Sunday, September 30, 2012

Sunday sermon…



Do you put your hand up, when someone tries to help you?

I’ll bet that most of you immediately rolled your eyes and thought a negative thought of some sort.

We tend to think negatively about sermons, because we have that engrained in us.

Our Mom sits us down to talk to us and it’s a mini-sermon…

Our teacher takes us out of class and sermonizes a rule…

A friend’s sermon about how you treated them…

We look at sermons wrong…

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Sleep in Saturday...



Seriously...why are you up? Get some rest, but enjoy your last day of the week!

Friday, September 28, 2012

Got gas?



Some of you likely thought of your mexican lunch and maybe chucked a bit, at the title.

It’s Friday and most everyone loves Friday, because the weekend is here. We like it because, we get a little break from our regular routine and spend time with family, friends and go to our churches.

It’s a good thing…

So, when you go to work today, and feel that empty feeling because you worked hard all week, and the fuel light is on, stop on the way home, and fill up.

Make sure that you’re full so that you can impact your family, friends, and church family over the weekend.

You may feel overwhelmed by your hectic week, but those that are most important to you, need you over the weekend.

Monday will come again and you’ll have plenty of time to deal with the worries of the workweek. You’ll have another five days to deal with all that stuff.

Your tank needs to be full this weekend.

Lessons Learned: Don’t run on empty - you can’t change a life without fuel.

Thoughts: Are you impacting others?

#failalot

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Thursday, September 27, 2012

Thoughtful Thursday...#7


Simple quote from Zig Ziglar...

"You cannot climb the ladder of success dressed in the costume of failure."

Don't plan to fail!

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Wednesday Wandering...


Normally, I don't use Wednesday's to share something that's been posted by someone else, but Seth Godin shared this about a year ago, and I love the concept...


Bar gymnastics

"Some people I know work hard to lower the bar at work.
That was my strategy at gym class in high school. Not only did I do the minimum amount permitted, I worked hard to do just a little bit less than that. By the time the semester was over, the teacher was relieved if I even bothered to show up at all.
Most people seek to meet the bar. They figure out what's expected, and do that.
A few people, very few, work to relentlessly raise the bar. She's the one who overdelivers on projects, shows up ahead of schedule, instigates, suggests and pushes.
Raising the bar is exhausting, no doubt about it. I'm not sure the people who engage in this apparently reckless behavior would have it any other way, though. They get to experience a fundamentally different day, a different journey and a different reputation than everyone else."
Lessons Learned: Don't do the minimum - work hard at all you do, giving your best!
Thoughts: Have you underperformed on purpose?

Monday, September 24, 2012

Have a nice day!



The back of this truck has a good marketing ploy.

It’s a good idea to tell people to have a nice day.

Why wouldn't you want to tell that to someone?

It’s a kind thing to do…

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Smiling Sunday…



This boys life is being changed...

I can’t help but to be smiling on Sundays.

It’s one of my favorite days of the week, because I love to go to my church and be involved in helping with the teens. 

I don’t go to church to sit and hang out. I go to have a blast with the teens while I teach Sunday school...

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Simple Saturday...


Word of the day - fun!

Go enjoy your day - have a blast - make it fun!

Seriously - do it...

Friday, September 21, 2012

Unexpected…



I walked into the elevator ready to go home, and found these two friends…

We had a great conversation...they were quietly listening to every word I had to say. 

I told them all about my day and how I enjoyed the challenges that were put before me. 

I talked about the weather and the beautiful day we were having.

I spoke of the drive home and traffic conditions. 

I talked about my family and showed pictures to my new friends.

We talked about the weekend activities coming up. The vacuum was going to a flooring convention and the broom was going to be on the front porch swinging.

I discussed politics - one was a Democrat and the other a Republican - that became a touchy subject, and a little tense, but it ended okay. The broom felt like it would be a sweep in the fall elections and the vacuum thought the election process...wait for it..sucked.

We finished our conversation with discussion about the Yankees making the playoffs - I was amazed to find out they were both fans, even in the south.

Lessons Learned: You never know what will happen in a day, so be ready for anything that could come up.

Thoughts: Have you ever seen something strange in an elevator?

#failalot

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Thursday, September 20, 2012

Thoughtful Thursday...#6



"You cannot climb the ladder of success dressed in the costume of failure."

Zig Ziglar

Don't plan on plan - be thinking success - why would you want plan ahead to fail?

