoice in the Lord always! I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4)

How could he say that while in prison? Because he had a new perspective. Just like George Bailey, he was shown what was truly important. As a result, his tough circumstances didn't really matter.

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. Philippians 4:11

Bad Bosses Bad For The Heart

I just read an interesting study conducted by WebMD which shows that bad bosses can be hazardous to the health, and even to long life, of the people who work for them.

In another recent study, the researchers say, employees who were exposed to what they perceive as an adverse psychological work environment were found to be at a 50% excess risk of cardiovascular disease. The results from that study, the researchers write, "have considerable clinical implications, especially since psychosocial stressors at work are relatively common."

This type of stuff is near and dear to my heart as I worked for a tyrannical boss which led me to write the book, Bleedership, Biblical First-Aid for Leaders. In the book, I contrast my boss' leadership style with the great leaders of the Bible.

During my time at the company, I noticed that I was stressed more than I ever had been before. I could also see the strain it was putting on my co-workers. I am sure our health was negatively affected. It was not a good time at our company. However, God turned that time of suffering into great victory. I would not change it for anything as it totally changed the trajectory of my life. I am truly thankful for that difficult time.

If you are in a situation with a tough boss, I bring this up simply to encourage you. God will use this for good if you love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28 paraphrased).

And, if you are one of these bosses, perhaps today is the day to change!

Learning

A good friend of mine and I were talking the other day about how weird we are. We love to read and attend leadership conferences...we both love to learn and grow. In my case, I think it is because I know so little, that I need to catch up to everyone else!

We could not understand why others don't share this same passion. I believe that we are either moving forward (growing) or we are going backwards. Reading is one way that helps you to move forward or to learn and grow.

I read some startling statistics recently at Dan Poynter's site:

In 2002 57% of the US population read a book. See report.

One-third of high school graduates never read another book for the rest of their lives. Many people in the U.S. do not even graduate from high school.

58% of the US adult population never reads another book after high school.

42% of college graduates never read another book.

80% of US families did not buy or read a book last year.

70% of US adults have not been in a bookstore in the last five years.

57% of new books are not read to completion.

Most readers do not get past page 18 in a book they have purchased.

Pretty scary isn't it. So where are you in these statistics? Why don't you set your sites on making 2009 a year of learning!

Mad Dog

A friend of mine, Brian Keel, writes a weekly email that is usually very thought provoking and very good. This past week he sent this which I wanted to share with you:

Greg Maddux retired from baseball this week after a career that spanned more than twenty seasons. He was not particularly big, nor strong, nor fast. He used control of his pitches instead of power, and he threw slower when in a jam instead of faster. To see him in street clothes with his glasses on you may have fancied him a teacher or even a CPA. Yet he retired with the 8th most victories (355) and the 10th most strikeouts (3,371) in the history of baseball. He played defense, winning a record 18 Gold Gloves and had 180 sacrifice bunts as a batter. He is a living, breathing oxymoron. Even is his nickname, “Mad Dog”, is a laugh.

“I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong … but time and chance happen to them all. Ecclesiastes 9:11

These words were penned by Solomon, perhaps the wisest, richest and most powerful man of ancient times. He likely qualified as both swift and strong. Yet like Maddux his experience seems to have taught him that preparation and consistency were more valuable. Preparation gives us the tools we need to make a fast and appropriate response to a variety of situations we may encounter. Consistency allows others to count on getting the same response each time we hit that situation. That can make us good leaders, great teammates and successful in the big race of life.

If you would like to receive Brian's weekly emails or to look at past emails, visit here.

Highs & Lows

Each night when we are able to eat dinner together as a family we try to do our "Highs" and "Lows." We each take turns telling our low point of the day followed by our high point.

Last night, something happened which was a first for us. My daughter Kristin who is in her last year of nursing school said that her high and low were both the same thing.

She had a final exam yesterday morning at 8 AM which she had been studying tirelessly for. For some reason her alarm clock volume was turned way down so she did not hear it yesterday morning. She ended up getting up at 8 AM, the exact time her exam was starting!

She raced around, put her hair in a pony tail and brushed her teeth. Thankfully, my wife Connie was home as she prayed with Kristin before sending her on her way out the door.

Kristin arrived very late and calmly took her exam. She said that though she was 45 minutes late, she finished her exam before many of her classmates. She said she had a very clear mind and was filled with peace and she thinks she did well on her final.

Upon hearing this, two things immediately came to mind:

1. The incredible power of prayer and
2. Our troubles can actually turn out to be victory when we let God enter in.

We may not see that victory immediately, but it will eventually happen if we love God and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7

Bus Stop

This morning I read something in the book of Mark that really got me thinking about my motives for doing what I do. Mark 9:35-37 says:

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."

I knew I was selfish, but it really struck me for some reason this morning that I do some things for the wrong reasons. One of the areas I am most selfish in is my "to do" list. I have this desire to always get everything done on it and when the list is too large, it stresses me out. This morning was one of those where I knew I had a lot on my plate so I wanted to get to the office early.

