A World War I Veteran Still Speaks ...

The testimony of a World War I veteran still speaks as loudly and clearly as it did on the day he shared it and many of us need to hear it.

Former President Ronald Reagan shared the simple yet powerful words of Private Martin A. Treptow in his first inaugural address illustrating how we all need to accept personal responsibility. The private's now famous words were discovered after he was killed on a mission in France during the war. On the pages of his personal diary were written, "I will work. I will save. I will sacrifice. I will endure. I will fight cheerfully and do my utmost, as if the issue of the whole struggle depended on me alone."

From the grave, the private's testimony still speaks, Be Responsible ...

We must no longer sit and wait on someone else to do what we are capable of doing. We must no longer cast the blame on others when things are not getting done. We must quit talking about what is not right around us and take personal responsibility to do our part to make these things right.

Consider this: You have a voice and talents that the world around you needs. Use them in responsible ways to bring about positive change.

Go make a difference!

A Bad Attitude is Like a Flat Tire ...

I read a funny story once about an airplane that was flying at 30,000 feet and over 500 miles per hour when the pilot recognized the navigational system was no longer working. He said to the passengers over the intercom, "I have both good news and bad news. Which do you want first?" The passengers quickly responded, "Give us the bad news first." The pilot then said, "We have no idea where we are headed because our navigational system is no longer working." The passengers then shouted, "What's the good news?" The pilot answered, "We are making great time!"

Author Chuck Swindoll writes that, "Life is about 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it." A positive attitude can make a huge difference. Remaining positive, especially in difficult times, can make a tremendous difference in the journey and the outcome. Abraham Lincoln once said, "We can complain because rose bushes have thorns or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses." Did you catch it? In life, at least one thing is certain, we can choose our attitude. We cannot always control what happens to us; but, we can control what happens in us. And, what happens in us will often be the difference between success and failure.

I read once where there were two prisoners sharing a cell. On one particular night the stars outside of the prison cell's window were shining brightly. One prisoner said to the other, "Look out the window, What do you see?" The cellmate answered, "All I see are those bars in the window." "No," the other prisoner said, "look through the bars and notice the beautiful brightly shining stars." One prisoner saw bars while the other saw stars. What made the difference? Attitude--!!

Sir Winston Churchill, the man who saved England once said, "Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference."

Think of it this way. A bad attitude is like a flat tire. If you don't change it you want go anywhere. If necessary, choose today to change your attitude. Be positive! Look at the bright side. Yes, as the old saying goes, "There are two sides to every coin." Choose to look at the positive side. Do not dwell on the negative. See the negative as an opportunity to stretch yourself and to grow as a person. See it as a challenge to get better. Use what appears negative as a stepping stone to building a brighter future and do not let it become a stumbling block to your dreams.

You can do it!

The Difference Between Ordinary and Extraordinary ...

Effort, true effort is in short supply. Seriously! Look around. Many have settled for average and they are doing only what is required of them to get buy. Few are expending enough effort to get ahead. They give just enough effort at their jobs not to get fired. They sacrifice just enough in a relationship not to loose someone. Average has become the norm and it is definitely the difference between enjoying life and just enduring life.

A little effort goes a long ways and extra effort has the potential to help you live the life others only dream of. What is effort exactly? That's a great question. Effort is that little thing that can change your life. It does more than people expect. It does not give up easily. It lasts longer than others believe possible. It travels the second mile even though the second mile is the road less traveled. It works harder, reaches higher, and it never gives up! Brigadier General Robert Redwine (Ret) says that, "Effort is behavior that is above average." It is that little extra that many never tap into.

You don't have to be the best to see your dreams become a reality. You don't have to be the smartest to get ahead. You don't have to be born from the right family to get what you really want out of life. However, if you want to live the life many others only dream of, you must defeat average daily. It is the enemy of your best life. Make a decision today to give a little extra effort each day. Soon, the little extra that you give daily will add up and make a huge difference in your life. It works much like the little snowflake. A single snowflake doesn't amour to much; but, when you put many snowflakes together they can cause an avalanche. 

Practice Does Not Always Make Perfect ...

Practice makes permanent, not perfect. Be sure to practice well! 

Those who are failing to prepare are preparing to fail. Preparation is necessary for anyone to reach greatness in any area of life. It is impossible for anyone to reach greatness without preparation.
Speaking on the importance of preparation Whitney Young an American Civil Rights leader who fought to end employment discrimination in the U.S. once said, "It is better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one than to have one and not be prepared." Preparation involves practice, lots and lots of practice. 

"How do I practice well," you ask? 

*BE PURPOSEFUL in practice. Look at and learn from those who are doing well what you hope to do. Study all that you can about your craft and then put into practice what you learn. Remember, if it is worth doing, it is worth doing right the first time.

*BE PERSISTENT in practice. A group of behavioral scientists did a study and they concluded that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to master a complex skill. Greatness does not happen overnight nor does it happen by accident. It takes persistence! Stay the course. Do not be easily dissuaded. Anything worth doing will not come without challenges. Consider these challenges to be opportunities for growth not obstacles. Do not let them become stumbling blocks. Instead use them as stepping stones to reaching your dreams.

