Highlight of the Year and Most Interesting Friend of the Year

This is a year I will forever treasure.  For those in my age group, I think you can agree with me the years seem to accelerate with each calendar flip.  As this year comes to a conclusion I would like to showcase my top event and my most interesting friend of the year.

I haven't shared much about our ten day pilgrimage to Ireland.  The crystal ball of Glendalough given to us by my wife's aunt Susie, a frequent visitor to the Emerald Isle, is my daily reminder of our life-changing opportunity.  Glendalough is a place I visited every morning during my daily meditations long before we decided to venture across the pond.  It was an important stop but not the greatest highlight of the trip.  The number one highlight of my year and quite possibly the top highlight of my life was our visit to Knock, Ireland.  I knew absolutely nothing about this place until it showed up on our itinerary.  Our local bishop who led our pilgrimage said that the veil between Heaven and earth is thin in some places and Ireland is one of those places.  

On August 21, 1879, fifteen recorded witnesses saw something out of this world in Knock, County Mayo, Ireland.  Their vision is on display in a 3d replica inside the church in Knock.  Those of us who were on the pilgrimage attended a Mass led by our bishop, Thomas Zinkula.  There he was lifting up the Heavenly host, saying "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."  Our bishop was standing directly beneath a lamb who was standing on an altar.  This lamb was part of the vision.  Oh, what a sight to behold.  The moment was too sacred for me to capture but it will be with me all of my days.

Next up is the most interesting friend of the year.  Like the highlight of the year in Knock, this new friend is rather extraordinary.  He did not grow up in the states like 98% of my friends but in a communist country where his people were in constant danger of extinction.  When my friend described his upbringing I found myself spellbound.  Then he revealed something about himself that blew my mind.  Boris is a direct descendant of the tribe of Levi.  He can trace his roots all the way back to Aaron, the brother of Moses.  We talked greatly about his people and all they have been through.  All I can say is I'm deeply grateful for my daily Bible in a Year podcasts which prepared me to keep up with Boris.  I have so many questions for him but they will have to wait until our next adventure.  By the way, Boris is a wine steward at our day job.  He was called back early to help out during the Holidays so our time together was cut short.

If I can make one suggestion for the New Year coming up at the stroke of midnight tonight, it's regarding travel.  Do it.  Don't wait.  See places like Ireland.  Meet people like Boris.  Savor every moment of each day.  Some day the veil between Heaven and earth will be completely removed.  Until that time comes, find Heaven on earth and find people who make you feel like you are already in Heaven.  Happy New Year!  Have a great day.

Mother Inspires Son to Cross Finish Line on Time

It's confession time.  I struggle with deadlines.  No one knows this better than my mother.  Perhaps one of the lowest points of my life during college was putting together a term paper.  I lived at home and commuted, first to junior college and then Arizona State University.  I worked multiple jobs while attending school and often found myself absorbing material while stopped at red lights.  This is not recommended.  Anyways, I put off an important paper until the last day and I asked my mom to type it for me because I could only type with a couple fingers at a time.  Mom was super fast.  The ribbon broke while she was typing and all the stores were closed.  She typed a few words at a time and advanced the ribbon manually.  It was painful to watch.  I was in the other room handwriting the conclusion.  Even though she pulled an all-nighter, she ran out of time.  That meant I needed to visit her at work to pick up the final couple of pages before the deadline.  I barely made it.  Mom came through big time.  One would think I would change my ways but I didn't.  

My wife tried her best to correct the errors of my ways.  I rarely get sick.  Well, one Christmas season early in our marriage I woke up on Christmas Eve morning with the flu.  My wife crossed her arms and wished me well doing all my last minute shopping.  I got it done but it was one of the worst days of my life.  

My mother inspired me to cross the finish line on time and even early.  Yep.  I did it.  I finished going through the Bible cover-to-cover yesterday morning.  I also learned to type.  When I'm away from my MacBook Pro I use something called the swipe method using just one finger.  This isn't really taught anywhere.  It reminds me of the days when I could only use a couple of fingers at a time for my college papers.  

You might be asking, "How was my mother able to inspire me to complete the BIAY?"  Great question.  She told me about a youth minister in Duluth, Minnesota, who created a podcast with daily Bible readings.  His program covers the entire Bible in 365 days.  Thanks, mom, for encouraging me to meet Fr. Mike Schmitz and for sharing how his YouTube messages help you get closer to Jesus.

As for my deadline deficiencies, I really I need to work on this.  I also understand I need Divine help to complete all my earthly assignments.  Like my mother who helped me during my college years, I'm relying on my guardian angels to get me to the finish line for my latest book projects.  Stay tuned.  Have a great day.

What's Next?

 Pause for a moment and reflect on this last year as it comes to a conclusion.  Ponder all the good that came from 2022.  Make a list of your highlights.  Give yourself a pat on the back for these achievements.  Before your head gets too big, take a moment and consider the missed opportunities.  Ask yourself why you fell short in certain areas of your life.  This story is not meant to be a downer.  The idea here is to make some adjustments in the 48 hours in order to hit the ground running when the new year begins.

What's next?  Are you ready to dream big?  One of the biggest lessons I learned this past year is that slow and steady wins the race.  Every year comes with a set of lessons and a finish line.  It's easier to get in the habit of winning races and then building on those wins when the calendar flips to January.  It's even easier to get in the habit of losing and then repeating those failures year after year until you die.  I believe with all my heart that bad habits can be broken.  If you start fast and burn out, try starting slow and take it day by day.

Have you ever considered setting up mile markers?  The idea is to set 30 day goals.  There is no need to sprint all the way to February.  Instead, give yourself one goal for the month that you will focus on every morning when you wake up.   Maybe it's meditating for ten minutes a day for 30 days.  Be consistent.  How about 10 stomach crunches a day in the month of February?  Set practical goals and do something every day for a year.  Next year you can pat yourself on the back for becoming a better version of yourself.  Have a great day.

Spiritual Bankruptcy

Some types of bankruptcies are easy to spot, like financial bankruptcy.  There was a time in my life when I really felt like I had my financial life in order.  In the blink of an eye I watched it all collapse.  The only thing that saved me from complete disaster was God's grace.  Another type of bankruptcy is illness.  It's heartbreaking to see a loved one go through this.  Some recover.  Some don't.  This can happen when it's least expected.  I went through this nearly five years ago when my vehicle veered over the double yellow line and I was t-boned.  Another kind of bankruptcy can occur in relationships.  This is known as divorce.  What about spiritual bankruptcy?  What is it and are you in danger?  Unlike all other forms of bankruptcy, this type is mostly invisible yet it's the most dangerous form of bankruptcy known to man or angels because spiritual bankruptcy is permanent as in eternal. 

It's really easy to blame others for a bankruptcy.  Remember that last Great Recession?  Many said the fault rested with banks who got too greedy or the government that got too lax.  I blame myself for what happened.  Greedy?  Yes.  Lax?  Yes.  The good news is I changed my ways.  The same thing with my health.  I realized I was heading down the wrong path.  Thanks to some caring people around me, I discovered that a physical bankruptcy was headed my way and it was going to end in premature death.  The accident had nothing to do with this but it did serve as a wakeup call to the value of my life.  It also opened my eyes to what spiritual bankruptcy is and how easy it is to be blind when it creeps into your life.

A long time ago in a galaxy far away some of the brightest angels in creation decided to reject God.  Spiritual bankruptcy for these beings happened in one instant.  This is irrevocable.  Sadly, these beings cannot ever go back.  They had it all and they rejected it.  They prowl our planet and tempt others to pull the plug on God's love for us.  That's what spiritual bankruptcy is – turning away from God.  There is only one way to overcome spiritual bankruptcy.  It's Jesus.  He redeemed us by dying on the Cross.  He leaves the 99 who are safe and secure in search of the one who is lost.  He sees the danger before we do and he reaches out to turn things around.  He points us to the Father.  Reject Jesus and I guarantee with 100% certainty you will one day find yourself with those fallen angels who are in permanent spiritual bankruptcy.  Don't let this be you.  Don't even worry about seeking Jesus.  He is seeking you.  All you have to do is tell Jesus you want him in your life.  This won't guarantee you will be safe from all other forms of bankruptcy.  That's okay.  Other bankruptcies don't have eternal consequences.  I know firsthand that when Jesus is in my life I'm able to handle anything, even death.  Today is a good day to evaluate your spiritual life.  Is it dark or light?  Maybe it's time for the Son to shine in your life.  Have a great day.

