Party?

Ever have a party that took a lot of planning, preparations and set up? Today I celebrated my daughter's 9th birthday? For the past few months a plan for this party has been coordinated by the master planner. Taking the time to think about the details, the in's and out's of what the day will look like and be like. Taking into consideration what likes would need to happen in order to be a definate success. Who should come? What should happen? What type of food? What theme? Give out the gift wish list. Planning a party will not be life or death. What planning a party does is illustrate the importance in life of proper goal setting. Detailed thought out plans and dreams will give insight to a path that is required for accomplishments. Looking at all aspects of possibilities that could be the outcome or a minor change to redirect the results is all part of planning. What planning have you been completing lately? Have you been planning other people's goals for them? Have you been puting your goals on the back burner to assist someone else to achieve theirs? That is all part of planning. If you plan to do that then that was your goal too. Put as much effort in that goal as if it were your own. Remember God's word says that we should not store up up treasures here on earth. Investing in other people is a worth while investment and is very valuable. When you help someone else achieve their goal, you will feel accomplished as well. Do not always place your goals last because God wants your calling to shine also. Sometimes helping someone achieve their goal will give you experience in finishing your plan. Always look at the bigger picture so the puzzle can be completed properly and the pieces are all in the right place. What party are you planning?

Compliance

There is compliance in everything that involves life. What do you comply with? Compliance in growing up is your parents. Compliance as a student is the teachers and administration. Compliance as a driver is the signs and law enforcement officers. Compliance as young adult is employers, police officers, roommates or your new spouse. Compliance as a parent is the government. When you get old your compliance will be your kids. What happens if you avoid compliance? Why do we need to comply with every aspect of life? When we see something different or someone different why is it that we require them to comply with us? When we ask God to forgive us there is no list we must comply with. He doesn't say get cleaned up, then come back. Compliance comes in many forms with licenses, certifications, continuing education, homeowner's associations, land lords and the list goes on and on. Let's start a revolution. It's not a rebellion, it is a simple way of demonstrating our commitment to a higher power. We live like Christ does, no compliance. Do not conform to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. See, it's all in our heads. We can decide to live righteously. We can decide that we will comply or we won't. We can decide to do what is right or what is expected. We can follow God's word, or we follow what the world has for us. We still have be in this world but not of it. We are simply strangers or foreigners to this world. We must spread His gospel while we are here. Show me rules and I can show you opportunities to comply God's way. Compliance is only a temporary reqirement. Your mission is forever.

Tell me sumping

Do you think often? I mean really deep, planning, plotting thought. What causes you to have provoking thoughts about your life? Do you daydream where you may be tomorrow? Have you decided what to eat for dinner. Simple things that all of us will plan for. Have you planned where you will be next year? Do you just let things happen? Are a go with the flow kind of person? There are reports that people will only think twice a year. Have we become that dependent on other people to direct us? Shouldn't you plan and control youn own destiny. Ever heard of God's plan to prosper you? How do you think you will become prosperous? Will it just fall into your lap? You will find in life that things will happen? Do you want to allow life to just happen or do you want to happen to life? Have your ever done something where you feel you were so far ahead of the curve that you caught life off guard? Imagine if you planned that well for every day of your life. Instead of letting life happen to you you planned how you would happen to life. You make a concerted effort to impact life and everyone involved in your life. Instead of life taking you on a journey, you take it on a journey. The adventure begins now. Start planning your day. Be on purpose with your life, otherwise you will wonder where it went?

Say what......

Thinking about the old saying, "say what you mean and mean what you say." Consider times when you were being polite. Consider times when you were being respectful, courteous, nice and all the other adjectives for political correctness. You do also remember when your mother would remind you as a child to not say anything if you can't say something nice. "Bambi" the Disney movie reminds us of that through Thumper. Isn't it true that out of the mouths of babes we hear truth? Why is it that out of the mouths of babes do we hear it. Because babies have not been corrupted by political correctness. Babies have only been taught right and wrong from their parents perspectives. Now picture a baby raised by not just one set of parents but all truthful people. Will that mean the baby will be a lie detector? Now you are wondering what really is truth? Let's go back to meaning what we say? If we say whatwe mean and not just what we think people want us to say then we are already on the right leg to start with. After saying what we mean, now we must walk out what we said. How often have you seen people I leadership actually walk out what they say. We as parents cannot say to our kids, "do as I say and not as I do." we as Americans have been so weak that we don' want to live as an example. Say what you mean and mean what you say! Jesus did!

