Recently, I was having lunch with some friends at a nearby restaurant. Four of us travelled in the same vehicle to and from the location. On the way back from lunch one of the people in the car mentioned how clean it was to the driver compared to how dirty their car was. He accepted the compliment kindly. Someone spoke up and said "You should see my car and you would feel better about your car." There was a snicker. And then this same person said "You should see his house. Then, you would know that he really isn't as clean as you think he is."
A period of time later the two men spoke and the one said to the other something like "Why did you say that about my house?" The other said "It is good to be vulnerable so that people will open up to you and trust you. It is good to admit our faults openly. We all have them."
This man's intentions were good because he strives to be good not to look good.
Why is it that so many of us(me included) strive so much to look better than we really are? Let's just admit that we are messed up and need help just like everyone else. It's okay. In fact, it is quite refreshing. Just say it. In fact, there is somebody in your life that you want to call right now and say "Ya know I am really a phony. Here are a few things that are messed up about me."
If the person on the other end of the phone does not start admitting something about themselves then I suggest that you move on to someone that wants to have a real relationship.
I hope that I do not sound too harsh saying the following...But, I personally do not have time for people that want to act like they are perfect instead of striving to actually be a better person. The only way that I know to truly become better is on my knees praying and crying out to the Lord Jesus Christ to help me change. Only then do I even have a remote chance of being transformed. For I am a wicked and sinful man that needs Him every second of the day to help me be a better husband, dad, friend, brother, business man, and every other role that he has given to me.
Tip #12 "Strive to be good...not look good."
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Tip #11 "If I only knew then what I know now..."
Tip #11 "If I only knew then what I know now..."
Often times I have thought If I only knew then what I know now then I would ____. Have you ever thought that? I can remember back in the days of the tech boom. I was working for CDW in sales. I was making a good living while investing quite a bit in stocks. But, I didn't know much. Back then, I could invest in just about anything and make money. I remember one particular stock that I invested in called JAWZ. I put approximately $12000 into the stock. Well, within a few months my $12000 had become $125000. I was up $100,000+. Great! Well, the market started to waiver, my friends and family members began taking their money out. But, I decided to "stay in for the long term" because I believed they had a great product, etc. To make a long story short I rode that stock all the way to almost $0. I lost my $12000+$113000 in profit in less than one year. If I only knew then what I know now I would have locked in at least $80,000 in profit.
Well, that's just money right? Money is not really that important in the whole scheme of things. But, that financial lesson taught me something that I will never forget. I absolutely must seek, listen, and apply the wise counsel of those that are wiser than I am.
I just finished reading several books in Romans. Chapter 7 has always intrigued me so much. In fact, I once did a 7 week study just on Romans 7 in a bible study that I was leading. Unfortunately, the group wanted to go on. I wanted to study it for at least another 4-6 weeks. There is so much there. Paul talks about the all important battle between our mind and our flesh. The Holy Spirit vs. the evil spirit that dwells in our flesh. In this flesh dwells no good thing. I am a living, walking battle field. I do not have to go any further than my own mind and body to discover World War III.
So, I started thinking and praying "God, please help me to know now what I will know when I am 70 years old if You give me that many years." I am no longer as concerned about making absurd amounts of money as I was when I was younger. I am still quite motivated to do my job with all my might and beyond expectation so that God can be glorified. But, I really desire to have deep wisdom as Solomon did. I want to use this wisdom for God's glory and not mine. Unfortunately, Solomon did not use this wisdom wisely as he ended up turning away from God. I on the other hand deeply desire to have profound wisdom of our Lord and God in order that I do not fall or lead others astray that he has placed in my life. I wish to know now what I will know when I am 70 years old. How about you?
Tip #11 "If I only knew then what I know now..."
Often times I have thought If I only knew then what I know now then I would ____. Have you ever thought that? I can remember back in the days of the tech boom. I was working for CDW in sales. I was making a good living while investing quite a bit in stocks. But, I didn't know much. Back then, I could invest in just about anything and make money. I remember one particular stock that I invested in called JAWZ. I put approximately $12000 into the stock. Well, within a few months my $12000 had become $125000. I was up $100,000+. Great! Well, the market started to waiver, my friends and family members began taking their money out. But, I decided to "stay in for the long term" because I believed they had a great product, etc. To make a long story short I rode that stock all the way to almost $0. I lost my $12000+$113000 in profit in less than one year. If I only knew then what I know now I would have locked in at least $80,000 in profit.