Family Time Continues

 Temps are finally back in the positive range.  Winds are calm.  It's time to venture outside.  Family time continues.  Looks like it's bowling today and maybe a movie.  All I can say is my heart is full.  The fresh blanket of snow won't be blowing on the roads today.  It may disappear soon once the temps rise above freezing in a couple of days.  For now, I want to soak up the pristine views on our outside ventures today.  Have a great day.

How We Became Stormtroopers

It's fairly easy to become a stormtrooper if you live in the proper zip code.  All you need to do is spend the winter months in a place like Iowa.  One of the common sayings here is, "If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes and it will change."  I beg to differ.  Every day the weather reports are the same.  We have blizzards, ground blizzards, polar vortexes, bomb cyclones, and even bombogenesis.  If you want to survive conditions like these you need to arm yourself the same way the fictional stormtroopers in Star Wars arm themselves in order to fight the enemy.  

Before I share how I became a stormtrooper in Iowa I would like to share why I moved to Iowa and live here year round.  The reason is love.  If my wife told me tomorrow she would like to live in Hawaii, I would follow her.  If she told me she wanted to move anywhere in the world, I would follow her.  And eleven years ago when she told me she wanted to be closer to her family in the state where she grew up I promised her I would follow her.  That's when I became a stormtrooper.  We arrived in Winter.  My stormtrooper lifespan has outlasted every prediction that my Southern California friends made.  Perhaps they believed I lacked the credentials to survive a Midwest winter.  All I can say is love is powerful.  Now it's time to talk about how to become a stormtrooper should you ever find yourself uprooted from a 90210 zip code.

The smartest stormtroopers I know inflate their tires with nitrogen.  This is how you keep your tire pressure constant, even on -45º windchill days like we had last week.  All-weather tires are also necessary.  Don't wait too long to change your car battery.  Everyone in my family has a fully charged battery pack that can be used to jump start our vehicles.  Don't leave home without this.  A change of clothes is recommended in case you get stuck somewhere and can't get home.  

I would like to thank my friends and family for all the prayers during our recent snow storms.  We are thankful to be off today while another snow storm passes through.  What does a stormtrooper do on days like today?  For us, it's Scrabble and Yahtzee.  Be safe, my friends.  Have a great day.

Merry Christmas!

Do you like mysteries?  How about history?  Are you suited for detective work?  If so, the Bible may be something to delve into.  The greatest minds in the world have been trying to unlock the true meaning of this book for generations.  Here's something that may inspire you to test your Sherlock Holmes mind.  Consider this book as if it were written for one person – you.  Yes, you.  It's a love letter and an invitation all wrapped up in one book.  

I have this feeling in my gut that if you decide to decipher what's inside this best seller of all times, you may be tempted to give up.  There are invisible forces at work who really want to slow you down or even stop you from understanding that this book was written for you.  

Challenge yourself to seek the truth or lie in each story.  Piece the clues together.  Don't make any conclusions until you uncover every single story from Genesis to the Book of Revelations.  I will give you a hint that may help you on your journey – outside clues may assist you.  Trust your instincts.  Don't stop just because you something that appears so outlandish that it appears to be false, like when one the characters predicts a virgin will give birth to a son and this son is God.  Instead, consider that possibility that predictions such as these might be possible.   If you keep an open mind, you may find a connection with the author who inspired these stories.  Good luck.  Have a great day.  Merry Christmas.

Early In Early Out

 If you are in the service business or you happen to be working in retail, you know exactly what I'm feeling as I write today's story.  I could go on and on but I won't.  There isn't enough time to share this morning.  Why?  Because we are opening early to prepare for the final wave of last minute shoppers.  We don't really know what to expect.  The people who keep our roads free of snow and ice were sent home early yesterday and the roads are now more dangerous than ever.  Who in their right mind would venture out on Christmas Eve morning?  You guessed right... The service workers and the retail peeps.  

I'm certainly not complaining.  I learned a long time ago the value of having a rewarding job that provides for the family.  I'm one of the fortunate ones.  I love what I do and I love serving others.  That includes crazy weather, good weather and everything in between.  There are days when Jesus looks at the gloomy weather report and asks, "Who shall I send?"  Yep.  I'm the crazy one with my hand up.  I'm inspired by the earliest followers who argued about who was top dog.  Jesus cautioned them that the greatest is the one who is willing to serve.  The drive in to my day job will be treacherous.  I may feel like I'm alone at times driving in the darkness but I know who is with me and that person is celebrating his birthday tomorrow.  He is with me at all times, even on the early in days like this morning.  The busiest time of the year is about to slow down.  Tonight will be a silent night.  Silent Night was being sung by the high school choir when our daughter disembarked from her plane on Tuesday and I held out my arms to give her a bear hug.  Silent night is what precedes the biggest moment in our history.  Merry Christmas.  Have a great day.

Today May Be My Darkest Day

One of my work buddies asked me yesterday, "How is your anxiety driving in a blizzard?"  The question was appropriate because he suffered a brain aneurysm and nearly died.  Anxiety has a way of creeping into your life.   We all have our ways of coping.  My friend honestly wanted to know how I'm handling situations similar to the one that nearly ended my life nearly five years ago in conditions like we are having now.  In fact, today may be my darkest day yet.  The easy thing to do is simply call out and stay home.  That means others would be asked to take up the slack to get our building open.  No way, Jose.  That's not how I'm wired.  Today may be my darkest day but I'm getting out of bed and I'm going to my day job even though wind gusts of up to 50mph will make it feel like it's -45º outside today.  Before I can get out of my driveway I will need to shovel snow.  I will need to be extra careful as frostbite can occur in just five minutes under these conditions.

I told my friend the best way I can cope with anxiety is to face my fears.  Retreating only compounds fear.  Another friend commented that she loved my sun dog picture I captured on my commute home yesterday but she was glad to not be seeing it in reality.  Another commented, "No kidding."  Sun dogs form when the sun is at a low angle and there are ice crystals in the atmosphere.  Not too many people saw this yesterday as the roads were nearly empty due to the ground blizzard we are experiencing until tomorrow.

If you happen to be experiencing dark days due to the weather, poor health, challenging job situations, or difficult people in your life, I'm with you.  I will be praying for you.  Remember this...  Sunday is coming.  This Sunday we have something really special to be thankful for.  Yep.  Our Savior is born on Sunday.  Death has been conquered once and for all.  Today may be my darkest day but I'm thinking about Sunday while I'm shoveling snow.  I'm thinking about Sunday while I'm commuting to my day job.  I'm thinking about Sunday while I'm away from my family.  And I'm thinking about you on this Friday.  Don't worry.  Sunday is coming.  Merry Christmas.

Blizzard is Upon Us

Our daughter got her wish for a white Christmas.  The storm arrived last night as I was driving home from my day job.  Our home is well stocked and the Mrs. is off for five days in a row.  I'm headed to my day job a bit earlier to account for the extreme weather conditions.  The good news is the traffic will be light.  The hard part is the blowing snow.  We could see wind chills of -40º which will be a new record for our family.  Keep me in your prayers as well as workers who are dealing with hazardous conditions.  Have a great day.

The Package is Secure

Mission accomplished.  Our daughter is now with us.  We're thankful she was able to beat the storm and arrive ahead of it in time to celebrate the holidays with us and her two brothers.  We had a family dinner last night.  It was the first time in a long time all five us were together in one place.  I shared with our adult children that their grandma will be with us in the Spring.  I'm feeling great joy in my heart.  It's not always easy for families to be together.  It's also not easy to be joyful when some skeletons find a way to come out during the Holidays.  I've had my share of hauntings from my past.  The best recommendation I can give about this is to simply let go.  Be in the moment.  Focus on the blessings.  Have a great day.

Blizzard Ahead

 

How does -10º with a whole lot of snow and winds exceeding 20mph sound to you?  Well, I have something  new to add to my vocabulary.  It's called a ground blizzard.  That's where a bunch of snow falls followed by no periods of snow but the high winds blow the snow already on the ground all around so you can't see.  I don't know if Rudolph's shiny red nose will be bright enough to help Santa out if this weather continues through Christmas Eve.  

I have my own package to secure today.  Our precious daughter is arriving ahead of the storm.  My job is to get her home safely and make sure she is protected from the elements.  Please keep all the people who may be in harm's way in your prayers.  This approaching storm is going to be a bit of a challenge, especially for travelers.  I'm on my way to the airport to pick up our daughter.  The sun is shining and the winds are calmer today.  Have a great day.

Family Gathering Begins Tomorrow

 This will be the first time in a long while all our adult children are together to celebrate Christmas.  We joyfully await the arrival of our daughter tomorrow.  My wife put the finishing touches on my home office over the weekend.  There is so much writing to do in the coming months.  For now, it's family time.  I'm also very excited to introduce my mother to the Midwest sometime in the Spring.  The honey do list is long today.  I best get busy and complete my tasks before family time begins.