Moved mountains?

When was the last time that your faith took you to new heights? We use faith every day without thinking about it. When you go to sleep, you have faith you will wake up. When you wake up, you have faith that you will get up and walk. When you flip the switch, you have faith that the light will come on. When you flush the toilet you have faith it won't get clogged. You have faith you can breathe, or the brakes work in your car, or you get to where you are going on time, or you have a job to make money to buy the things you need, or that you will simply have a good day. When was the last time you thought how impossible it was but you believed that it would still happen? Have you ever let your faith do the walking and talking? Have you ever experienced healing, or impossible become possible, the nevers to be always? If your answer is no, why not? Do you think that those things never happen anymore? Do you think that you are not worth the possibilities? Maybe you don't think that you're good enough or you don't deserve it. As humans, who does deserve it? We are all short of being worthy. We are all short of becoming what we were made to be. Our faith is so watered down that it has not produced any hope in our life. Do you have hope? Do ou believe that there is something better than what you currently have or where you are. Life can be so much more. Life can offer so much more. Where is your faith? How big is a mustard seed? Have as much faith as that and see what happens!

Are you human?

Aldus Huxley the author of Brave New World is creating a world where we are the gods and we can do what we think feels good. Today we do this a lot.  We look at the Bible and apply only what fits in our life or what feels good.  "I know I'm doing good because I follow the bible," one may say.  What exactly are they following.  Does their life bare fruit to illustrate how good they are?  Many times we can look other people, judge who they are by what they are doing, who they are with and what they say.  Are we really suppose to be judging?  The Bible says we can witness a person's faith by the fruit of their personality.  As humans we are weak, imperfect, religious, back stabbers, liers, worldly and sometimes flat out demonic.  We allow ourselves to be caught up in what feels good to us and not what is RIGHT.  When do you step away from what feels good and toward what should be done.  Look at some of these shows that look at people in real life stepping in where it is right and then watching news where people look the other way.  Every year it seems there is a person ran over by a car and noone steps up to help but sits back to watch so they don't get involved. Where is your faith, your belief, your true personality.  I believe that your true personality is lazy.  I believe your faith is fake.  Who are you?  Step up, step in, get involved, do the right thing and apply your true belief system to the world around you.  Are you human?

Are you a problem solver?

I know my dad has many Pancakeisms. He discovers great things from other people. One liners that make so much sense and are applicable in every day life. He shared one with me tonight. There are so many different opportunities in life that some may call problems, set backs, delays, concerns and other names that we may call them. Do you constantly have problem, after problem that cause you to loose your mind? These problems have been named politically correct as opportunities. These opportunities have overcome our minds and keeps us busy from work, family life and every day activities. Why do we allow these things to pre-occupy us from the things that are most important. Interestingly, if we are not focused to help solve these problems, then have you considered that you are causing the problem. Use your mind that God has given you. Don't allow negative thoughts or people to influence how you live your life. Use every opportunity to grow your problem solving capability and step out to solve not just your problem but all around you. Find ways to get involved in ways that bring you to the top and become THE problem solver. People will come to you as the answer giver only because you made a conscience decision to allow yourself to be used. Only God can give you the freedom that enables you to rise to the top. Enjoy your next task, the problem solver.

Easy?

If you find something to be easy, you are not applying yourself. When you discover a task that presses you down and causes you to wonder if you are in the right place you must try harder. What have you sacrificed? Giving until it hurts. Have you applied this principle in you life? You will reap what you have sown. Think deeply about your life. You don't have anything to complain about. Why you ask? You have experienced hardship, trouble, pain, difficulty and you feel like you deserve to have this moment. Look more closely. What has been invested in your life? What have you sown? Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, then all these things will be added to you. Cast your cares on Him because He cares for you. Take up His yoke and His burden is light. Look at what has been planted. You can't get an apple from a grape vine, or oranges from a cherry tree. Plant your seeds. Sometimes your seed may fall on rocky soil, or in weeds, or on a path way. The more seeds you plant the greater the possibility one may find the fertile soil. Sown generously, and you will reap generously. But whatever you plant is what you will get. Remember you have to push yourself. You have to strive for your best. You have must run to the hard things and not run from them. Being a farmer is not going to be easy. Doing things the right way, God's way, will de difficult. He will never leave you. Push yourself through. Determination will only get you so far, but if you consistently push beyond each plateau you will find blessing upon blessing. Look at your life, what are you planting?

