I don't do this very often, but I thought it may be good to go back and pull some notes from the sermon this past Sunday. I have been in a series dealing with each persons struggle to become all that God intends for them to become. You can pick up the scripture basis from chapters 3 & 4 in the Gospel of Luke. I believe it is critical for a person to manage the life that they are given if they are going to reach their full potential. I'm sure that I picked all of these up from some of my reading, or listening to a sermon on my ipod. So hopefully this will help you Manage Yourself.
1)Manage your Emotions. Feelings will fool you. Stop allowing your emotions to dictate your life!
2)Manage your Time. Try to maintain some semblance of a schedule. You have 10,080 minutes in every week. Use them efficiently!
3)Manage your Priorities. Your priorities will determine how you spend your resources. Evaluate!
4)Manage your Energy. Make sure you are not spending your energy on things that are not a priority. You are not the Energizer Bunny!
5)Manage your Thinking. Don't allow clutter in your thought processes. Think on the good things!
6)Manage your Words. The power of death and life is bound up in your words. Be careful of what you say!
7)Manage your Personal Life. Take care of proper relationships. Value the people God has given you!
Managing your life is a full-time job. But if you will work at it, the progress you make will serve as a great reward. So get to it - "Mr. Manager!"
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
44...
I had a birthday last week. I turned 44. I guess I fall into the middle-age category for sure now. I've never had a birthday bother me like this one. There's just something about those two 4's standing together that makes me feel like I'm supposed to be really "grown-up" now. I have maintained that I would love to always be a kid at heart. The reality is that as I think about 44, I recognize once again how fast life is passing by. You can't help but think about where you are in life, and all that you hope to still accomplish. I know it's not like I'm about to 'kick the bucket' or anything, but I do think about how near I am to receiving my invitation to be a part of AARP. Good Grief! Can you say midlife crisis?
My kids are growing up, my hair is getting grayer, and the letters are printed with poor quality in most everything I try to read(I am sure it is not a need for reading glasses; it is the poor job of printing nowadays.). Lots of things change as you move through life.
With the changes comes different challenges. Getting older is not nearly as bad as some people try to make it sound. Think about it. Baby sitters are not always required for me to have some time with my wonderful wife. With the gray, God seems to send more wisdom. And the bad printing thing, it just makes me more aware of our need to improve on the quality of American Made products(DON'T laugh at my denial). No, with age comes some of the finer things in life, and I hope to experience as many of those things as possible. 44 feels better already!
My kids are growing up, my hair is getting grayer, and the letters are printed with poor quality in most everything I try to read(I am sure it is not a need for reading glasses; it is the poor job of printing nowadays.). Lots of things change as you move through life.
With the changes comes different challenges. Getting older is not nearly as bad as some people try to make it sound. Think about it. Baby sitters are not always required for me to have some time with my wonderful wife. With the gray, God seems to send more wisdom. And the bad printing thing, it just makes me more aware of our need to improve on the quality of American Made products(DON'T laugh at my denial). No, with age comes some of the finer things in life, and I hope to experience as many of those things as possible. 44 feels better already!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
I'm Back!!!
I'm Back!! To all the regular readers, sorry for the absence. To all of you who show up periodically, Hello again. To all the newcomers, where have you been?
I hope all of you have had a great summer. As always our summer was pretty hectic with different events, mission trips, baseball, and everything else. Our family had a great vacation at Myrtle Beach. We are finally far enough along that we know how to go and relax. Maybe that has a lot to do with the kids being older, and not being so demanding. We usually take a couple of weeks to simply do nothing except play in the sand, swim, and my specialty, eat! It's a great time to recuperate from the grind of real life.
But with the end of the summer comes a return to the norm of a routine of daily living. That's something that really becomes more of a longing as the new school year begins. I'm not one that just wants to get the kids back in school so they will be "out of our hair," but it does allow for us to operate on more of a regular schedule.
Hopefully you are in a place that you are geared up and ready to roll into the last third of the year. You know as well as I do that we will be singing Christmas carols before we know it. So set your course for the next few months. Get ready to move forward into the opportunities of the coming days. Make sure you are not settling into a rut, but a progressive routine. We'll finish 2008 out with a bang together! Let's Go!