I would like to thank my fellow worshippers who organized some great in-home gatherings during this season of Advent and Christmas.  Tonight is our final gathering.  Have a great day.

Date Night in the Basement

 It's a repeat of last Sunday night.  Episode 2 of season 3, The Chosen, is released at 6pm Central Time tonight.  Even though I saw episode one and two at the theater, I'm super excited to see it again, this time with my wife.  The timing of this is perfect as my day job is now at a fever pitch and I need to get my bearings right in time for Christmas one week from today.

If you haven't checked out The Chosen, make sure you check it out.  This is the perfect time of year to experience Jesus.  Have a great day.

A Man Named Shad

Interesting people continue to cross paths these days.  Yesterday it was Shad, a missionary, who visited at my day job for some help.  Shad is short for Shadrick.  I recognized the name immediately when he handed me his driver's license.  

There is a story in the Old Testament about three men who were thrown into a furnace for their disobedience.  Shadrick was one of the three.  The three were joined by a man in a white robe.  They sung and danced amidst the flames.  Shad was named after Shadrick.  All of his siblings also have Biblical names.  I was touched by the work Shad and his wife, Debi, do south of the border to help others know Jesus.  All of this is done to prevent future fires in that place down under known as Hell.  

Pay attention to the people you meet.  They all have a story.  I would like to thank Shad and Debi for sharing their story yesterday.  Have a great day. 

The Mice are Scurrying Today

It had to happen at some point this season.  Snow and ice.  The most dangerous temps during precipitation are at the 32º mark.  It doesn't take much to create chaos.  I'm leaving early this morning for my day job to account for the hazardous conditions.  The foolish ones think they can still drive at the normal speed limit.  Unfortunately, they are the ones with stranded vehicles on the side of the interstate.  If you live in my parts, be safe.  Take it slow.  Adios.  Have a great day. 

Meet the ICE Mice

What you don't know about the ICE mice may prevent you from doing something once considered to be far-fetched, like living past 120.  Before you shoot the messenger, I want to share one more notion about aging that most of us believe to be reality.  The general population has no desire to live longer because they falsely believe getting old also means becoming decrepit.  Maybe it's time to meet the ICE mice.  These mice have no clue why one twin is aging faster than the other.  The scientists studying them are discovering something that may help us slow down our aging process.

ICE stands for inducible changes to the epigenome.  Scientists tested the theory that aging is related to breaks in the genome that occur as we age.  They accelerated aging in mice by inducing changes to the epigenome, similar to scratching a record.  The twins without the breaks or scratches aged naturally while the twins with the induced changes aged much faster.  See for yourself.  Look at this photo from the lab.

 

Here's the next question to ponder.  If the ICE mice can age faster than normal by inducing changes to the epigenome, can the reverse be true?  Can we somehow create the "Benjamin Buttons" scenario?  Maybe that will be another story for later.  Stay tuned.  Have a great day.

Set Up Your Winning Routine Before New Year Begins

 You can call them whatever you want... Resolutions.  Goals.  Habits.  What matters is they stick with you for the rest of your life.  Most people will do this once a year at the start of the New Year only to fail before January ends.  They forget the why.  What I mean by the why is the reason they came up with a resolution.  If this happened on a whim, good luck.  Failure is on the horizon and it's closer than you think.  That's why I focus on winning routines.  Call them baby steps.  365 baby steps are better than seven days of intensity that dies before the Super Bowl.  

There is no pressure setting up your baby steps now while no one else is thinking about this.  Let's say you decide you want to release some weight.  A good way to set up a routine is to start small.  The next time you go grocery shopping try cutting out some of those foods loaded with sugar and replace them with something healthy.  Introduce small changes like giving up snacks.  Build on your achievements.  You will have more than a two week head start if you do this now.  Keep adding to your winning routine, day by day.  Good luck.  Have a great day.

Is BIAY Worth Your Time?

 It's really easy for the world to know exactly what your priorities are.  Don't worry.  I'm not going to ask you.  You probably have a good idea of what you would like to do with your time vs. what you are really doing.  The world is watching you on a daily basis and the world already knows what's important to you.  You can't hide.  Before I delve into today's question, I would like to first ask if you feel you have enough time to listen to a podcast that covers the Bible in a Year when twenty to thirty minutes a day is allotted.  The reason I ask is because most people I talk with tell me there simply isn't enough time in a day, especially for those raising families.  

I would like to share what has happened in my life over this last year since I decided to go all in and find a way to listen to the BIAY every day for 365 days.  Is it easy?  No.  Is it worth it?  Yes.  Why?  Because I'm now a better version of myself than I was one year ago.  I feel closer to God.  I believe I'm a better husband.  I'm a better father to our adult children.  I'm a better member of our community.  I'm a better employee at my day job.  Why?  Because God is at the top of my priorities.  He gets the first fruits of my day every day.  Listening to his voice calms my nerves.  My patience is improved.  I have a better tolerance for people who quite frankly once annoyed me nonstop.  I find myself praying for them.  It's crazy, right?  

Let's address the time part now that you're interested but not sure if you can stay with this project for an entire year.  I challenge you to find thirty minutes today that could be considered wasted time.  Is it one TV show?  Click below for the background music while you ponder how you're gonna find that thirty minutes.

Here's the last thought before you shut down the idea of doing this project.  Imagine you see a man struggling to remain standing.  He's been beaten, bruised, mocked, ridiculed, and he's practically dead.  This man keeps falling down but he gets back up every time even though he's lugging a giant tree and he's going uphill.  He could just go down and stay down.  That would be so easy.  But he doesn't.  Why is this task so important?  It's because this person loves you that much.  He's on his way to die for you on that tree he's hauling.  He did all of this for you.  The full story is narrated for you in the BIAY.  First you have to answer the question for yourself... Is the BIAY worth your time?  Have a great day.

Why Forgiveness Changes Your World

 There is absolutely no doubt our world is upside down.  Do you find your list of enemies growing?  If you say or do the wrong the thing you suddenly find yourself cut off from others.  Perhaps you're biting your tongue at family gatherings in an effort to keep the peace.  What if some of the discord you see around you is coming from you?  Is it possible you did something in the past that hurt someone you love?  They could be hurting inside because of something you said, did, or didn't do.  What's the fix?

My wife and I had date night last night.  I set up my chrome cast and watched episode one of season three.  The creators of the series decided to cast Matthew, the tax collector, as having Asperger's Syndrome.  Keep in mind that tax collectors are hated by their own people because of the way the common folk suffer under the heavy burdens imposed.  Matthew's parents are no exception.  I don't want to give away the story.  Let's just say that things get really bad for Matthew.  He's already different because of Aspergers.  Choosing to be a tax collector causes him to be alienated.  Something happens that changes everything.  It's all about forgiveness.  Watch The Chosen and see for yourself.  You may see a little bit of Matthew in yourself.  You may feel like the parents who don't know how to have a loving relationship with their own son.  All I can say is I'm touched by what happens when forgiveness is in the picture.  If you've been deeply hurt, this is not easy.  Do it anyway.  There is a healing power in this simple act.  Have a great day.

Date Night Postponed to Tonight

I needed to take a mulligan on last night's scheduled date night.  I blew it.  Despite good planning and preparation, one key ingredient was missing – episode one of The Chosen which I thought was premiering last night.  Nope.  It's released at 6pm CST tonight.  I'm using the Chosen app to access the series, now in season three.  One episode a week will be released beginning tonight and it's free to the public. 

I highly recommend checking out this series, especially during this time of year.  This will reduce your stress levels and offer a bit of chicken soup for your soul.  Let me know what you think.  Our date night is on as soon as I get home from my day job.  Have a great day.

Date Night Tonight

 

One of the challenges of working in the retail world is the month of December.  Shoppers seem to be in panic mode.  We are barely catching our breath.  That's what makes date night so special for my wife and me.  Episode one of season three is available tonight for my favorite show, The Chosen.  The only way I know of to view it is through an app that you can get for free on your phone.  I figured out how to watch the series on my TV using the app.

It's really easy to get distracted this time of year.  Give yourself a break and treat yourself to episode one of The Chosen.  It's easier to follow if you've watched season one and two but not necessary.  There is plenty of time to catch up on the previous seasons before episode two next Saturday.  The characters are not big names.  Perhaps that's one of the reasons I like this so much.  It's unique.  For me, it helps me cope with an upside down world that seems to be moving faster than my comfort zone desires.  Even though I've already seen episode one and two at the theatre while I was away on a day job assignment, tonight is going to be extra special because it's date night tonight.  This is exactly what we need during these crazy times.

