Prayer or Monologue?

This week I'm challenging my self to “Read my Bible and pray every day”.  This sounds simple unless you’re like me.  I can sum up what I know about prayer in 4 words, “I talk too much”.

Seriously, if I’m honest with myself I can admit that there are times I approach my Bible reading and prayer time as a task to check off my list.  I do it but, what did I reap from it?  Typically, when I pray I do most of the talking.  Who else, that I have any kind of relationship with, do I communicate with like that?  If I did, they’d probably stop hanging out with me.

One of the hardest things for me to do is be still and just listen.  I’ve heard that God is talking to us all the time but how often do we, on purpose, take the time to hear what He has to say?  Check out what these verses say:

John 14:16-17New International Version (NIV)

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[a] in you.

1 Corinthians 3:16New International Version (NIV)

16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?

Romans 8:26-27New International Version (NIV)

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

Here’s my challenge to myself this week.  I’m going to see if I can spend about 15 minutes a day just listening.  Sounds crazy doesn’t it?  Take time to hear what the Creator of the universe might have to say to me??  Crazy!!

The Definition of Success

     Currently, I am sealed in a pressurized aluminum tube 40,998 feet in the air hurling forward at a rate of 574     miles per hour. In other words, I'm on my to Dallas for a conference.

As I was thinking about you this morning I was challenged by the thought of "how do I help you succeed? The answer is not as obvious as one might suspect as we all may have differing views of what success may look like.

I was reminded of something one of my professors taught me while attending Pepperdine.  He said, "success is the progressive realization of worthwhile goals".

Let's unpack this for a moment. "Progressive" implies it's a journey and not just a destination. That success is multiple not singular. A series of victories rather than just one.

"Realization" you're experiencing success in multiple forms. One after another achieving milestones. You climb one peak to see others stretched out before you.

"Worthwhile goals" this is key. We can have many goals but how many truly benefit those around us? Do we set selfish goals or selfless? Achieving for personal status or to glorify God?

I'm not sure if your definition matches mine. Probably not, as there are many good ones. I just wanted to share what is motivating me. Enjoy the journey!

How Do You Spell Love?

How do you spell love?  T-I-M-E  

That’s the lesson my wife has been trying to teach me for decades.  Her love language is quality time, mine is not.  She might as well be speaking a foreign language, “Whaaat, you want to hang out, and, just do nothing??”  Rabbit meet turtle.

Now, I may be a guy but I’m not a complete idiot.  If quality time is important to my wife then I need to learn how to make that a priority.  It doesn’t just happen, I have to do it on purpose.

The same can be applied to our weekly habits especially exercise, prayer and reading your bible.  The question I hear most is, “how do you find time to _________?”  Well, you don’t.  If these things are important you have to make time.

I do it by setting an appointment on my calendar.  I actually schedule sessions for myself to exercise, pray and read.  I treat these the same as any other calendar event like going to the dentist or a work meeting.  I’m aware of it, I prepare for it and I get alerts to remind me of it.  As a result, it gets done.

Move forward with purpose.

Man Up

Man Up.  That's the new name I've given my post because I've noised it's time for us guys to Man Up.  It's  been too long since the world has heard from men who are ready to "man up" treat their women with respect, be leaders and stop listening to what the world says we should be.

Okay, I just finished watching the most incredible comeback (almost) in playoff history as my Seahawks beat the GB Packers in the NFC Championship Game.  We had lots of guests in our house screaming and dancing like there's no tomorrow.

That was fun!  But, to eliminate stress I gotta ask you guys; did you help your wife clean the house before all the gusts arrived?  Did you help shop for the food?  How about help prep the food? Or clean up?????

If your answer is "no" to one or more of the above then it's time to "Man Up" and remember it's not about you!  This is a time to honor your wife and have a good playoff party.

You can do better.  Don't expect her to do it all so you can have your buddies over.  This is much bigger than that.  Honor your wife and she will respect you.  Nothing is better than that.

Now, about the refs in these games...please!  No one is buying a ticket to watch you throw flags!!  It's not about YOU!!!  Football is a contact sport...please don't ruin it.

The Seahawks comeback was truly a once in a lifetime event; enjoy Seattle!

Turning Lemons into Lemonade

Two thoughts today.  First; the new Fiat commercial featuring Jennifer Lopez is embarassing.  Now don't get me wrong, I'm a Fiat fan from way back.  I owned an X19 which didn't fall apart and my daughters and I still enjoy Jlo in the movie, Selena.  The commercial starts fine but that dance sequence at the end had me feeling awkward in a way I thought only Steve Carrell could create.

A couple weeks ago I was on a cross country flight aboard Frontier Airlines.  Comfortable plane but, a couple references to an owl who was flying with us (painted on the tail) that I just didn't get.  We stopped in Denver but were delayed getting back off the ground.  It was 93 degrees outside but felt much warmer inside.  We sat and sat, the plane grew warmer and the flight crew remained seated and speachless.  Thirty minutes later and sweat was running down my cheek and still no announcement as to why we were delayed or when this punishment would end.

Now, I'm all for complying with FAA Regulations but, couldn't someone have at least announced what was going on?  Better yet, what if the flight crew had grabbed a drink cart and handed out ice cold beer and water to the suffering passengers.  That certainly would have left me with a better impression of Frontier than the one that was burned into me.

Hiding Behind the Veil

There's a growing trend in business to align yourself with a group.  When this group has been granted power it often speaks as "one voice".  "The 'Party Committee' has decided there will be one birthday celebration per month honoring all those born in that month".  "The 'Leadership Team' has concluded that your project does not warrant funding".
However, communication is a two-way street and I wonder if anyone considered how these messages are being received.  "Who's really responsible for this decision?"  "Who do I talk to about this?"  "Why does it feel as if someone's hiding?"  "If this succeeds we all know who will take the credit but if it fails who takes the blame?"
Group speak can get ugly and messy.  When used properly it can convey buy-in while still communicating accountability.  When used poorly, the rest of us have to pull the bodies out from under the bus.

The Right Tool for the Job

These days everyone wants you to follow them on twitter.  Just this week, my laundry soap, the guy who fixed my garage door and the produce stand where I bought some veggies all invited me to "follow" them on twitter.  Really?  Why would I want to do that??

Outside of the simple transaction I made with these entities why would I want to have a relationship with them?  I get it, everyone's on twitter so you feel you have to be too.  But, do you really understand how to use it and why people are on it?

Twitter is best used by celebrities and the semi-famous.  The rest of us are curious and want to know what's going on in their lives.  We think their lives are interesting.  Ask this same question of your business; is my produce stand interesting?  Does anyone care what we're thinking right now?

The answer becomes pretty obvious.  Don't use a hammer to drill a hole.