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Sunny…



I was driving home and had a ton of things on my mind. I made 3-4 business calls on the drive home and had a very busy, but good day. I really enjoy my job and the people I work with, but I’m very, very, very busy, which requires me to be extremely focused - I love that.

Here’s the point…

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Tourist Tuesday...#6


My son left the seat tight up to the steering wheel for me...

Being a good Dad (or Mom) is important...some good thoughts, from Michael Hyatt...

Good Dad

Monday, September 17, 2012

Cleaning cars and the rain…



It’s inevitable…

Plan on it…

Just mark it down…

You will have it occur…

Sorry, but a mess is coming…

When you wash your car, it’s going to rain within 24 hours…

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Wash?



My oldest teenage son wrote this on the back of my car, as a “helpful reminder” for me to wash my car. I think he enjoyed embarrassing me and adding a little humor too.

The problem is that I couldn't wash my car for a week and I forgot that it was on there all week...thanks a lot, son.

He didn’t mean any harm - just a bit of fun and it wasn’t a big deal, but it gave me some thoughts…

Friday, September 14, 2012

The hawk and basketball…



This is the hawk in today's post...siting on my tree.

Sometimes, in the evening after work, I play a little driveway basketball with my sons. We have a few different games that we play and we have a blast with the competition, while trying to keep the fun part high and the competitive part balanced...you know what I mean…

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Thoughtful Thursday...#5


Evening with weather, like this, it can be a good day!

Today's quote...

"Now I only have two kinds of days…good days and great days." ~ Lance Armstrong 

You can think many things about Lance Armstrong, but this quote is a good one.

If you look at your days as either "good" or "great" then you're never going to have a bad day.

Wouldn't it be cool, if you never had a bad day?

I think it's up to us to determine that outcome.  Our attitudes impact everything we do and we can control how we look at our days.

Lessons Learned: I don't want anymore bad days, ever!

Thoughts: Do you want a bad day?

#failalot

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Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Never forget...



September the 12th is a day that I will always look at as a time for a new start. 

September 11th will always have a meaning that was never intended and that tragedy will always have an impact on our lives. 

For me, I will never forget. I well up whenever I see it or think about the impact on so many people. 

On the other hand...

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Monday, September 10, 2012

Thank someone…



This is a reoccurring theme, but we get help and encouragement from lots of people throughout our lives, but we often for get to thank them for their influence on our lives.

They have taken time to sacrifice for us and we either didn’t realize it, or we simply forgot about what they have done for us.

People like…

The second grade teacher that told you that you drew a good picture…

The Youth Pastor who put his arm around you and told you you'd make it…

The friend who reminded you not to make that bad decision…

The coworker that helped you with a project that you wouldn't have finished…

The Pastor that taught you the important teaching from God’s Word…

The Aunt that encouraged you after a loved on died…

The Coach that helped you improve your swing, and grinned at you when you did well…

The Spouse who hugged you when you were discouraged…

The Sunday school teacher that gave the encouraging Sunday school lesson…

The Youth worker that made you laugh when you were hurt…

The list goes on, but have you taken time to thank people?

The thanking takes only a minute, but that minute will change someone else's life.

Lessons Learned: Many people have helped me become who I am today.

Thoughts: Who are you going to contact and thank today?

#failalot

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Sunday, September 9, 2012

Serving excellence…



I know that working in the customer service industry is not easier. 

We, as customers, have high expectations, and often, immediate expectations.

That makes it tough on those that are trying to serve.

But…

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Saturday...


I read this the other day...

A two-year-old is kind of like having a blender, but you don't have a top for it.

Do you ever feel like this?

Some days are full to a point of explosion, but look at your day and this quote from a laughing point of view, and not a stressful way ;)

Friday, September 7, 2012

Men working…



These signs are mostly a joke - I don’t believe them.

This is what should be happening - we should be working.

Too often we sit still, lazily focused on our hobbies, and other interests. 

Guilty as charged.

Sometimes, I should be working, but I’m easily distracted by shiny objects.

But this sign is thought provoking…

First - do we work?

Our society is filled wit people that don’t like to work hard or, even work at all. It’s incredible to me how often I see people, in a job, doing nothing. Don’t get me wrong - I’m by no means the perfect worker, but I make effort at what I should be doing and try to fulfill the responsibilities assigned to me, by my job, ministry or my wife (you know the honey do lists that all men have). 