I'm curious to get your perspective on this series.  Let me know what you think.  Have a great day.

A Peak Inside the Invisible War

 You may not be able to see the invisible war going on in the spiritual realm.  Although mostly invisible, there is evidence the dark side is gaining momentum.  Do not be discouraged.  All of this was predicted eons ago.  However challenging this may to believers, it's necessary.  I woke up to a news report that an application has been made for a "Satan Club" at a school.  The marketing is clever.  An innocent child may even be persuaded to join.  I wonder how Jesus is reacting to his children being drawn away from the truth.  How long can the Father hold his breath while this goes on?

There is one thing that keeps me grounded during these tumultuous times.  It's my faith.  This spiritual war we are in has to do with free will.  Nonbelievers argue that a loving God would never allow evil to exist.  In my opinion, the fact that evil does exist is proof that God did not create robots.  He created living beings who are absolutely free to follow God or go on their own.  This invisible war is what remains of those fallen angels who believe they are better than God.  They may have their own club and we may be free to follow them but all of this is short-lived.  Isn't it ironic that God has been kicked out of our schools but these Satan clubs are allowed in?  

A word of caution to those who are oblivious to this invisible war.  One day it will become very, very visible.  Choose which side you want to be on today.  Pray for those who don't know who Jesus is.  Pray for those who know Jesus but choose not to follow.  Especially pray for the next generation of believers who are under an intense attack by the Dark Side.  If you happen to know me and you don't know Jesus, let's talk.  No judging.  Let's compare notes.  Have a great day.

The Mountains are Moving

Please pardon my exuberance.  I'm feeling great joy today.  I need to refrain from the specifics due to privacy reasons.  Let's simply say the mountains are moving.  If you happen to be on the outside looking in, this is for you.  Prayer works.  Mountains can be moved.  It's nothing we do.  It's what God does.  He listens.  He loves.  He wants you to be connected to him.  Don't ever give up.  

Have you ever felt like you are wandering in the desert?  Imagine what it was like for the Chosen Ones who wandered for forty years, the equivalent of a generation.  Although they wandered, they set up camp in a specific manner directed by God.  Unbeknownst to them, this formation, best seen from a mountaintop, revealed something really special.  It foreshadowed what was to come.   What a sight.  This formation of God's chosen people was in the shape of a cross.  These are the people that ushered in our Savior.  That's why we can move mountains.  The cross is real.  Jesus is real.  Celebrate that today and every day.  Thank you, Jesus, for being with us even when we can't see you.  Have a great day.

Don't Tell Dave

My wife and I are living proof that you can live like no one else when you first live like no one else.  When she came home from the library over ten years ago with Dave Ramsey's book about living a debt free life we decided to get on board.  On St. Patrick's day this year we made our final mortgage payment.  The way we did it is not Dave Ramsey approved.  He mentions on his radio show that no one ever became a millionaire using reward schemes.  I agree with that statement.  Where I see things a bit differently has to do with how my wife and I pay our expenses.  We "pretend" our credit card is a debit card and charge almost everything first.  Once the charge clears pending we make a payment to bring the balance back to zero.  The deal we made is that if we ever pay interest the card gets cut up.  So far so good.  The best part about our system is that we used our reward certificate ($952) to retire our mortgage.  Future reward certificates are used for travel.  Even though the vacation money is already in the bank, we still charge first to get the extra bucks.

This is a good time of year to think about your goals for next year.  Set up strategies that help you get a grip on your finances.  Change your food habits to decrease your waistline while increasing your energy.  And if you decide to turn your credit card into a pretend debit card, please don't tell Dave on me.  Have a great day.

Remember the Reason

Malls are full.  Tensions are high.  Road rage is everywhere.  Sadly, many have forgotten the reason for the season.  Last night my wife and I joined a community of believers at a private residence to focus on Jesus and the Holy Family.  I thanked the group for inspiring me to get closer to Jesus.  It was a year ago at this time I learned about the Chosen and began watching.  What a difference a year makes.  I'm just about done going through the Bible in a Year podcast.  Everything I'm doing points to the reason for the season.  Take time today to ponder what it was like 2,000 years ago when Joseph and Mary were about to welcome Jesus into the world.  Think about how his birth changed everything.  Have a great day. 

New Home Office Complete

 It wasn't easy.  My wife doesn't even know.  It took 2.5 hours to move two rooms this morning.  I did it.  It's a surprise so don't say anything if you happen to talk to her.  I'm rushing to get this story out on time.  Yes, I made it home safely yesterday.  The only challenge was returning my rental car after hours and discovering that my battery was dead.  My wife came to the rescue.  All is well.  Have a great day.

Travel Day Today

 My support teammates and I are going home today.  Our work is done.  The prototype store of our future is in full operation.  I'm excited to be reunited with my family.  Before I say goodbye I'm headed to my house of worship this morning to thank God for his hand in my life.  He gets all the glory for the success all of us our enjoying.  The people we serve in this community have been blessed.  Thank you, Ankeny, for welcoming us.  This chapter of my life has come to a conclusion.  Until we meet again.  Special thanks to my teammates for coming together during the busiest time of the year.  Safe travels.  Have a great day.

The Slight Edge Advantage

 You've seen the evidence.  You've heard the stories.  You're ready to try some of the crazy things I advocate.  The real problem is you don't really believe you can sustain living this way, like keeping your food intake to one meal a day.  Good news.  There's a way to do this without fear of failure.  Ready?

Any huge endeavor is made up of a series of baby steps.  Suppose you want to build your core body strength and do something that appears super human from your current perpective, like the ability to do 1,000 stomach crunches a day.  Crazy, right?  Impossible, you think.  Well, how many can you do today given your current of physical fitness?  Can you do one or two?  Perfect.  Now pause reading this and give me two stomach crunches.  I'm waiting.  Thank you.  Now, tomorrow, get up and add a couple more to your routine.  This is the slight edge approach.

The slight edge works the same way in areas of reduction, like losing weight.  Strive to give up one ounce of weight through small changes to eating habits.  You can give up an ounce today, right?  16 days of this equals one pound.  The slight edge works.

Your body will listen to you if you intoduce change in small steps.  It will cooperate more fully once you build a track record of consistent wins.  The next time someone asks you how you get by on one meal a day, tell them some crazy guy you know told you about the slight edge approach.  You've got this.  Have a great day.

It's Time to Pass the Baton

 If you could leave one final message on your gravestone to summarize your life, what would be inscribed?  Think hard about this.  This is the way you want to be remembered.  No mulligans (do-overs).  These words are your last words.  

One of the new hires on our Ankeny team in Iowa is an amazing athlete.  He told me yesterday he signed up for cross country as a way to cross train for his main interest, track.  He especially loved the 440 relay because it involves teamwork.  Passing the baton requires hard work, practice, and relying on others to win the race.  That is exactly what's going on in our newest location.  

Sunday is my last day with our new team.  I'm passing the baton.  It's time to get out of the way.  It's their race now.  The training wheels are off.  One thing is for sure, I will never forget these people.  I would also like to thank my support teammates for coming together at a critical time to help with our own version of the 440 relay.  Safe travels home.  And to my wife, I can't wait to see you on Sunday.  Have a great day.

There's Something About Molecules

 Molecules.  They're invisible to the naked eye.  The older you get the less of them you have.  Your body gradually decreases the production of them.  Could it be that when these molecules diminish your body slows down?  If so, what would happen if you decided to supplement these molecules on your own?  Could you actually slow down the aging process?  A Harvard scientist has been asking these questions for years.  I think he's on to something.

One of the employees at my hotel greeted me last night when I returned after dinner with my teammates.  She asked, "Tennis again?"

I told her my final drill session on the courts was at 6am.  That's 5.5 hours of court time this week.  At 62 I can keep up with the younger players for several reasons.  In my opinion, the top reason is because of these invisible molecules inside my body.  I have more of them than others in my age group because I consume them every morning with olive oil.  Just like David Sinclair's lab rats who can run on treadmills without getting tired, I can play tennis for hours nonstop.  I'm going to share more about my experiences in detail.  All I can say right now is that I'm happy to experimenting with the same protocols David Sinclair is using on himself while human trials are underway.  If you want to know more about molecules, Read "Lifespan" and decide for yourself if this is snake oil or the real deal.  Have a great day.

6am Drills Today

 By the time you read today's story, the drills will be over.  I can't remember the last time I had this much fun doing drills on a tennis court.  No wonder these tennis fanatics keep coming back.  Music from my time period is blaring.  Players are in constant motion.  The pros jump in to push the top players.  When it's over I can't believe how fast the time flew by.  Today will be my final session.  I will miss these players.  They have something special in these parts.  Time to skedaddle.  Have a great day.

