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.