*BE POWERFUL in practice. You will do well to put in the blood, sweat, and tears necessary to sharpen your craft. This will take much effort; but it will be worth it in the long run. Most people will do what is necessary to get by in life--this is not only average it is unacceptable if greatness is your desire. Be willing to put in the hard work necessary to reach your full potential. Tim Tebow said, "Hard work beats talent every time talent doesn't work hard." Make a commitment to your future to do what it takes to become great. Be powerful!

If you are willing to invest the necessary hours into reading, studying, learning, and putting into practice what it takes to be great in the field of your endeavor, you can become great. Do not delay. Start today.

And remember, you do not have to be great to start but you do have to start to become great!

Gone But Not Forgotten ...

Memorial Day, as we know it today, officially became a recognized Federal holiday in 1971. It was then declared to take place on the last Monday in the month of May and was set apart as a time where the Nation would pause to remember the men and women who died while serving their country in one of the United States Armed Services. On this day, many visit national monuments, go to parades, visit cemeteries, and/or host get togethers in their homes. Regardless of the traditions celebrated on this day, most pause to give thanks for the men and women who paid the ultimate price while protecting the freedoms that life in the US provides. 

I have to confess that while growing up in a small southern town in the US Memorial Day for me simply meant that it was the beginning of summer. It also meant that my dad did not have to go to work so we were likely going to go camping or at the least throw something on the grill and play some games in the yard. However, it carries a much different meaning for me today.

In 1990, I enlisted in the United States Navy. After finishing bootcamp and Rescue Swimmer school, I quickly deployed to the Persian Gulf. It was a volatile time for us as a nation as we were involved in several back to back conflicts: Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, and Operation Southern Watch. My experience serving abroad gave me a new perspective on this holiday. 

As Americans our freedoms come at a high price. Many have fought and died on the battlefield defending the freedoms we exercise and often take for granted. Let's make sure that today we do not take them for granted. I encourage you to stop for a moment and thank God for the men and women who gave their all that we might continue to live in freedom. Please pray also for the families that have been left behind. Pray for God's grace and provision to be present in their homes.

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for his friends. John 15:13 

Blessings!

Australia ...

In 2008, I had the privilege of traveling to Australia to speak in over 30 public schools and to share the Gospel in 3 different cities. It was an incredible trip. The churches I served with were on fire for Jesus. They spent much time in prayer and preparation believing God for a harvest. God honored their prep and prayers. While there, we witnessed over 1,000 decisions for the Lord Jesus Christ. It was an extremely fruitful trip!

Those who hosted my travels were very gracious. They took me on a tour around Sydney, carried me to see some of the beautiful coastline, and made it possible for me to walk across the top of the Sydney Harbor Bridge. (This was no small task.) I ate fish and chips on the wharf and was introduced to meat pies. On more than one occasion I discussed the difference between American football and Australian football better known as "footy" with my hosts. OK, to be honest, it was more debating than discussing. My Aussie friends are as passionate about footy as I am about football. Nevertheless, we all agreed that whether it is footy or football the athletes that compete in both are world class for sure.

If you ever have the opportunity to visit Australia, I strongly encourage it. The food is incredible, the cities are exciting, the beaches are beautiful, and the people are even better!

Life's Tough Get a Helmet ...

I remember seeing a show on the Disney Channel when our girls were younger where a big brother said to his little brother while popping him on the forehead, "Life's tough get a helmet." 

I have played that clip over and over several times in the theater of my mind in the last 12 or so years as I have faced many tough times. Once while thinking through the question, I came up with another question. What proverbial "helmet" was the young man on TV referring to when he popped his little brother on the head? 

If I am to take his advice and put on a "helmet" when life is tough: what, where, who, ... is this helmet??? 

After giving this question some serious thought, let me suggest that we can use the following as a "helmet" as we go through life knowing that "life is tough."

*The Bible can serve as our helmet. Just the other day while dealing with a challenge I was reading Psalm 46 and it gave me what I needed to press through challenge I was facing. It was the helmet that I needed. In verse 1 it starts, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble." The Bible reminded me that God was there even during this time of loss. The ancient promise is true, "God's Word will never fail."

*Friends can serve as a helmet. God did not intend for us to do life alone. We are social creatures. He made us to relate to Him and to relate to one another. The fact is we need each other. Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived wrote, "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

*God desires to be our helmet. Think about it for a moment. What is a helmet designed to do? It is designed to protect. God is our greatest protector and He invites us to bring all over our concerns and challenges straight to Him. The apostle Peter wrote, "Cast all of your cares on Him because He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7) This is awesome! God intimately cares for you and me. He cares so much that He invites us to bring to Him all of our cares, concerns, and challenges. Yes, we can go straight to God in prayer and He will be our "helmet" as we go through life.

Stay encouraged and know that God loves you and so do we!