Round 2 Grip N' Rip

 The first round of Grip N' Rip was exactly what I needed yesterday.  It was one hour of nonstop drills.  I'm maximizing my last day off before returning home by doubling up on the tennis drills today.  The first session is at noon for an hour.  Session two is for ninety minutes in the evening.  I'm excited.  These folks are working me pretty hard.  No complaints here.  The league competition back home is getting fierce and this is exactly what I need to keep up with the competition.  Have a great day.

Balance Restored

 Life is good.  The new team is gelling.  The support team is returning to more regular hours.  I rediscovered my tennis game.  Today is Grip N' Rip, a noon day drill session with some locals in the Des Moines area on the indoor tennis courts.  My bosses at my home location granted the one week extension request so I will remain in Ankeny until Sunday.  There is still much work to be done.  For now, it's rest and recovery time.

It's really easy to get out of balance during this time of year.  I'm thankful my voice remained in tact during our grand opening.  Pay attention to your choices at this stressful time.  Rest before you get tired.  Eat foods high in nutritional value.  Surround yourself with positive people.  Your life is a marathon, not a sprint.  Pay attention to the rest stops.  Have a great day.

Grip N' Rip

 My travel assignments are more than work.  It's not easy but I always find a way to exercise.  Yesterday is a great example.  Excluding Thanksgiving with my family, yesterday was my first real day away from my day job.  I headed to the indoor courts seeking a hitting session with one of the local pros.  The place was buzzing due to a youth tournament.  I walked out with a Winter schedule of drills.  Nonmembers are welcome and guest fees are waived.  

My workout time was not a total bust.  I found a local park nearby with three tennis courts.  There was a slight breeze.  Outdoor temps hovered around 55° which is a heat wave this time of year in the Midwest.  Families ventured outdoors.  Dog walkers filled the trails.  It was the perfect day to take a break from my day job assignment.  I'm hoping for several grip n' rip sessions before I return home from my assignment which has been extended an extra week due to our popularity in Ankeny.  The favorible news reports helped us exceed our goals.  My hope is to return home in better physical shape than when I started.  So far so good.  Time to head to my house of worship with an armful of prayer requests.  I will be sure to offer thanks for the great weather and for all the amazing people on my support team.  Have a great day.

Are You Eating Like No One Else?

 My teammates here in Ankeny have been commenting about my eagerness to rush to dinner every night.  The reason is because my food habits are a bit strange.  I don't diet.  Processed foods are off the table and consumption of three meals a day is in the rear view mirror.  I rarely snack and I don't get hungry until late in the day.  

The next time you're in a large crowd focus on other people's waistlines.  There is a tell-tale sign identifying the population of North America, over-sized bellies.  Sadly, this leads to disease and premature death.

The argument against my intermittent fasting is that it is un-American.  That's okay with me.  Eating the way I eat doesn't happen overnight.  Your body needs time to detox.  Consulting your doctor is a wise first step.  The slower the better.  Teach your body to prepare for skipped meals.  This will be a shock.  Your body will rebel.  Once you take control of your food intake, your life will change.  Have a great day.

Why I Love My Day Job

 

My teammates from surrounding states are in my homestate helping to open a new location in Iowa.  That means sacrifices.  As much as we love being the support team, there are times when it's difficult to be away from home.  I'm the lucky one this time.  My home is only one hundred miles to the east.  I celebrated Thanksgiving with my wife, our adult sons, and my wife's extended family.  My teammates in Ankeny volunteered to remain in Ankeny in order to be available for the chaos about to hit us like a hurricane this morning on Black Friday.

I would like to thank the senior leadership team in Ankeny for caring so much.  One of the top leaders invited the entire support team to his home on Thanksgiving day.  This is why I love my day job so much.  Thank you, Ankeny, for welcoming us with open arms.  Have a great day.

Happy Thanksgiving

 What are you thankful for?  If you take a look around, I have a feeling you can find something.  I'm thankful for time.  Yes, time.  It's the time today I get to sit down with my family and my wife's extended family.  I'm thankful for each of you who take time to stop here and check in.  We are connected.  I'm thankful for that connection.  You will be in my prayer of gratitude when I'm praying for you and all your intentions later today.  May you be abundantly blessed with time to do all of things that are important to you in your life.  Happy Thanksgiving!  Have a great day.

Should You See Jesus on the Big Screen?

 Your relationship with Jesus is a personal decision.  So is your choice to follow him or stay home.  Church attendance is dropping, especially for younger people.  You may be asking, "Why should I watch Jesus on the big screen when I can wait and see The Chosen for free at home?"

I don't have answers to these questions.  What I feel in my heart is there are powers constantly working to drive you away from your best destiny.  Just like out of power politicians ask you, "Are you better off today then you were four years ago?" Ask yourself the question about your relationship with God.  How is it worshipping at home in lieu of the real deal at your house of worship?

There is something about seeing Jesus on the big screen.  It's special.  It's emotional.  These actors do a great job showing us what life was like when they were with Jesus.  I was a bit nervous being in row two.  That changed when I discovered the seats fold down so far that you feel like you're in a bed.  I felt very comfortable.  It's like having seats on the 50 yard line to watch your favorite team.

I'm thankful something so meaningful is available for us.  Yes, there are other choices.  You can stay home.  You can find other things to fill your time.  Or, you can spend some time with the one who died for you so that you no longer have to worry about what happens after death.  You may see the world differently after you see Jesus on the big screen.  I believe this is a great choice.  Don't wait too long.  This is a limited time opportunity.  Have a great day.

Movie Night Tonight

 I'm going to be close to Jesus tonight.  Really close.  I'm talking row two close.  I found the movie theater in an area of Ankeny known as District 36.  It's loaded with awesome restaurants and shopping opportunities.  The movie theater features a bowling alley.  I've been spending a lot of time dining in the district but didn't notice the movie theater until last night when I drove a different way.

The timing is perfect to see The Chosen.  My shift ends at 6:30 and movie time is 7.  Row two is a bit close for me but it's the only spot where I could get two seats together.  It's nice to see all the support for movies like this.  I will offer a review tomorrow.  Have a great day.

Are You a Believer?

What a roller coaster ride we are on right now in Ankeny opening up a new location.  It was such a relief to sit down at Outback Steakhouse with two of my teammates from Wisconsin at the conclusion of a fast-weekend.  Our food server discovered where we work and started asking questions.  I stunned my friends when I asked her, "Are you a believer?"

I will keep her answer confidential.  What I will share is what led up to the question.  My friends are about as varied as you will ever see.  We don't argue about who is right about their particular beliefs.  Let's just say that one of us was raised under communist rule, the other in a mixed religious family and I am the one attempting to see how we all fit.  When I shared this with our food server she wanted to know more.  For me, the conversation was a God moment.

How about you?  Are you a believer?  How would you feel about having dinner with others who may have been raised in an environment different from your upbringing?  How would you respond if someone asked you to share your faith with them?  All I can say is I'm thankful my journey through the Bible in a Year podcast is almost complete.  Have a great day.

A Double Blessing

 Yesterday two of my friends from our Ireland pilgrimage stopped in to say hello at our new Ankeny location.  My wife and I became so close with Pat and Sharon that we felt like family.  Sharon calls me her brother.  The couple who live in the quad cities were in town to see their family and cheer for their college football team.  We only visited for a couple of minutes but I shared that I would be worshipping this morning nearby and they are going to join me.  That's the first blessing.

Last night we said goodbye to another friend who had been our project coordinator since September.  Dennis is one of those people you bond with instantly.  A bunch of us ate dinner together to celebrate a successful opening.  On my way out the door my new friend Boris, a wine steward from Wisconsin, shouted out about a movie I want to see with him.  

"When are we going?"  He asked. The others at his table were curious.  Who knows?  Maybe we will all see The Chosen together after work.  It opened in theaters on Friday for a limited time.  This is my second blessing because most of the main characters in the movie are jewish just like my friend Boris who is a direct descendant of Aaron, the brother of Moses.  

If you're reading this story and you happen to be in or near Ankeny, ask me if you would like to see this movie with me and Boris.  Boris agreed to go with me as long as we drink wine.  The first time I met Boris I joked that the best wine known to man came from Jesus.  Have a great day.

Work/Travel Goals Out of Order

 I have a simple answer when people ask me about my work goals - Work less and travel more.  Sounds simple, right?  Simple doesn't always mean possible.  This is a long term goal and I'm striving to make this dream a reality.   My current day job assignment is satisfying the "travel more" goal while the "work less" goal is going in the opposite direction due to the needs of the business.  

