Your Mouth is Your First Defense

 When was the last time your dentist asked you to "Open wide"?  Six months?  One year?  More than two years?  Well, it's been about one hour for me.  In six months I'll repeat the process.  Without giving any private information away, I was told that what is found inside the mouth can be Heaven or Hell.  Time is not on your side if you wait to visit your dentist.  The road to Hell or the stairway to Heaven is your choice.  

Think about your health.  If you think you could do better, take the first step.  Healthy teeth and gums go a long way in your journey to better health.  The longer you wait, the more expensive it will be to restore your health.  Your body needs all the help it can get to stay healthy.  Please don't wait until it's too late or too expensive to reverse the damage.  Have a great day.

Lightning Blog Today

 I find myself in a bit of a frenzy today.  We barely made it to our house of worship on time.  I'm hustling to get my breakfast before heading to my day job.  Hopefully, our lives will calm down the next couple of days.  I'm wishing you a great day today.  

Mystery Date Night a Success

 She was dying to know all day long.  I didn't let the cat out of the bag.  We munched on homemade chicken sandwiches in my vehicle while sipping Carolina, a red wine blend from Chile, out of our travel cups.  The only thing my wife knew was this was something we had never done before.  We had a tiny gap in our schedule for dining so eating out was not an option.  I really liked what was written on the label...  This wine  aims to turn an ordinary day into a special occasion, because no reason is too small to celebrate.  This bottle happened to be a special edition I picked out at my day job prior to our date.  

We strolled by several restaurants on our way to Xtream arena in Coralville.  Crowds huddled around outdoor fire pits.  The outside temperature was just right.  Once we got inside she figured it out.  "Is this the Price is Right?"

We ordered a couple of beers and sat down surrounded by my teammates from my day job.  Joni and Sandy, our employee club volunteers, arranged for about fifty of us to sit together.  All I can say about our mystery date night is that I have a happy wife which makes my life a happy one.  Much thanks to Joni and Sandy for giving us a great evening of fun and laughter.  Have a great day.

Mystery Date Night

My wife has no clue what's going on tonight.  It's a mystery.  The only thing she knows is that it is date night.  I planned everything.  If you have a clue what it is, please don't tell her.  Yes, the suspense is killing her.  She really doesn't like surprises.  If you ask me why our marriage of 33 years is so strong, this is one of the reasons.  This is what true love looks like.  Keep us in your prayers.  This is the first mystery date we've been on.  It was inspired by friends who take mystery vacations where you show up at the airport with bags packed for any type of weather and the destination is revealed shortly before take-off.  Hmmm.  I might have to try this sometime.  Let's consider this mystery date night as tipping our toes in the water.  Have a great day.

Day 300 BIAY

 I can see the finish line now.  It's 65 days away.  Prior to this journey I have a feeling similar to what my Kindergarten shared when she issued my end of year report card.  Only God knows why my mom saved this report card for over five decades before handing it off to me.  It wasn't pretty.  Maybe I needed to hear the message late in my life.  The report stated, "He could do better."  Yikes!  Maybe that's what my entire life has been – a whole series of moments where I could have done better.  The last thing I want Jesus to say to me is "My son, you could have done better."

How is it that we can get a sense of direction if we're not in touch with our Maker?  Think about that one.  Do you have any idea what God wants from you?  After going through 300 days of guided podcasts including commentary from someone who has dedicated his life to sharing Jesus, mainly with his college students in Duluth, Minnesota, I can honestly say I'm starting to get it.  I'm beginning to understand the hoops God is willing to jump through to reach us.  He really, really wants us back in the family.  God's ways our not our ways.  The way he works is truly a mystery.  That mystery is between the lines of his Heavenly inspired words most of us never bother to read.  

I'm thankful for the last 300 days of my journey.  There are 65 days to go.  Was this easy?  In some ways, yes, but in others, no.  There are distractions.  There are powers and principalities that don't like it when we attempt to get closer to God.  So, there was slippage.  I would sometimes fall three or four days behind.  I would binge listen to the BIAY podcasts on days off.  Now that the finish line is becoming visible, I'm getting quite giddy.  My prayer for you today is that you discover what I'm discovering.  Your particular denomination is not important.  Seek God and he will seek you.  Consider the BIAY.  Jump in anytime.  Have a great day.

