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Living Life Or Chasing The Wind. The Choice Is Yours!

Living Life Or Chasing The Wind. The Choice Is Yours!

With no winners in Saturday night’s (January 9, 2016) record $949.8 million Powerball drawing, the next jackpot could reach an estimated $1.3 billion, said lottery officials. The Powerball is at an all time high and there is an excitement in the air.

Before you get caught up in all the excitement and the whispers of wealth, take a moment and give the second chapter of Ecclesiastes (written by a guy who had it all) a good read through. Sure, we can pursue material things in life (and most of us do) and yes, when we loose our stuff (and we will) — much of it can be found again. But there is one thing that’s really tough to find again once you loose it: LIFE!!

Seriously, will your life really be better if you win? …maybe for a time.

Whatever chapter of life you’re in right now, remember we will all face that day when the last curtain falls.

On that day, what will you remember?

On that day, what will you wish you had more of?

Lets dig into this a bit more…

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January 11, 2016 Filed Under: Community Tagged With: family, featured, identity, kids, life, marriage, success

How Becoming A Grandfather Gave Me A “Do Over”

How Becoming A Grandfather Gave Me A “Do Over”

I remember that day when I walked into the kitchen of her mom’s house and sat down across the table from my daughter. Looking into the her eyes there was an awkward silence, as she fought to stop the tears from welling up.

Not knowing what was coming next, my countenance drifted towards concern. She seemed overwhelmed with fear as her eyes were affixed on the floor. Still holding back her tears the words came…”Dad, I’m pregnant.”

Her mother sat beside me at the table as emotions broke the heavy silence. I sat there bewildered as a waterfall of thoughts rushed through my head like class 5 rapids. Half way through college and beginning her passage into adulthood…getting pregnant was not part of anyone’s five-year plan.

After a long silent pause, I collected my thoughts and shared my commitment to be there for her and the baby. I also reaffirmed to her that there was a Father in heaven who loves her unconditionally and a dad down here who does too.

On the ride home still trying to piece it all together, I reached out to my friend and mentor who gave me the comforting words I needed from Heaven’s throne. “Tim, this is part of God’s plan for your daughter’s life and He is with her. This baby will usher in the beginning of a new and joyful life for all who get to know her. As odd as this may sound, this baby is God’s lifeline to your daughter.”

Thankfully, through my good friend, my heavenly Father began to quiet my inner turmoil and the storm started to subside.

Roll the tape forward a bit…

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August 11, 2015 Filed Under: Life Tagged With: dad, family, featured, kids, life, relationship

7 X 70 = Forgiveness

7 X 70 = Forgiveness

Your parents weren’t perfect and I meet so many adult men and women who hold a life numbing unforgiveness towards their parents. I was a member of that “not-going-to-forgive-you” gang for years.

Our parents often made it very difficult to love them growing up. They may not have been physically divorced, but it really felt like they were emotionally divorced. As kids growing up they had a front row seat to the breaking of our hearts…and they didn’t even know it.

I remember running down the hallway. Playing hide and seek. I didn’t know that I was searching for someone to notice me. I felt alone and undiscovered and old enough to understand, just when I’m supposed to be learning to love you let me doubt again

—Chris August (lyrics)

It’s tough enough to navigate life on a good day and many of us choose to carry an overstuffed sack of “unforgiveness.” God knows the pain and the price we pay for not forgiving and He wants to teach us what it means to forgive…to really forgive. Although we had tough and difficult days as a family, we had some good ones too. On my road to healing, I can now thank God so much that He used these times as my classroom to teach me how to better love and to forgive in every aspect of my life.

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July 28, 2015 Filed Under: Life Tagged With: family, featured, life, stepup

Why Planning And Providing Are So Important

Why Planning And Providing Are So Important

At week eight of our Stepping Up series with our church men’s group we dug into the importance of planning and providing. Something that not too many men think about or do.

We are told that a man is to provide for his family, right? The challenge facing most men today is that they don’t even know what authentic manhood looks like because their fathers didn’t model it out for them. I know because I was lost in this area. My father was not that compass for me growing up and a boy without a “compass” is like an explorer without a map!

Do you know what it means to provide for your family? Do you have a plan for your family?

Some do, but many don’t. Let’s dive into planning and providing — and why it’s so important.

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March 24, 2015 Filed Under: Leadership Tagged With: family, featured, husband, leadership, life, stepup

What We Know About Leadership Is All Wrong…And Here’s Why

What We Know About Leadership Is All Wrong…And Here’s Why

We are in week seven of our ten week Stepping Up series with our church men’s group. This weeks topic was about men ‘engaging with wisdom and grace’ or simply put — leadership. Why is leadership so important? Because most of us men (an women) have no clue what it really is.

When I say the word “leadership”, what does that mean to you?

At work it typically means this…

Being he boss. The perks. Money. Position. Power. Prestige. The applaud. That corner office. No one can tell me what to do. Those diplomas on the wall. Fill in the blank ________.

In the home it typically means this…

My wife must submit. My way or the highway. I’m the king! Going to “that” game is more important than being with your kids. Chasing things that we can give up. Working late. Working harder for that bigger house. My kids need to do what I say, not what I do. Fill in the blank ________.

That’s what the narrative of this world culture would have us believe, isn’t it?

What if I told you that leadership had nothing to do with you and was completely focused on others? What if I told you that it meant that the buck stops with you? What if I told you it meant being out in front leading people in the right direction with wisdom and grace?

Have you ever thought of leadership in that context? In the context of servant leadership?

If you have thought about leadership in that context, great — if not, than that’s ok too because we are going to take it a bit further…buckle up!

Defining good leadership is not an easy thing to do. Yes, there are untold number of books and many self-proclaimed leadership gurus out there that make this attempt, but not many build a foundation on “this” type of true leadership. Do you know what it is?

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March 17, 2015 Filed Under: Leadership Tagged With: family, featured, Jesus, kids, leadership, stepup

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Favorite Quotes

Climb the mountain not to plant your flag, but to embrace the challenge, enjoy the air and behold the view. Climb it so you can see the world, not so the world can see you. -David McCullough Jr.

Cool Scripture

Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, without walls. -Proverbs 25: 28

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