Your best?

Have you given your best? When you accept a request to complete a task do you just check the box? Do you enjoy the work that you do. I have been told by several people in my life that you should find something you enjoy doing, do it well enough to get paid to do it. What about doing something well enough that people WANT to pay you to do it. Apply that to every aspect of you life. That doesn't mean you say no to all the requests for help. What this means is that when you a job, do it to the best of your ability. The bible says that we do it FOR the glory of God. When was the last time you felt really good about a task you completed and gave God all the glory? Now look at people who you have asked to help you with a task. Are they doing their best? Is there a break down? Good to Great says would you hire them again after all you have been through? If you say NO, then let them help someone else. Why do something that will not bring satisfaction, pride and more importantly, glory to God? Now DO YOUR BEST!

Valuable!

I was watching a Tyler Perry movie and a sermon was being taught. It is interesting how applicable the word of God is to today. Have you ever thought about some aspects in your life that you feel have no meaning? Search your personality and your attitude. Consider all the nooks and cranies in your life. The responses you make to other people's comments, to how you think about things. Sometimes do you feel that some of those personality traits are not valuable? Remember the parable in Luke where Jesus is speaking to the Christian leaders about going after the one lost sheep and how the shepherd will rejoice when he finds it. This parable is compared to a lost soul that has not accepted Jesus as Lord but when he does there is a celebration in heaven. Let's think about this more deeply than the surface of someone receiving Christ. Go deeper. Yes, there will always be an excitement there when that decision is made. When we look at this, the shepherd saw that there was one missing. He knew how many sheep he had. Remember the parable right after this one about the woman with 10 silver pieces? It has the same outcome. A piece was missing and she knew it. She knew how many she had and how many was missing. She knew that the piece still had value even though it may have been lost. She lit a candle and swept her house until she found it. Although the piece was lost it still had value. It's usefulness was gone when it was lost. The person or traits of that person can not help anyone when it is lost. You have to care enough about the missing person to light a candle in that dark place and sweep the house clean to find them. You are worth it. You are valuable. You have something we need. Your value is there but when you are lost, your usefulness is gone. You are valuable. Find what is missing and celebrate it when you have found it.

iwhat?

Everything today is self focused. iPod, ihome, iPad...... Why is "I" the beginning of all the toys we want? Remember the bumper sticker that says, "the one with the most toys wins." American "I"dol? Notice the emphasis, why is I the beginning of idol? Doesn't the bible talk about having no other gods before you. Idols can be many different things. I need, I want, I have, I was, I said, I did, I can, I will, and the list goes on and on. Look at people around you. Look at the needs of others. Look at what you already have, not what you don't. Now go back to the old testament see what God said to Moses. Moses asked God, "who do I say that sent me?". God said, 'I am that I am.' Before you can look inward, you should look upward. Discover who the 'I am' is before you look the "I" in any situation. Look outward before inward. You will find your need is merely a want. The outside maybe dark, the 'I am' can make a difference. If the "I" continues to be the focus in your life, the 'I am" can't make a change in your life. You ask why, because you have a free will and He will not usurp your choices. Find the 'I am' so the the "i" doesn't get in the way of life.

Who are your surroundings

When a team is preparing for a competition, there are several aspects of the potential game that is viewed as opportunity for improvement. The match-ups, the defense, offense, strengths, weaknesses and the overall battle. Every heard you are only as strong as your weakest link. What about you are only motivated by the people who speak into you life. The people who surround you will make you strive or die. The motivation you find can be negative but it can be positive. Jesus brought new converts around Him. Ever see a new convert? They are so ready to confront and convert the world. If you want to open a business, bring around you people who have done it before or believe that you can. If there is a task that needs to be resolved, don't look at it as an impossible mission, but an opportunity for improvement. Again I ask, WHO are your surroundings?