Sleep on This

 How are you sleeping these days?  8+ hours?  6+ hours?  Under 6 hours?  Roller Coaster ride sleeping?  Do you short your sleep time to gain productivity?  What would your life be like if you committed to 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep nightly?  Seem impossible?  Well, maybe you should sleep on this.  I'm serious.  Especially if you happen to be in my age group.  

I remember my youthful days.  Sleep was an after thought.  I averaged four hours a night during my first year of community college.  When a machine (your body) gets overworked bad things happen.  It may not show up right away but this is a train wreck getting ready to happen.

I tell my brain it's time for 8 hours of sleep before I retire for the evening.  This is non-negotiable.  Your brain is like one of your children.  It doesn't get to choose its own curfew.  If you happen to have a wild stallion for a brain, learn to tame it.  Tell your brain it must sleep in order for you to be the best version of yourself you can be.  If you don't believe me, try sleeping 8 hours a night for 30 days and report back to me. What do you have to lose?  You may discover a new way of living.  Have a great day.

Trick and Treat

This may not be the traditional way you view Halloween.  We know the way it goes...Trick or Treat.  Right? What if this year you try a new approach?  It goes like this...  Trick your brain into thinking Halloween is over.  So is Thanksgiving.  Christmas too.  And New Years Eve.  Trick your brain into thinking it's a brand new year today, right now.  Follow this idea and when New Years Day actually comes something big will be waiting for you.  Yep.  A treat.  This is something you may have falsely believed could never happen.  You thought your best days were behind you.  Not this year.  Do the trick properly and you will be treated to a new body.  One more good thing – you won't have to make a resolution to be healthy because you will already be set on day one!

How does the trick work?  When you wake up every day for the next couple of months, simply pretend you are on day 1 of your goal to be healthy.  Every food choice you make is about that resolution to be healthy.  Repeat this for 67 days until the New Year begins.  If you like the results, you're all set.  Trick and Treat!  This is a treat you deserve.  Are you in?  Have a great day.

Thank You, Padres!

 Well, it's over.  The Padres ended their fairy tale season yesterday against another team similar to them – an underdog no one believed could take down a giant.  In the Padres case, it was the Dodgers.  The Phillies took down the Braves.  One team would earn the right to play in the World Series.  Another team would go home.  Sadly, the Padres are done.  What they did do was entertain their fans.  Oh, what a year.  When their top player was sidelined for the year everyone else stepped up.  Management opened up their wallet and traded for some amazing talent.  They were a heartbeat away from the big show.

I would like to thank the players for all they did this year.  My hope is to see them play with my family sometime next year.  I experienced a full range of emotions cheering for them.  At the top is gratitude.  Thank you, Padres.  You are the real deal.  Have a great day.

I'm Looking for Food Rebels

 I had a blown save on Friday.  My story didn't publish until the following day when I discovered I made an error saving and publishing my daily message.  The interesting thing about that story is that even though it was a day late, it still made its way to at least one person who is willing to become a food rebel.  Most people wait until the Holidays are over because there are simply too many food temptations during the Holidays.  In my opinion, it's a vicious cycle that never really ends.  You know the drill... it's the seafood diet.  You see food and you eat it, all of it.  Your stomach bulges.  You wake up on January 1 and pledge to make resolutions.  Yep.  See you next year.  Same time, same challenges.  There is really only one way I know to break out of this endless cycle – become a food rebel, like my friend from elementary school who is on the precipice of a healthy lifestyle.

Some may argue that being a rebel is unAmerican.  They forget about our history.  Remember the Boston Tea Party?  What about Paul Revere?  We are descendants of rebels.  The problem today is so many of us are so sick and nearly dead from our pathetic lifestyles.  We consume processed foods because we're too busy to eat the way our ancestors ate.  Healthy foods require preparation.  Who has time to eat properly when we're so busy trying to eke out a living?  Many of us are so sleep-deprived that we've turned into zombies.  