I hope all of you have had a great summer. As always our summer was pretty hectic with different events, mission trips, baseball, and everything else. Our family had a great vacation at Myrtle Beach. We are finally far enough along that we know how to go and relax. Maybe that has a lot to do with the kids being older, and not being so demanding. We usually take a couple of weeks to simply do nothing except play in the sand, swim, and my specialty, eat! It's a great time to recuperate from the grind of real life.
But with the end of the summer comes a return to the norm of a routine of daily living. That's something that really becomes more of a longing as the new school year begins. I'm not one that just wants to get the kids back in school so they will be "out of our hair," but it does allow for us to operate on more of a regular schedule.
Hopefully you are in a place that you are geared up and ready to roll into the last third of the year. You know as well as I do that we will be singing Christmas carols before we know it. So set your course for the next few months. Get ready to move forward into the opportunities of the coming days. Make sure you are not settling into a rut, but a progressive routine. We'll finish 2008 out with a bang together! Let's Go!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Hot as Hell?
I overheard a guy make the comment that I'm sure you've probably heard at some time or another; "Man, it is hot as hell!" - Really? You Think?
Probably not!
I know that summertime in the south can be right uncomfortable, but I think he may have been exaggerating a little. Or, he just might have been using the phrase as a 'form of speech,' but, it brings me to a point. What do people think about hell? Do they even believe that such a place exist? I don't mean to break out a "fire and brimstone" on you here, but I hope you will consider the thought. According to the Bible, these things have to be embraced as truth.
1)Hell is a real place. It was prepared for the Devil and his fallen comrades, not for man.
2)Hell is a place of eternal torment. Enough said!
3)Hell is a place of separation. Separation from God and all who you've ever known!
4)Hell is a place that you don't want to go! You can tell me to go there as much as you like! I'm not going!!!!
If you don't believe what the Bible says about this awful place, then you might as well mark the whole book up as a lie. But what it says is true! And just as true as what it says about hell, is the truth about heaven. That's the place you want to be! The only way to go, is to believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God, and is the only way to heaven. Just ask him to forgive you and he'll welcome you in!
Otherwise you better hope what the guy said is true, and that it really is " ...hot as hell..." now. But, I'm afraid he was probably off a few thousand degrees!
Probably not!
I know that summertime in the south can be right uncomfortable, but I think he may have been exaggerating a little. Or, he just might have been using the phrase as a 'form of speech,' but, it brings me to a point. What do people think about hell? Do they even believe that such a place exist? I don't mean to break out a "fire and brimstone" on you here, but I hope you will consider the thought. According to the Bible, these things have to be embraced as truth.
1)Hell is a real place. It was prepared for the Devil and his fallen comrades, not for man.
2)Hell is a place of eternal torment. Enough said!
3)Hell is a place of separation. Separation from God and all who you've ever known!
4)Hell is a place that you don't want to go! You can tell me to go there as much as you like! I'm not going!!!!
If you don't believe what the Bible says about this awful place, then you might as well mark the whole book up as a lie. But what it says is true! And just as true as what it says about hell, is the truth about heaven. That's the place you want to be! The only way to go, is to believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God, and is the only way to heaven. Just ask him to forgive you and he'll welcome you in!
Otherwise you better hope what the guy said is true, and that it really is " ...hot as hell..." now. But, I'm afraid he was probably off a few thousand degrees!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Live Bullets
Last night the baseball team, that I coach and that my son plays for, had what was called a "scrimmage." Only thing is, is that everybody else that showed up prepared for more of a real game. This is an "All-Star" team from the city league, so I guess I should have known better! The fans came out, the parents and grandparents were at their stations, the other team was in their full array. But, I wasn't ready. Therefore, our team was not really ready to face the live bullets, they were about to face. I showed up for a "gun-fight" with a pocket knife! The worst part about it was the effect it had on our team's confidence. I'm sure today they feel less than they really are. It's my job to make sure that they know better, and not allow the debacle to define who they really are.
That is what life is like many times. We allow the low points along life's way to define who we are, as well as determine our potential. The reality is that nothing could be further from the truth! Those low points are exactly that, "low points." You can not allow those points in life to become your ceiling!
Your worst performance can't nullify your best performance.
Your worst day can't keep you from your best day.
Your worst moment can't delay your greatest moment.
More than likely you will find yourself fully involved in a battle that you were just not ready for, sometime in the near future. One where they're using live bullets. You may find yourself beaten down pretty bad. But try to remember, you can still win the war!