The time will come soon when harmony is restored.  My eyes are fixed on Thanksgiving when I can return to my family to celebrate.  There is much to be thankful for.  I would like to thank my family for the sacrfices they make and for their prayers.  The day will come when work less and travel more is more than a dream.  I will keep that in mind while dealing with the massive crowds during the remainder of my time away from my family.  Have a great day.

Doors are Open in Ankeny

 The locals appeared shocked when we rolled our doors on time yesterday.   I had my doubts when I arrived on Monday.  Access to our new location was blocked.  Traffic signals did not exist.  Bad weather was coming.  The roads were not paved.  Thank God news crews showed up to reassure the public we were open for business.

I showed up early to watch the ribbon cutting ceremony.  The mayor shared his thoughts about the economic impact of our presence in the community.  It looks like the residents are happy we are here.

I would like to thank all the support staff who invested countless hours to prepare our new team.  Also, I would like to congratulate  the management staff for their success getting the buiding open on time.  It's amazing what can be done with teamwork.  Have a great day.

Iowa's Best Kept Secret

 How can you peek into our country's history, see amazing art, and discover how laws are made in one place for free?  I've been living in Iowa for over ten years and didn't know the answer until yesterday afternoon.  It almost didn't happen because I showed up alone and the guided tour doesn't usually happen unless at least two people are present.

I would like to thank my two tour guides, Sara and Morgan, who offered to take me on a one hour tour of Iowa's state capital yesterday.  This is 100% free and it's fun.  We climbed a spiral staircase all the way to the top of the building where you can have the best view of the city of Des Moines, the capital of Iowa.  The art imported from Europe is a must see.  Self-guided tours are an option but you miss out on some spectacular rooms off limits to visitors unless a tour guide is present.

I plan to return to the capital building in Des Moines at a later date with my family.  This building happens to be ranked in the top five of US capital buildings.  Come see for yourself why this place is rated so high by past visitor.

I would like to thank my new friends for demonstrating what "Iowa nice" means.  I told them one of my friends sailed on the USS Iowa when they brought me to a hallway containing a giant replica of the navy ship.  It turns out my buddy actually served on a different Iowa ship, the USS Dubuque.  I apologize for my reporting error.  There is one fun fact about the USS Iowa - the length happens to be 3 football fields long.  I told my tour guides our new location in Ankeny is big enough to hold two full size ships the size of the USS Iowa.

Make plans to take a tour of Iowa's state capital the next time you visit Iowa.  Have a great day.

The Million Dollar Question

 How are you doing with your relationships?  Satisfied?  Are you wondering if perhaps you could do better?  The older I get the more I understand how asking great questions leads to a better understanding of the people around you.  I do my best to ask the right questions.  

You don't have to look very far to see dissension and division in the world.  Families fight for generations.  Countries attack other countries based on quarrels or misunderstandings from so long ago that they forget why they hate each other.

I met a gentleman this week who inspired me to ask the million dollar question.  It's a question that could forever change our future.  I knew that asking the question could harm our chances for a friendship but I took the risk.  We were both talking about Jesus.  My new friend explained why he needed to be put to death.  

I asked,  "What if everything Jesus said was true and he wasn't a false prophet?"

There was a long pause while my Jewish friend considered my question.  If I asked you the same question, how would you answer?  If you're not sure, do what the first followers did.  Come and see.  Where?  Check your local movie theater and see for yourself.  The Chosen is on the big screen for a limited time beginning tomorrow.  Have a great day.

BIAY Podcast Yields Fruit

 

If the next two weeks of my day job assignment are anything like my first day yesterday, I'm in for one heck of a roller coaster ride.  It all started with a simple morning prayer..."Jesus, let's go.  I'm ready to do anything you ask of me."  I showed up at the car rental place and was offered the best rental vehicle in the fleet, a brand new 2022 Ford Edge with all the bells and whistles.  Oh my, what a blessing.

I was a couple of days behind on my daily Bible in a Year podcast so I caught up in my rental vehicle while driving to Ankeny.  There is much hustle and bustle right now in preparation for our grand opening this week.  Our team dined together after an exceptional day getting new members signed up.  

I sat next to a wine steward with one of the most interesting stories I've ever heard.  We talked mostly about grapes until I asked about where he grew up.  Muldalvia borders Ukraine and Romania.  Boris was raised under communist rule.  This is not a good place to get started, especially if you happen to be Jewish.  I was dancing around the elephant in the room.  You probably know where I'm headed.  Yep.  The one who turns water into wine.  Not ordinary wine but the best wine ever experienced by us mortals.

I'm going to keep the conversation private.  What I will say here is Boris is a huge history buff.  He happens to be a descendant of Aaron, the brother of Moses.  His tribe is charged with worship.  This is the only tribe without any rights to land.  I was on the edge of my seat all evening.  Boris asked for a link to my BIAY podcast and told me he would check it out.  Can you believe that?  

It's time to head off to our temporary facility for another extraordinary day.  Have a great day.

Road Trip Today

 I'm on a day job assignment beginning today.  It's expansion time in my home state.  I will be supporting new teammates for a couple of weeks.  Time to hit the road.  More updates to follow.  Have a great day.

Are You Feeling Intimidated?

 I'm guessing that you are probably feeling a bit intimidated since you're reading this story.  The source of your intimidation may be other people in your life or your circumstances.  Am I right?  If this is so, I have great news.  The solution is not my own so I'm not taking credit.  It's not my wife's solution either but I must give her credit for pointing me to the answer.  Remember the story I shared about leaving Jesus between the sheets in our hotel room?  This book, "Jesus Calling," contains out of this world wisdom and this happens to be the solution when you find yourself intimidated by your circumstances.

Pick up a copy of "Jesus Calling" and you will find all the answers you need.  The story from 11/11 is my source for the answer to today's question.  Here is an excerpt:

"Do not let any set of circumstances intimidate you.  The more challenging your day, the more of My Power I place at your disposal... I know what each of your days contain, and I empower you accordingly.  The degree to which I strengthen you on a given day is based on two variables:  the difficulty of your circumstances, and your willingness to depend of Me for help."

There you go.  Have a great day.  

Wife Says, "Plug This"

How do couples stay married in these challenging times?  Ask around.  I'm sure you will gain valuable wisdom.  It's been 33 years for us and I consider our marriage as a blessing from Heaven.  Today is a special day for us.  It's not an anniversary or birthday.  It's something that rarely happens as she works Monday through Friday and I typically work every weekend.  Not today.  I'm enjoying a floating Holiday and we're together.  We started our day watching a YouTube video from the narrator of the daily podcast I listen to.  It simply "popped up" on my FaceBook page this morning.  The message was so strong that I paused the video, removed my headphones, and asked my wife if she would like to join me.  I know from experience that interrupting her prayer and meditation time is a big no-no.  Well, this message seemed like something we needed to enjoy together.  Good thing.  The message was exactly what both of us needed to hear.  

My wife turned to me at the conclusion of the YouTube video and said, "Make sure you plug this."  Do me and my wife a favor and watch this video.  If you like it, please pass it on to your friends and family.  I'm still paying it forward as it was my mother who found Fr. Mike first when she was looking for a way to worship from home during the pandemic.  Thanks, mom.  Check out the YouTube video below. Have a great day.  

Untwisted

 Thank a vet today.  Thank him or her for serving our country.  I can't imagine what our world would look like if these brave men and women hadn't answered the call.  Thank you!  Thank you! Thank you!  Happy Veterans Day!

The biblical moment I've been waiting for ever since signing up for daily Bible in a Year podcasts happened this morning.  The best way I can describe the event is in one word – untwisted.  Don't try this at home unless you're fully prepared for what happens.  Your life may never be the same.

Outsiders may say what I did was silly, stupid, or just plain egotistical.  Perhaps one can check all three boxes and be entirely correct.  What I asked for and what I got were two different things.  What I received changed me forever.  I listened to a stranger who appeared at our house of worship back in the day before my hair turned white.  I was just a regular guy married to an amazing wife raising a family of three children.  This visitor demonstrated how we could see ourselves in the Bible if we asked God to show us who we are.  I did this.  I went home, opened my Bible and asked God to show me who I am in his eyes.  I was hoping for some cool guy like Noah.  This didn't happen.  Instead I saw a reflection of myself in Luke 8:26-40, a crazy naked dude living in a cave who was possessed my multiple demons.  Jesus goes to extraordinary lengths to reach out to this man.  The boat practically gets swallowed up in the storm the night before the meeting.  Jesus gets out of the boat, approaches the demoniac and heals him.  

