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.