It’s not easy to work hard, and in reality, we don’t have the kind of hard work that we did in years gone by. The work we have is not the work of 100 years ago, 50 years ago, or even 20 years ago. Technology has simplified our work and drawn us all into desk work, more than physical work. You can still work hard at that type of work, but I think that it may have made us a little lazier than previous generations. I’m including me in that.

We have to fight the desire to be lazy. We have to focus on diligence, and that’s hard sometimes.

Second - are we acting like men?

I don’t have all the answers for how a man should be, act, look, etc. I do know that we, as men, should be appropriate, thoughtful, kind, hard working, leaders, good fathers, good husbands, and treat others with common courtesy and respect.

Too often, our society represents men in the wrong light and we gain a reputation for being something we shouldn't be. 

We have to be what God wants us to be, as men. 

Third - do we see the signs of work?

If we look around, do we see work going on, or do we just see the sign that says work is going on. I believe that work should be actually happening, not just a sign only. How do we show more than just the signs of work?

  • Production - if something is produced, then it took work to have it happen.
  • Collaboration - if we communicate with and delegate, then there must actually be work to do.
  • Movement - if we see things changing, from the starting point, then something’s moving forward.

Lessons Learned: Work is more than a sign on the street.

Thoughts: Have you worked today?

#failalot

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Thursday, September 6, 2012

Thoughtful Thursday...#4


Today's quote is a little comical, but it's an important lesson...


"As a child my family's menu consisted of two choices: take it or leave it." 

Buddy Hackett



On the surface, this should create a smile, but this quote reminds me of leadership and how our society has struggled with following leaders. I see it in teenagers all the time. They often buck up against authority and make choices that are harmful to them, both short term and long term. 

It also made me think of me... 

Do I choose the right option when a leader gives me a choice?

Do I chose right over wrong?

Do I listen to the authorities in my life?

Lessons Learned: Sometimes a funny quote can be thought provoking.

Thoughts: What do you think?

#failalot

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Wednesday, September 5, 2012

What’s next?



Have you ever sat and thought about what the future holds and what direction to go?

Have you ever tried to plan your next step?

Have you ever thought you had a road map, for your career, but it wasn’t even close?

Have you ever planned to do a certain task, or event, and it fell through?

Have you ever gotten a phone call that changed your future?

Have you ever made a decision that changed your future, now?

How do we know what’s next or what direction to go?

It’s not easy…

Unless you know the Lord and can trust Him (which, by the way, you certainly can).

The best part of all the questions above, is that you don’t have to know what’s ahead, you are responsible for now and what you are doing today. You are not yet responsible for tomorrows activities. You can’t change the past activities that occurred. You can only focus on the current time and moment you have today.

So, why do we worry about what’s next?

We fear.

We don’t know the future, so we wonder, we worry and we fear. We try to figure out the future, but we can’t, so we fear. Sometimes it overwhelms us and the fear becomes more than we think we can handle. We can’t let fear hold us down or direct our future. This is allowing something to impact us, that we don’t even know is going to happen.

We fail. 

We see how we failed before, and think it’s coming again. We expect to fail a second, third, fourth time, or more. We don’t expect to succeed. We look at our weaknesses and figure we are not going to see the success we could. This is obviously wrong thinking.

We feel. 

The fears and the fails cause us to feel hurt, pain and distress, so we focus on them, rather than on the Lord. The feelings get the focus, and not the reality that we can succeed with what we are doing. We can’t focus on the feelings only, because feelings are fickle and will only cause us to fail and fear.

Lessons Learned: Fear, fail and feel will only cause worry.

Thoughts: Are you concerned about the future right now?

#failalot

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Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Tourist Tuesday...#4


Work - it's hard, especially when you're coming off of a holiday, but it's important and here's a good post to remind us about it...


Make your work day a good one...


#failalot

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Monday, September 3, 2012

Labor day…



Some will have to labor today and work extra hard - I hope you are getting overtime pay and that you stay positive in what you have to do.

Others will spend he day alone, because of circumstances beyond your control - I hope you have a day that has some rest and peace in it.

Lots of you will have time with family and friends and will have a blast - I hope you take advantage of the opportunity to be with loved ones and cherish the special time today.

Whatever your lot today, be thankful for what you have.

What are you doing today?

Make it a great day!!!

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Forgiveness…



Took this picture from a flight the other day...

Do you ever think about it?

Do you realize how powerful it is?

Are you thankful for it?

Do you seek it?

Today, I’m thinking about forgiveness…

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Saturday Silly...


"A day without sunshine is like, you know, night."

Steve Martin

Hope that brightened your day...um, night...