I'm looking for food rebels.  I want to help others who are just plain sick and tired.  Yep.  Sick and tired.  My hope is to show others by my own example that life can be so much better.  You really don't need coaches when you can learn to be your own coach.  Ask yourself what's on the label the next time you go shopping for groceries.  Hint – if there is a label it's probably loaded with fake stuff that may eventually kill you.  Does fruit come with labels?  How about veggies?  Nuts?  Beans?  Seeds?  You get the picture.  If it's man-made, good luck trying to be healthy.  Go for God made.  Do you see how easy this is?  Coach yourself.  If anyone tries to stop you, remember who you are – a food rebel who is willing to fight for your life.  Trust no one but yourself.  Visit your doctor and ask for a full physical before you begin so you have ammunition when the naysayers attack.  Yes, this is war.  Defend yourself.  Have a great day.

Looks Like I Encountered a Blown Save Yesterday

 

Oops.  I did it again.  My blog publish error rate is less than 5 in nearly 5,000.  Well, yesterday was a blown save.  I didn't forget to publish.  What I did wrong is copy the post (because I really liked it) and post to my FaceBook page.  Somehow, the scheduled post reverted to a draft only.  I didn't catch the error until this morning.  

Cancel the missing persons alert.  Yesterday's story is now live.  I'm headed to my day job for a busy weekend.  We are enjoying near-record highs.  My boss gave me the opportunity to go home early yesterday.  I spent the afternoon at Iowa Lake enjoying the summer-like weather.  The next couple of days are going to be the same.  Thanks for putting up with me regarding my missed story yesterday.  I will do my best to avoid these rookie mistakes in the future.  Have a great day.

How I Became a Food Rebel

 This is not a pretty story.  You may not like what I have to say.  When it comes to food, my personal story is about as un-American as it gets.  There is a long list of naysayers that would prefer if you simply stopped reading and move on.  They are relentless.  They would love to silence me and banish me to some unknown location far away from public view.  That's not what rebels do.  Rebels fight back.  They craft stories from their basements hoping to break the strongholds of the powerful who are silently killing us with their sugar-coated temptations.

My food journey began while I was visiting one of my beloved sisters.  Something invaded her upper lung and she nearly died.  The doctors raced against time to discover the source of her illness and saved her life at the last possible moment.  Let's just say that good health was on the family radar, most especially our own mama bear, the protector of her six cubbies who are now well into adulthood.  My brother approached me with blood pressure monitor and there was no way he was going to be stopped.  The reading was off the chart.  "It's white coat syndrome," I blurted out in my weak defense.  "This happens every time I visit the doctor."  My brother was silent.  After a long pause, he said, "Let's go ahead and relax a few minutes and try again."  Well, it wasn't white coat syndrome.  It was an alarm and mama bear was not about to see one of her kids die.  All I can say is it's a good thing we have a doctor in the family.  Mama bear's distress call to my cousin started my own food rebellion.  My wise cousin suspected there was something going on inside my body that could be causing my blood pressure to spike and he asked me if I would be willing to try a food experiment before succumbing to a lifetime of pills for high blood pressure.

The next 45 days of my life were like the San Diego Padres when they were up against a wall in game two of the playoffs against the Phillies.  The Padres were down by four against an amazing pitcher who knew exactly how to strike when they countered with enough runs in a single inning to tie up the series.  My turnaround happened within 72 hours of eliminating the typical American diet from my food regimen.  My blood pressure returned to normal.  I shed all of my body fat.  I became unstoppable.  No medicine was needed.

Flash forward to present day.  I wake up with a bloody nose and my wife gets nervous.  After all, I cheated on my caveman food choices that saved my life.  Yep.  The high blood pressure readings returned.  "I don't have high blood pressure," I responded.  "There's no way I'm taking pills.  What I will do is become a food rebel (again).  I'm going caveman.  Give me 45 days and if the readings don't change, I'll go in for a physical."

Maybe you're asking, "What does a food rebel eat?"

Here's the un-American response:  Not much you see advertised on a daily basis.  Zero sodas.  No fast foods.  No processed foods.  Food rebels eat fruits, veggies, nuts, beans, and seeds.  They drink wine but no more than two glasses.  Small amounts of fish and red meat are okay as long as they don't cause the body to become inflamed.  