That is what life is like many times. We allow the low points along life's way to define who we are, as well as determine our potential. The reality is that nothing could be further from the truth! Those low points are exactly that, "low points." You can not allow those points in life to become your ceiling!
Your worst performance can't nullify your best performance.
Your worst day can't keep you from your best day.
Your worst moment can't delay your greatest moment.
More than likely you will find yourself fully involved in a battle that you were just not ready for, sometime in the near future. One where they're using live bullets. You may find yourself beaten down pretty bad. But try to remember, you can still win the war!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Easy Street
So, you want to take the easy way out? That's the normal response for the majority of people. It's just our nature to take the route that will lead to the "smoothest" ride through life. Avoiding as many of the challenges of life as possible. The only problem with that is, that way may not be the best way. And, it may not even lead you out! It may lead you deeper into the mess you're trying to get out of. I'm certainly not saying that is always the case. We can over-complicate matters at times. But there may be times that require you to go "over the river, and through the woods," instead of the smooth way that we all prefer. The Quick-fix might not be the Best-fix!
Here are some thoughts that may keep you from always jumping on what seems to be the easiest way out.
1)If your mess has been created over a long period of time(months, years, decades), then don't fool yourself into thinking that you can work your way out of it overnight. If you "worked" long and hard to get into the mess, you may have to commit the same effort to get out!
2)Remember that resistance will make you strong. The challenges that are being confronted in your life will grow you in the long run.
3)If your "way out" is to good to be true, it better be GOD! He has a way of working the miraculous in our lives everyday. Just make sure you're not taking the route that is simply appealing to the desire for "easy."
The Quick-fix will always be attractive. But it is usually not the route that leads you back to Easy Street!
Here are some thoughts that may keep you from always jumping on what seems to be the easiest way out.
1)If your mess has been created over a long period of time(months, years, decades), then don't fool yourself into thinking that you can work your way out of it overnight. If you "worked" long and hard to get into the mess, you may have to commit the same effort to get out!
2)Remember that resistance will make you strong. The challenges that are being confronted in your life will grow you in the long run.
3)If your "way out" is to good to be true, it better be GOD! He has a way of working the miraculous in our lives everyday. Just make sure you're not taking the route that is simply appealing to the desire for "easy."
The Quick-fix will always be attractive. But it is usually not the route that leads you back to Easy Street!
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Up-side Down
How many times do we find ouselves living life at the mad pace of the world around us. We exist to consume as much as possible in our allotted time. Living life for ourselves has seemingly become the norm. Even in the "church" this mindset has gripped most of the "faithful."
I would like to challenge you to live life in a different mode. A life that is opposite of the trend that we see established in almost every arena of society. Can you live life "up-side down?" A life that goes against the grain of this selfish, self-indulging culture that we are caught in. A life that gives and not simply takes!
>Be a "lover" not a "hater." The world is full of "haters." Let love take over in your dealings with others.
>Be a Jesus-Freak. Really try to live your life by his example. Let his life be the example that you try to mimick in every detail.
>Be dependable. Regardless of where you find your life intersecting with others, be the one they can depend on. That's hard to find nowadays.
>Be Strong. Live by what you believe, not by what is accepted. The world needs to see somebody that lives by conviction.
>Be courageous. Step into some impossible situations and watch how God may use you. You'll never know until you try.
You may freak some people out when you try to live this kind of life. It would be a great thing today, to be accused of turning your world "up-side down!" Because it's obvious that "right-side up" is just not working.
I would like to challenge you to live life in a different mode. A life that is opposite of the trend that we see established in almost every arena of society. Can you live life "up-side down?" A life that goes against the grain of this selfish, self-indulging culture that we are caught in. A life that gives and not simply takes!
>Be a "lover" not a "hater." The world is full of "haters." Let love take over in your dealings with others.
>Be a Jesus-Freak. Really try to live your life by his example. Let his life be the example that you try to mimick in every detail.
>Be dependable. Regardless of where you find your life intersecting with others, be the one they can depend on. That's hard to find nowadays.
>Be Strong. Live by what you believe, not by what is accepted. The world needs to see somebody that lives by conviction.
>Be courageous. Step into some impossible situations and watch how God may use you. You'll never know until you try.
You may freak some people out when you try to live this kind of life. It would be a great thing today, to be accused of turning your world "up-side down!" Because it's obvious that "right-side up" is just not working.
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