Know it all

Have you considered your experiences to be exceptional? Have you ever thought about your view point and that NO one has experienced life like you have? Let's say you have spent every moment possible with your best friend. Did you share the same view point? Do you have the same ideas? You might be able to finish each others sentences. You might see something and know what the other person may be thinking but you can never have the exact, same experience. Your secondary thought is to try to match the experience to what you believe to be their thought. What you see, hear, feel and taste will trigger certain processes in your mind that cause you to think the way you do. The good, the bad and everything in between is uniquely your experience. People may be able to sympathize with you but could never be able to empathize as your experience was only meant for you. Just like ink blots or clouds in the sky, we all will see different things. Now can you see how unique your calling is for you and only you. No one can do it just like you would. No one could have the impact as God intended for you to have. Great or small, vast or narrow, your work is for you alone. The adjustments that are made to manufacture a fit is just that, MANufactured. We try to fit everything into our world when sometimes it is not a good match. Ever been called a know it all? Believe me when I say YOU are not. There is only One and there will only ever be One. Where do you know it all?

Are you effective?

There have been many times when I have pushed my car to its limits with no gas. When we go on vacation, do we not plan out the route? Don't we fill up the car make sure everything is packed and all the distractions we feel we need to help the ride seem shorter. Imagine that you will be driving across a few states to do your dream. You must get to your destination by next week. You need to decide what things you want with you and who will be there. Think deeply about all the plans and details of making this trip a successful one. Where will you be stopping on the way to get gas and snacks. What will be your dining plans? Will you pack your meals so you will not need to stop as often? Now think about if you found out your dream was across the state. Would you simply jump into your car and start driving? How will you make it to your destination if you don't have enough gas? How will you be able to work your dream if you don't have all the neccasary tools to complete the mission. Now realize that everyday of your life, your are on a mission. How are you doing in your mission. Every moment of every hour is a purpose filled moment. Are you on purpose? Are you re-fueling before or after the light comes on? That is a good way to see if you really are on purpose. Now get to work on your dream and fill up with God.

Job!

What happens when we take pride in our work. What happens when we say yes to things that distract us from what we are excellent at? What happens when we are able to focus on what our true calling in life is and develop ourselves to our limitless potential. I was speaking with a friend today about how a culture that is all about the free handouts and unwilling to work. Interestingly it is his culture he is talking about. There is so much potential that we allow others rob us of this wonderful ability or abilities! Our American culture is slowly being led astray from reaching our highest height. Whether it is the government, your job, friends, family or your own lazy self. Remember that everything we do should be for the glory of God, because it is He who gave us the talent or ability. When was the last time you took great consideration in your work that you wanted to ensure it was the best so that you could give Him the glory? What about the last time you did something just for a paycheck or temporary satisfaction? Are you settling for temporary satisfaction? Think about this, if you say, "No," to things that are not within your scope of talents then that will give you more time to focus and improve your talents. If you are already in a place where you are not talented then you do the absolute best you can and remember that everything is done for His glory. Your talent, your work, your ministry, your relationships, your diets, your exercise, everything is for His glory. Those of you who don't have faith or believe in God, then you should see how well you can do in everything. The better you become at it you will discover you are limited. The limitless power only can come from a super natural being. Sorry, but you are not it. Tap into good pride, the pride of making your father happy and excited that you have found your calling. Now you can say JOB!

What?

When we go outside our home what do we look like? What do we sound like? What do we act like? What are we representing? How do we carry ourselves? What presentation are we giving? What words do we express? What emotions do we share? Where are we when things happen? Who are we with? Better yet ask the same questions of yourself INSIDE your home. Do we have compromise in our minds and hearts. Do not be of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Now review the above questions and renew your mind then apply.

Our history

History has a way of demonstrating our wrong answers in life. It creates a log of direction that was chosen along with the outcome from that decision. Ever heard the saying "hind site is 20/20?" why is it that we cannot take the information given to make a better decision for now. Did you know that trial and error is only applied when the outcome is unknown. How many times has history repeated itself? How many times do inventors attempt their invention before patenting their product? As a Christian we may fail, but we should never give up after failing. There are so many other people who give up so easily that they miss the response from trying one more time. If you don't push through the failures, you will never discover the success of the invention. Many times the answer is not neccesarily wrong, it just is not the best. We can earn from every decision. If you can learn from correct answers, then you can better yourself by improving on that decision for the next time. Where can you improve? Where can you go from good to great like the book says? Excellence is all that God asks us to offer. Everything that we do we do for the glory of God. Do all you can as great as you can and that includes failing. Fail hard so you will learn to succeed hard! That's how we will learn.

Wounded?