I would like to thank all the people in my life who care about my health.  The world may be tempting, especially when it comes to foods that somehow cause my body to get out of whack.  I will do my best to pay it forward and inspire others to make healthier food choices.  The last thing I want to say is for the naysayers.  If you come after me about my food rebel ways,  watch out for mama bear.  When it comes to her cubbies, she is fierce.  Have a great day.

How Do You Measure Success?

 I heard something in my early twenties about the definition of success that changed my outlook on the subject.  Here goes:  Success is the continuous journey towards the achievement of predetermined worthwhile goals.  Nearly 40 years later I still consider this as my best measurement tool for success.

My strategies have been modified but the definition is the same.  How about you?  How do you measure success?  Do you find yourself successful in one area of your life but lacking in another?  If so, what can you do to correct the areas of your life that need attention?

I know people who have given up on their journey because they feel overwhelmed.  That's where the idea of a continuous journey helps me.  It's alright to fail.  There are no restrictions on this.  Sometimes you need to explore the wrong path in order to discover that something won't work.  That's progress.  Something else helps me on my journey.  That has to do with expectations.  Progress, no matter how small or insignificant you feel it is, is still progress.  Keep going.  Keep measuring.  Celebrate all victories.  Have a great day.

Signs You are in Captivity

 You're on the fence.  Some days you wake up and feel a sense of freedom.  Other days are different.  You wake up feeling trapped.  There are warning signs you are in captivity.  Recognizing these signs and taking action may help you gain your freedom.

Before I get too far, keep in mind that you may be a victim.  There are outside forces fighting hard to hold you hostage.  Please don't blame yourself.  The first sign of captivity is your thoughts.  If they are centered around helplessness, you may already be a prisoner.  Another sign is that your daily routine never changes.  Not ever.  This is like some kind of computer program and you are frozen in time.  No Bueno.

Take a good look around you.  Who are you spending most of your time with?  Are they good role models?  They may be playing a role that reinforces your own captivity.  You can test this by sharing a new goal with your friends.  If they scoff or put you down, you are definitely in captivity.  

If you see the writing on the wall and recognize you are in captivity, congratulations.  You have taken the first step to freedom.  You may not have to go so far as Andy did in the Shawshank Redemption, but you do need to make a plan to bust out.  Change the programming in your head.  Make new friends.  Seek a relationship with the Creator.  After all, Jesus is the champion of redemption.  Give prayer a try.  Have a great day.

How to Prepare for Your Best Christmas

I know.  I know.  You're thinking about Halloween right now and Thanksgiving is still five weeks away.  Why am I pushing Christmas preparations on you so soon?  I'm hoping that the seeds I plant with today's story help you make this your best Christmas ever.  The world wants you to believe it's all about Santa Claus and the gifts you get.  It's not.  It's about something that happened over 2,000 years ago in a remote area.  The story is overlooked and the message lost at this busy time of the year.  Today is the perfect day to get started and discover the true meaning of Christmas.

I would like to suggest a gift that you give yourself and your family.  It's a trip to the movie theater.  It's not really a movie.  It's The Chosen Season 3: Episodes 1 & 2.  This is not something out of Hollywood.  Hollywood doesn't really understand Jesus.  In order to maximize the value of your time watching The Chosen, I recommend you watch all of seasons one and two before you visit the big screen during November 18 through November 22.  This is a great way to support the creators of this project.  The acting is spot on.  The message is real.  If you want to get to know Jesus, this is your opportunity.  Bring your family.  Bring a friend.  I will be on a day job assignment during this week and I'm going to find the time to see this on the big screen while I'm away from home.  Whatever you do, find a way to do this.  Have a great day.

Do You Hope to Win?

 He who does not hope to win has already lost – Jose Joaquin de Olmedo

Athletes do this.  Coaches do this.  Winners do this.  How about you?  Do you hope to win?  Something happens inside your head when you decide that hope is part of who you are.  Will it prevent losing?  Sorry.  That's not going to happen.  What hope does do is keep you in the game no matter how many times the outcome doesn't go your way.  People who have hope never give up.  