I kissed my son goodbye and left for work in a pretty steady rain. I got about a mile away and I was thinking about my son who was preparing to walk to the bus stop. It started raining more so I turned around and went back home. I told him I wanted to give him a ride to the bus stop.

He was very surprised...and thankful.

Lord, please help me to do this sort of thing more often!

Smile, Part III

Here we are, two weeks before Christmas (Can you believe it?!). Other than some fleeting moments and some time in church, I hate to say this, but I haven't thought much about Christmas and I certainly haven't thought much about the true meaning of Christmas. Isn't that sad? It is and I'm somewhat embarrassed by it.

I have been consumed by my "to do" lists and the stress of life. Some of you can probably relate. I have heard it said that we are to "stop and smell the roses" and that we are to "enjoy the journey." I get all that, but yet I still find myself often striving for the destination and not even thinking about the journey, let alone enjoying it.

I am convinced that God is trying to get my attention in this area. He is telling me, take time to laugh and to smile...even at the simple things. This time of year I think that many of us can miss this.

Two posts ago I wrote about the importance of smiling. Then I did again yesterday because of something that was emailed to me. Well, something else was emailed to me that I felt I needed to share along these same lines and it comes from a book called Laughter is an Instant Vacation. Here are a few quotes that made me laugh. I hope they do the same for you.

My doctor is wonderful. Once, when I couldn't afford an operation, he touched up the x-rays.-Joey Bishop

Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.-Ronald Reagan

I am a marvelous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man, I keep his house.-Zsa Zsa Gabor

If you look like your passport photo, you're too ill to travel.-Will Kommen

Insanity doesn't run in my family. It gallops.-Cary Grant

Every day I get up and look through the Forbes list of the richest people in America. If I'm not there, I go to work.-Robert Orben

Misers aren't fun to live with, but they make wonderful ancestors.-David Brenner

My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far I've finished two bags of M&Ms and a chocolate cake. I feel better already.-Dave Barry

I'm not going to vacuum ‘til Sears makes one you can ride on.-Roseanne Barr

To attract men, I wear a perfume called New Car Interior.-Rita Rudner

If you love something, set it free. Unless it's chocolate. Never release chocolate.-Renee Duvall

The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for 30 years she served us nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found.-Calvin Trillin

I haven't spoken to my wife in years. I didn't want to interrupt her.-Rodney Dangerfield

My grandmother was a very tough woman. She buried three husbands and two of them were just napping.-Rita Rudner

My husband wanted one of those big-screen TV's for his birthday. So I just moved his chair closer to the one we have already.-Wendy Liebman

I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.-Douglas Adams

I have an aunt who married so late in life that Medicare picked up 80 percent of the honeymoon.-Don Reber

I hate housework - you make the beds, you do the dishes - and six months later you have to start all over again.-Joan Rivers

My grandmother is over eighty and still doesn't need glasses. Drinks right out of the bottle.-Henny Youngman

Inside me there's a thin person struggling to get out, but I can usually sedate him with four or five cupcakes.-Bob Thaves

Smile, Part II

I had an amazing day yesterday...but a very busy one. I got home and had a bunch of stuff to catch up on and I was tired. And I had a knot in my shoulder that was really bothering me.

My son asked if I wanted to watch a movie. I said "No" at first, then changed my mind. I decided to just sit and relax for a while and I enjoyed the movie with Robbie. About half an hour into the movie I noticed that the knot in my shoulder was gone--amazing.

During that half hour I did quite a bit of laughing. I have never been accused of being the brightest person in the world but I think there is a connection there.

Earlier in the day, I received a link to this incredible movie that you have to see. It will definitely make you smile...it did to me!

In my last post I wrote about the importance of smiling. I think God is trying to tell me (and possibly you) something!

Take three minutes or so and check this out.

Smile

My son and I did something last night that we rarely do, we went shopping...at the mall! You want to talk about a couple of ducks out of water! We literally had to consult with the mall directory three times to find our way around.

Anyway, I noticed while walking around that many people seemed very rushed. Many also seemed unhappy. I thought how sad this is. Then I realized that this describes me many times when I am stressed and rushed. I know I need to chill out and enjoy the season, but sometimes I just keep making it more difficult than it needs to be and I miss many opportunities to simply smile.

This morning I was reading The Blade and there was an article by Tom Walton about clever T-shirt sayings which made me smile. I thought I would share some of them here so your Monday can start off with a smile like mine did.

"I'm not bossy, I just know what you should be doing."
"Obey gravity … it's the law."
"What if the Hokey-Pokey really is what it's all about?"
"You're starting to make sense. It's time to up my medication."
"I'm not a waitress, but I play one at home."
"Do I look like I'm kidding?"
"Jenius."
"They say I have A.D.D. but they just don't … oh look! A chicken!"
"Keep staring at me. I may do a trick."
"I'm still HOT, it just comes in flashes now."
"Nothing ruins good parenting like teenagers."
"Instant human-Just add coffee."
"What is the speed of dark?"
"Bad spellers? Untie!"
"I'm actually quite pleasant - until I wake up."
"Sometimes I wonder, why is that beer truck getting bigger? Then it hits me!"
"Still young enough to know everything."
"Always being right is an awesome responsibility."
"I childproofed my house, but they still get in."
"Organized people are just too lazy to look for things."
"Ever considered being a mime?"
"Take my advice. I'm not using it."
"Why be difficult? With a little more effort, you can be impossible."