It is interesting how God created us. When we are injured the body knows what it needs to do to heal itself. If you have an open sore and you keep scratching at it, it will never close up and heal. Being wounded is not fun. The idea of keeping it clean, and letting it breathe is all part of the healing process. There are time times in our lives when we think that we can move on, press through with all these hurts. When I was a kid, I fell several times and split my head open. In order for my brains not to fall out All over the ground, I needed to go to the hospital to get stitched back up. This happened so often that I got to know the doctors on a first name basis. Imagine if you don't take time to clean your wound and allow it to heal before you continue. What do you think you would look like if you never let yourself heal. Now imagine what your relationships would look like if you don't let them heal. How are you living? It is very impotant to pay attention to things that affect the overall health or well being of that relationship or person. Why put off what needs your attention today. Get better! Don't allow yourself to stay wounded.

Want more work?

I know today there are many people looking for work and wanting an income to assist them in their lifestyles. Sometimes we find ourselves working for a diversion. How much time do we spend with our co-workers? The people we don't always want to spend a lot of time with are the ones we have to spend the most time. Why is it that we spend so much time with them? There are reasons why we want to bury ourselves in work. Sometimes we may be hiding from someone or something. Most of the time it is purely for the joy of the career. Why do some of us bury ourselves in work? We don't want to face the reality within our lifestyle. Whatever it might be, we look to other things to distract us from the most important and pressing decisions in our life. We are unwilling to pull the trigger on the right decisions. What things are you hiding from? Where do you hide from them? It is time to stand up, face the noise and move forward. There is car commercial that states if you're not moving forward, you must be moving backwards. Your life has purpose, but wandering AIMlessly through it will create a false sense of accomplishment. Have you found what you're looking for, maybe you should keep looking or re-focus.

Why wait.........

Have you seen the movie called Bucket List with Jack Nicholson. It is an interesting story of two grown men with terminal illnesses doing the tings they have always wanted to do. There are so many things that I plan on doing, but what if I never get to do them? When I was younger I thought about how it didn't matter to me how long I'd live. Now that I'm a parent I'd like to see my kids grow up. I'd like to see my grand kids. I'd even like to see what my retirement will be like with my wonderful wife. Why when I was a kid did I lived for the moment? I was very sporadic, spontaneous, energetic and unpredictable. I'm sure that my bet friend or my wife could probably add a few more adjectives in that line. In Jeremiah, we get a promise from God about a plan to prosper. We also get A word in Matthew about do not worry about tomorrow. Why should we put off things tomorrow for what we could do today? Why is it that we feel there are things that cannot be completed today or enjoyed today. Why do we want suffer through what we don't enjoy first or we keep it for last? Why do we have to delay our bucket list until we are decrepit and unable to enjoy them? If you can enjoy them now image what a REAL bucket lit could look like. When was the last time you dreamt BIG? I have read Maxwell say that most people only think about twice a year. Make it a goal to start thinking more often, puting the information down on paper writing out the plan on how to accomplish it then DO IT! What have you been dreaming lately?

Short cuts?

The typical stereotype is the man heading to a destination not sure he is in the right place all the while his wife is in the passenger seat just saying, "Stop and ask someone." Have you ever been headed somewhere and not sure you are in the correct location? The decision to continue down a path without proper directions will lead you to a new place. It reminds me of a recent commercial that uses a directional technology that tells you to turn here then look around it will be there somewhere. How good is a device that gives directions but will not get you to your destination? While you are headed in the right direction, places may seem familiar. It may appear to be the place you are headed but our eyes and our mind will play tricks on us. We can be deceived very easily. We must pay attention to people that God has placed in our lives to assist us in where we are going. Sometimes stopping to check if we are on track is not a bad decision. It may delay you from arriving on time. At least you will make it to your destination. Isn't life the same way? There are places that you are trying reach and all it takes is to listen for the directions. Short cuts in life will not pay us dividends. Typically the short cuts are what get us LOST. A lost person will start to have their heart beat rise, the adrenaline will start confusing our senses to where we don't recognize that we are just around the corner from where we need to be. Doesn't it feel good to arrive instead of wandering around hoping it is at the next light. Life won't be that easy, that you can wander into your blessing. These places take specific direction. God will lead you if you allow Him.