There is an opposing force that actually has no hope for a win.  This is the exception to today's story.  I bring it up because you need to be aware that the enemy understands hope can tip the scales in your favor.  The enemy wants you to give up hope so that you cave in.

The world is in a hot mess these days.  Many people are giving up hope for a victory.  I urge you to cling to hope like it's a giant life preserver.  Encourage the people around you to hope.  Follow Jesus, the one who inspires hope.  He is a champion of hope.  Don't give up.  Have a great day.

Congratulations, Padres!

 

The Dragon from the North has been slayed.  San Diego Padres fans have been waiting for this moment for a long time.  The Dodgers had their number, especially this season.  They looked invincible.  I heard it every year while living in San Diego for 22 years.  "Small market team."  Something changed during post season.  First it was the Mets, a team that had all the attributes of past World Series Champions.  They had home field advantage for the Wild Card series and the underdog Padres needed their best effort to win.  They delivered on the road.  Then it was the Dodgers, 111 game winners of the regular season.  The 1-1 split on the road seemed unlikely for the underdog Padres.  It set up two opportunities to play at home in Petco Park for fans hungry for a miracle.

Perhaps it was the confused duck/goose hybrid that plopped onto the field during game two in Dodger stadium foreshadowing a change in the too familiar migration path to the World Series Championship.  The pundits pretty much gave the ring to these seemingly unstoppable players from the north.  Not this year.  Nope.  The Braves won't be there either.  One thing is guaranteed.  There will be an underdog in the arena for bragging rights.  That's because the Phillies did just what the Padres did last night – slay a dragon.  They face off to see which underdog will represent the National League in the World Series.  

I would like to thank the San Diego Padres for the joy they have brought to fans near and far.  We live in an area where the Cubs are most beloved.  I like the Cubs too.  The Padres are my first love.  My family kept the faith even in the darkest years.  Tony Gwynn and Trevor Hoffman are our past heroes.  Now we have new heroes.  Others may call them underdogs.  We call them champions.  They are seeking championship rings.  8 more w's will grant them their wish.  Never rule out the underdogs.  They have something to prove. Good luck, Padres.  Have a great day.

Happy Birthday to My Mother

Please join me in wishing my mother a happy birthday today.  All of us in this world are explorers.  She happens to be about 20 revolutions around the sun ahead of me so I consider her a trailblazer for my generation.  She's seen the potholes.  She also sees the good in all of us.  Mom is one of those encouragers you want to be around when the chips are down.   She knows when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em.  When it comes to others, she inspires them to play their hand wisely.  

I would like to share one story that shows how she handles times of trouble.  We were on our way to Maui during the pandemic.  Our paperwork we needed for entry didn't arrive in time and we were greeted without the usual island hospitality.  In fact, they wanted us off the island immediately.  The threat of a ten day quarantine was imminent if we didn't catch the last flight back to the mainland to fix our paperwork.  Mom's medicine was on the other side of the line in the sand and we weren't allowed to cross it.  The workers told us the only thing they could do was put the bags on the departing flight.  It seemed so cruel.  We left the island an hour later.  After jumping through a bunch of hoops, we returned to Maui the next morning.  Mom looked at me and said, "Lucky me, now I've visited Hawaii three times.  Yes, it was an unforgettable experience.  Thanks, mom, for your willingness to go the distance.  Happy birthday.  Have a great day.  Aloha!

Are You Ready to Come Home?

 The addict on the street doesn't have a home.  Neither does the runaway.  Even those who live in homes may not really be home.  I'm referring to that place where followers go to worship.  It's that place your parents brought you once a week when you were growing up.  Maybe something happened.  You got disillusioned because something was said or something was done that didn't set well in your stomach so you left.

There are forces outside of this world that are fighting.  One side is fighting for you.  The other side isn't.  If you feel lost it's possible the other side has a grip on you.  What would happen to your life if you decided to come home?  Have you thought about that?  Perhaps the addict really craves this but doesn't know it.  Maybe the runaway longs to be back with family.  I believe with every fiber of my being that our Father wants us.  He may be calling you right now.