The story doesn't end with the healing.  The villagers witness all the pigs drowning after the demons are cast out of the crazy man and they get scared.  They head home to tell everyone about what happened and the townspeople get frightened.  They send Jesus away.  The man pleads to follow Jesus but Jesus says no, ordering the man to return home and share what happened with others.  This man didn't have a blog but he was pretty good about sharing from his heart.  The good news is that when Jesus returned, everyone was waiting based on the testimony of the crazy man who got a mulligan and used his second chance at life to share all about Jesus.

All I can say is I'm now untwisted.  I still do silly things sometimes but I'm very different ever since I discovered my past, present, and future all in one Bible story.  Jesus heals.  Ask him to be your guide.  Have a great day and don't forget to thank a vet.

Rabbit Hunting 101

Yesterday I heard a quote from Confucius, a wise Chinese philosopher.  The quote stuck with me all day long because of the power of the lesson.  I ran across someone who inquired about my book writing while at my day job.  I shook my head no and told him there are two book projects and neither are ready to be released.  He said, "Man who chases two rabbits catches neither."  Boom!  This hit me really hard, especially since I've been cautioned in the past to focus and I'm often distracted.  Has this ever happened to you?  I think Confucius was referencing two rabbits running in opposite directions.  That's a very good mental picture of what happens when you lose focus.

Notice that this lesson applies to men.  Why?  In my opinion, when a woman chases two rabbits, not only does she catch both, but she also hunts for delicious fruits, veggies, nuts, beans, and seeds to serve along with the bunnies she caught while out jogging.  The female can do it all while the male gets stuck chasing two rabbits with nothing to show at the end of the day when he returns to the female who remodeled the house, called all her friends, and served up a feast for the family knowing the husband would come home with his tail between his legs because he got lost.

I believe I'm slowly catching on.  The year is almost over and I pretty much have been chasing one rabbit all year.  I stayed focused on the hunt every morning at sunrise.  I used the same gazelle-like intensity Dave Ramsey refers to when slaying the debt dragon to chase this "Bible in a Year" rabbit.  I followed the bunny hopping through the pages of Genesis and all the chapters of the Old Testament.  The rabbit I'm hunting is now cornered in Luke's gospel and it's almost time to finally catch him just in time to celebrate the New Year.  Thank you, Mr. Confucius, for helping me understand the male brain and it's limitations.  By the way, I feel pretty good about all the new wisdom I gained while out bunny hunting, especially in Proverbs and the Book of Wisdom.  Confucius is wise but I believe Jesus has perfect wisdom.  

If you are a man, focus on one rabbit.  If you are a woman, carry on.  You can add my request to share this story to your to do list without skipping a beat.  Your friends may get a chuckle.  Have a great day.

How Do You Solve Your Math Problems?

 The furthest I made it in the math world was calculus.  I'm also the first to admit that I was in way over my head, similar to chemistry.   I admire those who can do math effortlessly, even calculate the actual day of the week I was born.  I'm also thankful all of our offspring are now well into adulthood because I would struggle should anyone ask for homework help using the "new math."  That brings up today's question:  How do you solve your math problems?  If you're at calculus or above or if you're in the new generation of new math people, you've got me.  One area where I feel a bit more comfortable with math happens to be in the spiritual realm.  This matter is more on the philosophical level so it may get cloudy.  

In the invisible world there are "quadrants."  One side is positive and the other negative.  Are you with me so far?  I promise, I'm going to keep this simple because that's about all I can do.  If you look at the positive side, you see evidence for the type of math used.  It's addition and multiplication using positive numbers.  You may have heard about the large crowd who came to see the one sent to make all things new, including the lost ones who resided in the negative quadrant.  There were a couple of loaves of bread and some fish.  How do you feed 5,000 with such a small amount of food?  Great math problem, right?  As I mentioned earlier, the positive side of the spiritual world multiplies.  Yep.  5,000 people ate so much they were stuffed.  You get the idea about spiritual math.

Now, let's look at the negative side.  This side of the quadrant relies on subtraction and division.  All you have to do is look around and see proof of this.  It's the source of arguments, disbelief, jealousy, greed, and all the other problems plaguing our world.  The Dark Side relies on color coding to help others understand how to practice division in their everyday lives.  The color of our skin is one way.  The labels we wear showing our political choices are red, blue, purple, and maybe more as time passes.  Remember, it's all about dividing, dividing, and more dividing.  If a husband and wife fight, that's an example of division.  The more chaos you see the more division is being spread.  

Here's the bonus question:  Are you a multiplier or a divider?  You don't have to tell me.  I'm only asking that you become aware of how dangerous the negative side can be.  I'm going to do my best to stay positive even when the world appears to drifting to the negative side of the quadrant.  Have a great day.

First Half of God's Playbook Completed

 The Old Testament I've been listening to every morning when I wake up is now complete.  That's 312 days of Bible in a Year narrated by Fr. Mike Schmitz, a youth pastor in Duluth, Minnesota.  This is God's playbook.  He reveals his heart in these daily messages.  My mind is still grasping the meaning of all these stories.  It wonderful having a narrator help me understand what's going on.  Fr. Mike's mentor from college, Jeff Cavins, steps in now and then to assist with the timeline.  These folks are the dynamic duo when it comes to discerning God's plan, not only for his chosen ones from the Old Testament, but all the new players he brings in when his Son, Jesus, enters the stadium in the New Testament.

I'm getting really excited to begin the New Testament tomorrow morning.  For me, I'm beginning to understand how important the Old Testament is.  It sets up everything that happens when Jesus shows up.  I highly recommend giving the BIAY a try.  The podcasts are easy to follow.  My wife calls it the BITY (Bible in Two Years) because she is so busy that every day is too much for her.  Every other day is fine.  What's important is understanding that all these plays are designed just for you.  Everything you need to know about God is in the playbook.  Have a great day.

God's Marketer

I'm sharing my testimony today.  Looking back at my life through the rear view mirror, I can see with 20/20 vision that God was always calling me to be one of his marketers.  If there was any lack of clarity, the blame rests 100% on my shoulders.  God was always calling.  I'm sorry for all the busy signals.  I'm sorry for everything that got in the way.  I was born to be a marketer.  I love promoting worthwhile causes and people I believe in.  My strength is working with others who have the talent to get things done, especially those who  are blessed with extraordinary gifts.  

Those who know me best understand my weaknesses.  That's how God works.  Jesus never allowed his followers to go out alone.  Families are the strongest when there are two.  My success at my day job comes from working in pairs or with small teams.  

My testimony may help you understand how God works in our lives, even when we may not see it right away, like the time our family headed to Kansas City to watch our beloved San Diego (now LA) Chargers play an away game at Arrowhead stadium.  We were practically the only family in Charger blue jerseys in a sea of red jerseys.  We heard talk about how loud the stadium can get.  Yes, the place was so noisy that we could barely hear ourselves talking to one another.  That changed when our team took an early lead and appeared to be on our way to a blowout win.  Something happened.  The chiefs made all the right adjustments.  They appeared unstoppable in the 4th quarter.  The crowd roared.  A drunk fan in front of us started taunting our beloved quarterback yelling, "Phyllis Rivers.  Phyllis Rivers."  He wouldn't shut up.  I looked over at our oldest son.  He was doing everything he could to restrain himself.  I could tell he was dangerously close to jumping out of his seat and assaulting the annoying fan.  We were outnumbered by about 70,000 people and we were far from home.  It was scary.  So was leaving the stadium.

God's team is similar to our situation in Kansas City.  You find yourself in unfamiliar territory surrounded by the enemy.  God asks you to share a message that happens to be unpopular.  Victory seems nearly impossible.  At times you feel like a fish out of water.  

I really didn't begin to understand how to be God's marketer until I delved into God's playbook.  The first part of the book is filled with stories about how the underdogs pulled out victories in seemingly impossible situations.  I learned about pathetic players who turned their seasons around once they asked for the gift of the Holy Spirit.  They turned into mighty warriors.  It was never about the individual on God's team.  It was always about God.  It was always about trusting God with the right plays at the right time.  That's what good marketing is... the right time, the right message, and the right moves.  God's plays are a mystery.  They seem do go against logic.  Trust is everything.  I'm still working on this.  I'm slowly learning what it means to be God's marketer.  I often wonder why he drafted me.  What I'm realizing is that he wants the whole world on his team.  How is this going to happen?  Maybe it's when enough of his marketers answer the call and stand up for him.  Have a great day.

