The Right Side of the Line

Doing the right thing can be costly.  The wrong thing is even more costly.  This week is the first week of our new fiscal year at work and my training has been intensive.  I'm awestruck by how much I don't know.  Life was easy when I was pretty much responsible for my own actions.  There is no room in my life for ignorance.  My number one job in this world is to coach my three children, my team at my workplace, and any reader who happens to find this blog.  These are the ideas I'm working on to help me stay on the right side of the line:

1. Recognize that every person in your life is significant.  Treat others with dignity and respect regardless of how they treat you.
2. Respect others no matter how different their views may be from your own.
3. Avoid arguments, they only solidify your opponent's views.
4. Do the right thing, no matter what the personal cost may be.
5. Find the solution to every problem you face.

My dad taught me one very important lesson when I was a young boy.  He repeatedly said, "if you're gonna do it, do it right."  Those words burn in me every day.  Which side of the line are you going to live your life on?

Turn Problems Into Paychecks

Everyone has problems in their lives.  Many simply complain about them and others get busy finding solutions.  I go one step further -- I welcome the challenges in front of me.  I hunt for them like Easter eggs.  The more problems I find and resolve, the happier my employer is.  Problems solved lead to job security and bigger paychecks.  They build stronger marriages and long-lasting friendships.  Follow these suggestions and you will improve your attitude about the problems you have in your life:

1. Consider every problem in the workplace as an opportunity to improve your skills.  The better you get at making the problem go away, the better your odds for advancement.
2. Treat your problems like vegetables.  Most avoid eating them but the hungry worker devours them.  You will be amazed how many job offers you will receive once others recognize your food preferences.
3. Volunteer to do the dishes.  This is an important step in eliminating the problem.  Make sure the problem is put away for good.  Dirty dishes are reminders that the problem wasn't fully resolved.
4. Be thankful for all the problems in your life.  Without them, you are not needed.  The easier your job is, the more competition you have and the fewer pay raises you will see.
5. Identify all the problems with your family, your relationships and your job and get busy finding solutions.  Make your list immediately and promise yourself you will find solutions before you go to bed every night.

 

Dare to Look in the Mirror

There is something inside you that makes you special.  You are created in God's image.  No matter your position in life, you are a child of God.  Many in this world wish to remove God from the picture.  What is it that the other side fears?

The next time you feel unsure about who you are, remember what Jesus did when He met the lost and the fallen.  He had the ability to look inside other people and see their faults.  Even though you may think your mistakes are hidden from the world, you can't hide when you look in the mirror.  Just remember that Jesus can see past your flaws.  He sees who you were created to be when He peers inside your soul.  He doesn't care what you did wrong in the past.  All He asks is that you make room in your heart for Him to live.

Before you look in the mirror, make sure you invite Jesus to live with you.  Ask Him for help cleaning up the areas of your life needing attention.  Then, look in the mirror.  Do you see that glow emanating from your soul?  That is the part of you that will live forever.  Remember to look in the mirror every day and never forget who created you.

Hidden Treasure

The Titanic rests at the bottom of the ocean, a sad reminder of hopes and dreams unfulfilled.  Many of us are like that sunken ship.  We live our lives without ever tapping into the hidden treasure within us.  Even more rare is discovering the treasure within others.  Why is this so difficult?

Perhaps we are too afraid to look in the mirror and discover what we're really made of.   We don't take the time to get to know our neighbor.  I'm guilty of this.  It's not too late to change my ways.  That is probably why this next book is so difficult to write -- it's all about looking in the mirror and finding the hidden treasure.

What is Your Labor of Love?

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing ~ Matthew 6:3

This Labor Day may have different meanings to many Americans who are unemployed or under-employed.  For me, it's my first paid Holiday since starting my new job in my new home state.  During my transition, I maintained my daily commitment to my first labor of love -- blogging.

I have a new neighbor who left some tomatoes at my front door last month.  They are some of the best tomatoes I've ever tasted.  Maybe the extra flavor comes from knowing my neighbor performs his labor of love while dealing with cancer treatments.  When he isn't away for chemotherapy, I see him pushing a lawn mower for other neighbors.

A labor of love is productive work performed voluntarily without material reward or compensation.   I salute those around the world who tirelessly perform acts of service for others without seeking something in return.  On this Labor Day, I challenge you to actively pursue your labor of love.  Happy Labor Day.

Why Are We Divided?

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought ~ 1 Corinthians 1:10

Long before we had children, my wife and I decided we would never argue in front of them.  We both witnessed broken families who suffered greatly because the parents were divided on important issues.  Children find a way to pit one parent against another so they can get their way.  We had one iron-clad rule in our home:  If one parent already said, "no," that was the final answer.  Asking the other parent to over-rule meant consequences.  My children knew they were busted if I asked them, "did your mother already decide about this?"

I wonder how the Creator feels about all the division in our world today.  The very definition of sin is being separated from God.  Satan is like a spoiled child who doesn't get his or her way and seeks to turn one group against the other in order to win others over to the dark side.  How can we love others when we despise their own belief system?

The novel I'm developing is about looking in the mirror.  It's so much easier for me to love others once I see all my own faults.  Jesus is the source of all religions.  Each faction has been created in His image.  The real challenge for us is to see Jesus in others, regardless of the label they put on themselves.  No matter how much division there is in the world today, there is one Bible verse that predicts what will happen:

It is written: "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'" ~ Romans 14:11

Halftime Adjustments

My youngest son loves listening to talks given by inspirational coaches.  His old football coach gave him an opportunity for a pep talk before one of his high school football games and he came home beaming after a big win.

In life, we look to our parents, teachers and coaches for help plotting a course to our destiny.  What happens when the game of life is absent a few touchdowns?  The answer can be found in the locker room at halftime.  You know best about all the times you were tackled when you headed for life's end zone.  You feel the pain of your injuries.  Take a look at these ideas to help you come up with some creative halftime adjustments:

1. Analyze your opponent.  Your old playbook no longer works because he is attacking you with new plays.  Understand how he is challenging your weaknesses and give them some attention.
2. Get the ball back.  You need to be aggressive challenging your opponent.  If you are getting behind because you can't control your debt, you need to have a huddle with your team and take possession of the problem.  This major commitment to your defense will result in turnovers that will put your offense back on the field.
3. Don't throw in the towel.  No matter how far behind you are, there is always hope that you can get back in the game.  Fight for one yard at a time.  As long as you are moving forward, you are closing the gap on your opponent.
4. Stop blaming the ref.  You're right.  Some of the play calls are bad.  Get over it.  Winners find a way to win no matter how bad the refs are.  Don't let bad calls take your attention away from your goals.
5. Design plays that accentuate your untapped talent.  Tough times call for bold plays.  You know you have abilities within you that the world has never seen.  Surprise your opponent with new play calls that get you into the end zone.  Great teams find a way to win no matter how tough the opponent.

These strategies work for even the toughest of opponents.  Every day, I stare at the same giant named debt.  Past opponents were unemployment,  stubbornness and spiritual blindness.  I ignored play calls sent in by my coach from upstairs in the stands.  I needed a huge halftime adjustment to get back in the game.  Never again will I fear my opponents.  They can try to steal the ball away from me but I promise I will never let go.  I trust my coach.  He is undefeated, even against the toughest opponent of all -- death.