I didn't understand the real meaning of worship until recently.  It's a privilege.  It's your dad calling out to you saying, "I miss you.  Come home.  Spend time with me.  I'm waiting."  Whatever the dark side is putting in your head that is keeping you from coming home, my prayer for you today is that stranglehold is released.  Take that first step.  Come home.  Consider this day as your birthday (wink, wink, cuz).  Celebrate.  Make it a family affair.  All of heaven is cheering for you.  Have a great day, especially those loved ones who are celebrating their special day today.

Back Yard at My Day Job

 

If a picture is worth a thousand words, here's 3,000 worth of words for you.  I didn't have to go far to capture this sunset after my shift ended yesterday.  It was right outside the back door at my day job.  A fast moving storm rolled in at the end of my day.  That pond you see in the background is my favorite lunch spot.  I find that spending time outside in the middle of my day really relaxes me.  We are at the tail end of the fall colors.  I'm going to squeeze in as much time outdoors as possible before all the leaves are gone.   If you haven't experienced fall in the northern states, make plans for next year.  Have a great day.

Day 285 BIAY

The countdown is on.  What seemed like a far-fetched goal at the beginning of the year is now becoming a reality.  Today is day 285 of listening to the Bible in a Year.  I know why this goal seems so elusive for so many.  First, the enemy doesn't want you to do this.  He and his demon buddies with do just about anything to discourage you.  Second, it's not easy to put all the pieces together.  Third, the world is filled with chaos.  Who has time to do something like this?  

I'm super thankful I found someone who is willing to offer his thoughts about what is actually going on in these stories.  For me, I see the connection with these characters.  Ultimately, God is calling all of us to follow him.  He waits patiently.  He sends angels to help us.  And once in a great while God sends someone like the narrator of Bible in a Year to inspire us on our journey.  The impossible becomes possible.  The distance between Heaven and Earth shrinks.

Maybe you're reading this today and you're thinking this isn't for you.  Perhaps you lost the connection to Heaven and you don't know how to get closer to God.  It could be that the world is such a mess that you want to give up.  I understand brokenness.  I also get it that God loves us enough to send his only Son to die for us so we can be healed.  Take that first step.  Listening to the Bible is less challenging than reading it, especially when there's commentary.  Jump in.  Have a great day.

Meaningful Moments

You're on your death bed surrounded by your loved ones.  If you've lived your life to your fullest, these last moments are filled with joy.  Why?  You know in your heart you did your best to live your life to the maximum of your potential.  If you're reading this and you have doubts about this scenario, it's not too late to change that final picture.  In fact, the course correction you need may come down to about an hour of day of meaningful moments.

Assess a typical day in your life and determine how much of your day is wasted on meaningless tasks.  Can you trim one hour of wasted time to make room for sixty minutes of meaningful moments?  Keep in mind your brain is going to fight you on this because change is something your brain doesn't like.  Status quo is your brain's mantra.  You need to tame is if it's a wild horse.  You may need to start with ten minutes a day of meaningful moments and work up to sixty minutes until your brain adjusts.

Spend a few minutes pondering what meaningful moments look like to you.  Could it be learning a new musical instrument?  A new language?  A phone call to a friend?  Volunteering in your community?  Perhaps it's reading a book that will help you improve a specific area of your life?  

I'm using my sixty minutes of meaningful moments to meditate and listen to the Bible on a daily podcast.  It may not seem like much.  I agree.  One hour out of twenty-four isn't much.  That's the neat part of this routine.  It's not about quantity of time but quality of time.  I consider the first sixty minutes of my day as the golden hour.  I'm not worried about being on my death bed because of my daily meaningful moments which translate to a meaningful life.  Use your meaningful moments now before it's too late.  Have a great day.

Remember to Say Thank You

Jesus healed ten people from leprosy.  Only one came back to express gratitude.  Jesus asked, "Where are the other nine?"  I guess they forgot the importance of gratitude.  Imagine how much better the world would be if every one of us could take the time to say thank you.  There are people all around you who are trying to make your life better.  Watch how their expressions change when you acknowledge them.  A simple smile with a head nod also goes a long way.  Focus on this today.  Have a great day.