There. Now you're ready to tackle your week...with a smile!

Are You Listening?

Yesterday I spent some time with someone I have known for a long time discussing Truth At Work. Gary is an extremely successful insurance agent and expert on sales (in fact he does a lot of sales training). He is someone I look up to and respect a great deal. I have always enjoyed being with him.

I left our meeting feeling really good. As I reflected on our time together, I was wondering what it was about Gary that makes me feel this way every time I am with him.

I realized that he is an excellent listener. He doesn't talk much about himself and he is always very interested in me when we are together. That's probably why I always feel so good when I am around him. I guess that also explains why he is so good at what he does!

My dear brothers, take note of this; Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.

James 1:19

Unity

Robbie (my son) and I attended the University of Toledo vs. UMass basketball game last night in the newly renovated Savage Arena. All I can say is "Wow!"

Wow, because of the game, won by UT on a tip in as the final buzzer sounded.

Wow, because of the neat pre-game ceremony in which my former coach had the court dedicated in his name. It will now be called "Bob Nichols Court."

And wow, because of the incredible new facility. Savage Arena is a beautiful venue and it is something that all of Toledo can be proud of. It has to be one of the nicest arenas in the Midwest. And it all took about 9 months to complete.

That is amazing. As I was sitting there last night taking it all in, I was struck by how quickly all of this was completed. There were many involved in this project from donors to volunteers to contractors. There could not have been any dissension in the ranks for a project of this magnitude to be completed in such a short time.

I was reminded of the great power of unity.

"I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

John 17:23

What's In You?

This is pretty cool. I encourage you to take a couple of minutes and check this video out.

The Stethoscope.

The Magic Pill

Tom Ziglar, Zig's son, recently wrote this regarding how to truly improve:

It seems that when it comes to improvement, almost everyone is searching for the Magic Pill. Give me something I can take, something that I don’t have to think about or even believe in, that will work. And it better be a “one and done” Magic Pill, because if you are talking about commitment or work, don’t even talk to me.

The truth is, the Magic Pill does exist, but unfortunately it is not a pill. It’s called accountability. Crazy as it sounds, being held accountable to what you have committed to do actually works! The problem is, if you agree to being held accountable, that means you have agreed to Personal Responsibility. Yikes! Now that is completely out of the question! How can you actually suggest that people should take Personal Responsibility for what they have agreed to do?

That is a great question.

A few weeks ago I wrote about the Truth At Work roundtable groups that have started in NW Ohio and SE Michigan. These groups are extremely powerful because each member, in essence, has a built in board of directors who can advise them in their business and personal lives.

One of the most powerful parts of these roundtable meetings is the accountability portion. Each member shares one thing he/she would like to start doing or stop doing in their personal lives and in their business. Then a fine is determined for each. So, if they are not able to accomplish their goal, they must pay a fine (or some other penalty) which goes into a fund that will be given away at the end of the year.

Have you ever had a goal to lose weight? Have you ever told someone else that goal? If you did, I bet it helped you to achieve your goal. That is why Weight Watchers is so effective.

So if you truly want to change, find someone to hold you accountable.

Thankfulness In All Circumstances

We are instructed in the Bible to give thanks in all circumstances. This is not something I frequently do well. However, this past weekend was an exception for some reason (perhaps it was because it was Thanksgiving weekend).

Friday night, Connie and I were watching a movie at home with Robbie, our son. All of a sudden, all of our smoke detectors throughout the house started going off. We quickly determined there was not a fire and we disconnected each of them so they would be quiet. They are all hard-wired into our house so this isn't as easy of a task as one might think. We then changed some of the batteries thinking that might be the issue and plugged them all back in. I don't know why, but they were all quiet.

This normally would have frustrated me, but this time I said to Connie, "I am so thankful this happened right now rather than when we were out and the kids were home alone or rather than 3:00 in the morning!" And, I truly was thankful.

The next morning, Robbie and I were headed downtown to the farmer's market to pick up some apples and cider. On the way, I decided to get my car washed. We pulled in, got out of the car and went to pay as my car went through the wash. At the end of the conveyor, I saw one of the workers frantically trying to start my car, to no avail. He then quickly got some help to push my car out of the way.

My battery had died.

However, they brought a car around and jumped it for me without incident. I then took it to a nearby Battery Wholesale who determined that all I needed was a new battery (no alternator). I got that replaced and we were on our way. I told Robbie, "I am so glad that just happened."

He said, "Why is that dad?"

I said, "Had we not gone to the car wash, we would have been stuck downtown in the cold with a dead battery. This worked out great."

I'm not sure what came over me, but I liked my attitude in these situations. If something like this can happen to me, that should give everyone hope.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18