Congratulations to Our Youngest Son

 He woke us up at 2:00 AM this morning to share the good news.  After about ten weeks of training and learning from some of the best trainers in his profession, our son is now solo in his job patrolling the streets and keeping our community safe.  It wasn't easy.  At times he thought he would be relieved.  Our son remained committed.  Congratulations, Shane.  The family is super proud of you.  Have a great day.

Strengths vs. Weaknesses

 There is only so much time in a day.  You want to improve and you're not sure if you should develop your strengths or spend time working on your weaknesses.  Which will yield maximum results?  In my opinion, your weaknesses will probably be a challenge for you all your life no matter how much time you devote.  Your strengths, when sharpened, will yield extraordinary results.  The good news is that every moment you invest honing your top talents will seem effortless because this is what you are born to do.  Why compare yourself to others who have different strengths when you can simply look inside yourself and develop your own unique gifts?

Your friends already know your top strengths.  If you're unsure, ask them.  As for your weaknesses, simply pair up with others who have strengths in your weak areas and ask them to assist with projects you're not ever going to do well.  Your stress levels will go down and your happiness will increase because you're excelling instead of floundering.  Have a great day.

Mother Nature Reveals Her Dreary Side

 The leaves are mostly gone now.  Temperatures are falling.  Dark skies moved in overnight.  It will rain most of today.  Mother Nature is revealing her dreary side in my home state today.  Just because she appears gloomy and bleak, that doesn't mean I have to reflect her nature.  I choose to look on the bright side.  So, what is it that can help us be cheery on dark days?

There aren't many sheep in my town to count so I'm improving and counting leaves.  Each leaf is something I'm thankful for.  These leaves are like grains of sand on the beach.  They are in abundance right now.  You can do the same thing.  Count sheep, count leaves, count grains of sand.  Count the stars, the clouds, people on the subway.  You get the idea.  If you stay with this exercise and count high enough, you can see how many blessings there are in your life.  Mother Nature may be punching.  Counter punch.  Don't stop.  Seize the day.  Have a great day.

Why the Dark Side is Doomed to Failure

 Kudos to the Dark Side.  Their relentless attacks have gained ground these last hundred  years or so.  Look around and you can see their advances.  I know their playbook well.  In fact, I've lived through their attacks. The most destructive were the bombs they dropped on my family when I was an angry young man.  Anger happens to be their favorite poison.  Swallow it and you lose your innocence.  Become addicted to anger and you risk an eternity in Hell.  I have good news for you.  These advances are short lived.  The fire breathing dragons will all be snuffed out.  Every. Single. One.  The Dark Side is doomed to failure.  This is God's promise.  Ask God's Son, Jesus.  He destroyed death with one final exhale.

There is zero evidence that God lies to us.  The Enemy may be pretty good at disguising the truth but even the Enemy understands how much God loves us.  The only reason the battle is even close right now is because of free will.  The Dark Side is dark because they gave up their light.  Sorry.  They don't get it back.  Not ever.  They made the choice.  They tempt you to join them.  They tempt you to get angry.  They join forces to gang up on you when they think you are vulnerable.  They knock you down when you stand up for the truth.  They turn your own friends and family against you in hopes of discouraging you.  I see this very clearly.  Where am I getting my information from?  Not fake news.  I don't even watch cable TV.  I get it straight from the source.  Today is day 308 of 365 for Bible in a Year.  I'm listening to stories from 2nd Maccabees, Proverbs, and Wisdom.  Wow!  In 2nd Maccabees, one side is inviting God to be at the center of the fight while the enemy uses rage as their weapon.  One side gets destroyed while the other side is wiped out.  A special forces unit from Heaven joined the battlefield and tipped the scales.  Is this a preview of what is going to happen in our modern world?  The answer is in the Books of Wisdom and Proverbs.  The Enemy prefers you get your updates from worldly sources.  I recommend checking in directly with the Creator.  Prayer works.  Fasting works.  Worship changes hearts.  Sharing the Good News is the best thing you can do in a world under attack.  Have a great day.

Your Choices Have Consequences

You made a choice to read this story today.  I really don't know your motivation for doing this but I'm grateful.  The truth is that you're making choices every moment of your day.  You choose what to read and what to ignore.  You choose what to eat and what not to eat.  You choose who you spend your time with.  You choose to attend your house of worship or to do something else instead.  

I do my best to worship God every Sunday.  In my denomination we also have "extra" days we are obligated to include like yesterday.  These "extra days" are sometimes overlooked because I forget since they are not part of my regular routine.  My wife chose to stay home because she was under the weather yesterday.  I hugged my son goodbye on my way to worship and wished him well on his night shift which would be starting in a couple of hours.  About fifty steps into my walk I heard my son yelling as he jogged toward me.  "I'm going with you," he said.  "I will need to leave a bit early to get to work on time but I want to join you."

We taught our children when they were growing up that when they are on their own it will be up to them to either worship or not worship.  God doesn't force anything on us.  Our pastor asked the congregation if anyone wanted to become a saint during his talk.  I thought, good question.  He enumerated all the qualities of sainthood beginning with the one thing every saint in Heaven has – sin.  We are all sinners, even the saints.  For me, attending weekly services helps me overcome my personal sin due to bad choices.  Asking for forgiveness is also on the list for those hopeful to one day become saints.

I would like to offer one final thought about choices and their consequences.  In my opinion, any choice you make that brings you closer to your Creator is a choice with positive consequences.  The reverse is also true – any choice you make that pushes you further from your Creator comes with negative consequences.  All of Heaven is cheering for positive choices while all of Hell is tempting you to veer away from choices that lead to sainthood.  They already chose to go their own way.  Their side has eternal negative consequences.  Their marketing is enticing but I caution you to see through the smoke and mirrors.  Make good choices.  Have a great day.

Jesus Found Between the Sheets

It was a mystery.  One month ago we were checking out of our hotel in Bozeman, Montana.  We were on the final day of a fun-filled vacation with one of my sisters, her husband, and our daughter.  I cashed in some hotel points for our final night in our favorite state our daughter has adopted as her home.  We gave our room a thorough review to make sure nothing was left behind.  Well, we blew it.  Despite our best efforts, Sarah Young's book, "Jesus Calling," was left behind hidden between the sheets.  This isn't just any book.  It was a Christmas gift to me from our daughter  three years ago.  The inscription makes my heart and soul sing for joy.  Our daughter puts great thoughts into her gifts and this one happens to be perfect.  It's so good that my wife "borrowed it" and uses it daily as part of her morning meditation.  We have been going through some challenges in both our lives and not having this book has made our journey much more difficult.  

My wife had this feeling in her gut that this book was missing.  We shared packing responsibilities the morning of our departure so the final room check was critical.  When we got home we searched everywhere for our missing Jesus Calling book.  My wife got this sick feeling that Jesus was between the sheets when we checked out.  I called our hotel.  Thank God they found Jesus.  I offered my credit card to pay for shipping and thanked the hotel employee for helping us out.  We waited.  Nothing.  I called again.  "We'll check into it and mail it right away," Helen said who has the same name as my wife.  The third time I called I sensed I was losing my ability to control my emotions.  Helen answered again.  I was short.  I was not going to accept anything less than complete accountability.  "I will hold while you figure out what's going on," I said, telling Helen I could easily replace the book but not the special words our daughter penned inside the cover.

"We have your book," Helen exclaimed.

"Your staff found the book three weeks ago," I answered.  

Helen reviewed the notes.  She confirmed my address and credit card number I left with her staff so they could mail the book.  "I see the problem," Helen said.  "We are missing the number on the back of your card.  We should have called you.  This book has been around this hotel longer than I have been here.  Maybe I need to read this."  Boom!  The Holy Spirit punched me in the gut as if to show me the reason for the stall.  The gut punch was meant for me to speak up.  "You have my permission to read my daughter's message to me before you send this to me, Helen.  Put it on your reading list.  It will bring you great peace."

I checked my post office box early yesterday morning on my day off certain the book would arrive.  Nope.  It was time to escalate my communication.  Jesus beat me to the task.  I went home and discovered a missed call from the post office.  Sure enough, when I called back there was a package waiting for me.   It was from the Hampton Inn.  Score!  Jesus was back after a long absence.  I ripped open the package and shared my story at the counter.  The postmaster checked the bookmark and it rested on October 1, the last message my wife meditated on before we headed home to our busy lives.  The message?  Come to me all you who are weak and weary and I will give you rest.  My wife did that literally.  She rested with Jesus between the sheets.  Praise God we found Jesus.  It looks like the hotel staff mailed Jesus on the house as no charges for the shipping have shown up.  Thank you to the staff at Hampton Inn for helping us on our journey.  We'll be back.  Have a great day.