Eat a Big Purple Grape

 Today's Title is actually a way for us to remember the history of the Jews in ancient times before Jesus arrived on the scene.  If you can remember to "Eat a big purple grape," then you can identify, in order, the captors of the Jews.  Eat is for Egypt.  A is for the Assyrians.  B is for Babylon.  P is for Persia.  G is for Greece.  That's the lesson for today.  The next time you're immersed in the Bible, remember to eat a big purple grape and everything will have a nice flavor.  Have a great day.

Burrrrr

The temps are dropping fast in our hometown.  We had our first overnight frost.  Temps dipped below 32º for the first time this season.  The color change is dramatic but I don't think it will last long with the cold air moving in.  It's time to bundle up and head to my day job.  Have a great day. 

You Can Make a Difference

Never underestimate the value of your contributions.  They cause a ripple effect.  Your actions change lives.  I will never forget the first time I met Mike Shapovalov.  He was sitting in the food court at my day job with his wife and five children, all dressed in their Sunday best.  I was cleaning tables on a busy Sunday.  "Where are you from?"  I asked.

"Ukraine,"  he answered.  We met shortly beware the invasion began.  His people were nervous about all the threats from their neighbor.  

"I'm praying for your country," I told him while he munched on a hot dog.  We became friends instantly.

I've seen Mike and his family regularly.  He's no ordinary man.  He takes action and he's not afraid to ask for help.  Yesterday he showed up at my day job with a stack of pictures showing what's going on in his country.  The photos are not PG-13 rated.  It wasn't all bad.  In fact, Mike told me he and his buddies are working on their third shipping container of food, clothes, and supplies for his people.  Even though he is a private citizen, he found a way to make contributions tax deductible.

I promised Mike I would spread the word about his volunteer efforts.  He is partnering with local churches to set up another round of supplies.  Mike's co-worker, Don Patterson, is a local pastor and he is available to answer questions.  He can be reached at 319-936-6397.  If you would like to help, you can call Mike directly on his cell phone (319) 259-2299.  The person responsible for shipping the items is Vitaly Tkachuk (864) 279-0194.  If you would like to make a cash contribution to help defray shipping costs, you can contact Merciful Samaritan Inc, (503) 408-5920, to get a tax deductible receipt.  This organization is based in Portland, Oregon.  Make sure you tell Vitaly that your donation is to help the people of Ukraine and that you want to support my friend, Mike Shapovalov of Kalona, Iowa.  Mike is returning to my day job today to talk with the bosses about his volunteer efforts.  Your participation is much appreciated.  Have a great day.

Early Morning Today

 I'm on a special day job assignment today.  That means my shift will be nearly half over by the time this story posts.  I'm keeping it short and sweet so I can be on time.  Early in means early out.  Sorry for the short post.  Perhaps it balances some of the extra long ones since my fingers have been freed from captivity.  Have a great day.

What is the Best Version of Yourself?

 Have you peaked yet?  If you believe so, is it possible that your thinking may be incorrect?  And if you haven't peaked, how far can you go?  In my opinion, whatever you are called to do in this world, you happen to be the only person uniquely qualified for the job.  Speaking of qualified, are you aware that some of the most significant accomplishments in the world have been done by those who felt unqualified?

The Bible is filled with stories of regular people who did extraordinary things.  Ask yourself, "What is the best version of myself?"  Look forward, not backward.  Follow the example of the prophets in the Old Testament who set aside their own weaknesses for the benefit of others.  Your best days are in front of you.  Have a great day.

Last Day of Rest

My batteries are just about fully charged.  I'm ready to return to my day job tomorrow.  This is the last day in my quiet zone.  I know people who base their value on how much they can accomplish in a day.  Productivity is their measuring stick.  Often overlooked is the value of rest.  Your body will shut you down if you are constantly at full speed.  Treat yourself to a day of rest.  Take a nap in the middle of the day.  You may find that your productivity actually soars to new levels when you return to your to do list.  Have a great day.

Quiet Day Today

There's not much to report today.  I'm still processing the events of our time in Montana.  It looks like I'm off the day job schedule for today and tomorrow.  My body is recovering from our first league match of the new season with the men's 55+ team yesterday.  This season is going to be more competitive than ever.  We did not prevail as a team.  There is much work to do.  For now I'm going to rest and recover.  Have a great day.