Well, that's just money right? Money is not really that important in the whole scheme of things. But, that financial lesson taught me something that I will never forget. I absolutely must seek, listen, and apply the wise counsel of those that are wiser than I am.
I just finished reading several books in Romans. Chapter 7 has always intrigued me so much. In fact, I once did a 7 week study just on Romans 7 in a bible study that I was leading. Unfortunately, the group wanted to go on. I wanted to study it for at least another 4-6 weeks. There is so much there. Paul talks about the all important battle between our mind and our flesh. The Holy Spirit vs. the evil spirit that dwells in our flesh. In this flesh dwells no good thing. I am a living, walking battle field. I do not have to go any further than my own mind and body to discover World War III.
So, I started thinking and praying "God, please help me to know now what I will know when I am 70 years old if You give me that many years." I am no longer as concerned about making absurd amounts of money as I was when I was younger. I am still quite motivated to do my job with all my might and beyond expectation so that God can be glorified. But, I really desire to have deep wisdom as Solomon did. I want to use this wisdom for God's glory and not mine. Unfortunately, Solomon did not use this wisdom wisely as he ended up turning away from God. I on the other hand deeply desire to have profound wisdom of our Lord and God in order that I do not fall or lead others astray that he has placed in my life. I wish to know now what I will know when I am 70 years old. How about you?
Tip #11 "If I only knew then what I know now..."
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Tip #10 "Rest for Success"
Tip #10 "Rest for Success"
I remember when we had our second child. My sweet and kind wife and I were so exhausted all the time. We would go to bed tired and wake up tired(in the middle of the night), back to sleep, up again, sleep, awake, sleep. This went on for months. It makes me want to yawn right now. Huuhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmm. Ahhhhhhhhh that's better.
We have three young children now and those incredibly exhausting days of insanity are behind us. But, we are still tired quite frequently. One thing that we long for quite often is rest. Between loving our children/spending lots of time with them, ministry commitments, exercising, working full time, keeping finances in order, our house in order(yeah right), and a number of other things it is quite challenging to take time to rest.
It is so vital to our health and our attitudes to rest well. Even God took a day to rest. Why? Because he was tired? Nah. It was an example to us. We need a full day of rest once a week to rejuvenate. If we cannot take a full day for whatever reason then we can start with a half day. But, I strongly encourage you to take a full day like God planned. Take time to sleep, read, play, visit with old friends, watch a movie or two or three, go for a walk, bike ride, beach, or just hang out in a hammock all day. Whatever it is that rejuvenates you I encourage you to do it. If you are married please make sure that your spouse gets time to rest too. It it soooooooooo important to our mental and physical health.
Tip #10 "Rest for Success"
I remember when we had our second child. My sweet and kind wife and I were so exhausted all the time. We would go to bed tired and wake up tired(in the middle of the night), back to sleep, up again, sleep, awake, sleep. This went on for months. It makes me want to yawn right now. Huuhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmm. Ahhhhhhhhh that's better.
We have three young children now and those incredibly exhausting days of insanity are behind us. But, we are still tired quite frequently. One thing that we long for quite often is rest. Between loving our children/spending lots of time with them, ministry commitments, exercising, working full time, keeping finances in order, our house in order(yeah right), and a number of other things it is quite challenging to take time to rest.
It is so vital to our health and our attitudes to rest well. Even God took a day to rest. Why? Because he was tired? Nah. It was an example to us. We need a full day of rest once a week to rejuvenate. If we cannot take a full day for whatever reason then we can start with a half day. But, I strongly encourage you to take a full day like God planned. Take time to sleep, read, play, visit with old friends, watch a movie or two or three, go for a walk, bike ride, beach, or just hang out in a hammock all day. Whatever it is that rejuvenates you I encourage you to do it. If you are married please make sure that your spouse gets time to rest too. It it soooooooooo important to our mental and physical health.
Tip #10 "Rest for Success"
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