The Believing Brain vs. the Non-believing Brain

 There are two confessions before I delve into today's message.  First, please forgive me if this goes longer than a normal story.  Once again, my index finger has been carrying my message-writing load for the last ten days.  Now that the other nine fingers are free spirits, they are dancing like dogs who have been cooped up indoors similar to those pets in the Florida area who have been restrained due to one of Mother Nature's terrible rants.  If you can picture these dogs running outside for the first time, you have an idea how my fingers are feeling this morning while composing on my MacBook Pro.

The second confession has to do with my own unleashing of emotions last night at the end of my vacation to Montana.  As much as I love travel, the trip home pushed me beyond my comfort zone.  As thorough as we are making sure we leave nothing behind, my wife told me she may have left "Jesus Calling" between the sheets.  It's a book she reads daily during her morning meditation.  She loved the message so much that she left it on the bed for me to read.  I didn't see it.  The book was a birthday present to me from our daughter and we suspect it was left behind.  Strike one.  

Next, we encountered a delay as soon as we pulled out of our gate in Montana.  Our connecting city, Denver, was dealing with bad weather forcing all flights to be delayed by an hour.  We sat on the tarmac for over an hour without much air conditioning.  Strike two.  

Once we finally did land my wife told me she was famished and had to eat.  That wouldn't have been a problem if the airport hadn't changed gates three times, especially when I was holding a vanilla shake in one hand while hauling a fifty pound suitcase in the other doing my OJ Simpson maneuvers amidst a crowd that was yelling and swearing trying to get to their gate.  The entire airport was in disarray.  This wasn't quite a strike because my burger and fries were heavenly and we had just enough time to eat prior to boarding once we found our new gate assignment.

Sure enough, there was another delay on the tarmac due to all the chaos of the day and missing pilots for our plane.  Once again, we sat on the tarmac with not much air flow.  Not a strike but several pitches were fouled off while I was quietly meditating.  The ride home was bumpy and I really needed to use the bathroom at the back of the plane but the captain kept the fasten seat belt sign on so long that my bladder nearly burst.  I looked over at my wife who was in a deep slumber and felt a hint of jealousy creeping inside my head.

I couldn't wait to get home as midnight was fast approaching.  My wife volunteered to park my Ford Escape ten days prior while I checked in our bags.  We were all the way to the edge of E lot which we called the "E Ticket" ride to remember where the vehicle was parked upon our return.  I touched the remote.  No response.  This was the moment my wife discovered the lights don't shut off automatically.  Strike 3!  The F bombs were dropping out the sky.  Let's just say that by the time we got to sleep it was 2am.

Okay, confession time is over.  Let's take a look at today's topic, "The Believing Brain vs. the Non-believing Brain."  There is no judging in today's story.  You either have one type of brain or the other.  You have your reasons for why you believe or don't believe.  I'm only examining the situation.  If you have a believing brain, I'm curious about how you came to believe.  Please share this the next time we have time together.  If you're the non-believing type, I'm curious about that too.  That conversation we have together may be a bit deeper since your type of brain appears complicated to me.  Again, I'm not judging.  I'm only curious.  I have been having many conversations with owners of the non-believing brains lately and all I can say is I'm genuinely curious about your brain type.  There is a warning here.  If we spend enough time together we may discover that a non-believing brain can become a believing brain.  Okay, my rant for today is over.  It's time to go to my house of worship and light a candle for all the brain types in the world who are suffering.  Have a great day.

Time to Go Home

 

Special thanks to my sister and her husband of 33yrs for sharing their vacation with my wife and me.  We were able to spend time with our daughter on National Daughter Day.  We hiked.  We attended a concert.  We saw wild animals at their best during Autumn in Yellowstone.  Now it's time to go home.

For those of you who are hurting right now and are in need of prayers, I want you to know I've been praying for you.  I didn't make it to the top of the mountain like I promised but I did my best to send your prayers to Heaven on your behalf.  I will light a candle for your intentions when I return to my house of worship tomorrow in Iowa.  Have a great day.