Newness

Thats a fun word to say. Say it with me, NEWNESS. Now say it out loud. Newness! There are times in our lives where we count. Your child is not listening to you, so you count. Someone is making you very angry, so you count before you bite their head off. We teach our children to count at a very early age. We count how many days until the next birthday. Count down until the next vacation. Count movies, music downloads, app downloads, phone signal, text messages, things we are involved in at church, the number of deals made, houses bought or sold, animals we have, acres of land, toys we have, income and any other way of MEASURING. We constantly are measuring. Measure the number of breathes you have, steps taken, lives interacted with, contacts made, blessing accepted, blessings given. The list should be endless, but we don't normally look at the positive. We are always so concerned about the glass being half empty. "You got more than me." Remember the master came back to take an account of his talents he left with his servants. Did he find the glass half empty. Newness, every day. You can take newness at every breathe. Faith without works is dead. That means you can believe your whole life for newness but if you never act on what God has called you to do, it will never come. Outloud one more time NEWNESS today!

Take it!

When gifts are given to you do freely accept them? Do you politely reject gifts from strangers? What about a co-worker that randomly gives you a gift because they saw it and thought of you? It is kinda funny to think that as kids we don't care where the gift comes from we are just excited we got one. Also, as kids, we are not always grateful when we get a gift. Gifts are interesting topics, because the giver feels obligated to get it for you or they simply love you enough to see your face light up. Remember how you felt when you would get exactly what you asked for and wanted to use/play with it right away? Think about how you feel as you give a gift to someone that you put some thought into. Did you know exactly what to get them? When you knew you were going to that person a gift you knew exactly where to find the right item that would fill them excitement. Ever realize that what you are giving isn't exactly right but you didn't know it until after it was purchased and wrapped? Have you considered taking back the gift when the receiver wasn't exactly thrilled about it? Life is like this a lot of times because people are people. People don't or won't change. The only thing you can do is change how you respond. Remember when the children of Isreal are in the desert, the just left Egypt, God tells Moises to send spy's into the promised land and they came back with a bad report. I was listening to my Daily Audio Bible with Author, artist Brian Harden and he talking about this very point. God gave a gift that the Elders of Isreal rejected. How often do you reject a gift God gives because it might have a little work to claim it, or you feel overwhelmed by the odds that might go against your plan? Take it!

What next?

Sorry! This blog was accidentally erased. I will attempt to replace it. You get home from work and you have a head ache so you take two Tylenol and try to relax. Hours go by and now you're ready to go to sleep but you still have a head ache so you read the label to discover that you could take one or two more. Remember the commercials "Calgone take me away?" No matter what you do you can't take the edge off. What about your sink is full of dirty dishes but the dish washer is still full of clean dishes? Your closet is empty but the clothes hamper if full. You get a phone call that family/friends are coming over and the floor needs to be vacuumed while a light dusting is required but there is no time. Work required a project to be completed by tomorrow but you haven't started it yet. The invitations are written but the party is this weekend and they haven't been mailed yet. The music minister calls to see how your practicing is going on your special for this Sunday which hasn't been started. You are suppose to teach at church this week and don't have a topic. Dont allow these distractions to take your focus. God has placed within you all that you need. I have the answer. I know where your release is. Yes, you will take care of these things and God will give you more. Matt 6. http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Mat&c=6&v=1&t=NIV#1. I hope that is close.

Count the cost

Have you ever thought about how much those groceries cost that you put on a credit card? When the card carries a balance and you have an interest rate of 10% you are paying too much for those cookies. What about putting off studying until later then having to stay up too late to get it in. Ever think that you should spend more time with your family, loved ones or someone special only to find something else that prevents you from that time. Oh yeah, how about the diet that you were on but now you're enjoying a Little Debbie Snack Cake thinking how much more a second snack may be MORE enjoyable. Puting anything off until tomorrow is never a wise decision. The pain that is caused by not starting or finishing what was planned is a costly decision. You will have plenty of decisions that will impact your life, some small and others large. Have you prioritized your life? Many of the factors that are used in making decisions become selfish desires that are temporary in nature. Did you know that a $1 invested in 1975 in a good growth portfolio could potentially be worth $88.50 by 2005 (plan $30 a month at an average return of 11% over 36 years $151,913). As simple as puting aside a small sacrifice every day could be a life changer today! Apply that to spending time with loved ones, planning your finances (budgeting), studying, dieting, exercising, work or even better, your relationship with God. What are you willing spend?

Prescriptions?

Amazing how you feel after a good work out or run! Taking time to invest in the well being of other people is a great way to start a deposit account into what you can receive. What that means is when you place time and energy into someone else you will reap a harvest into your own life. When you invest in someone else you have created an account in which you have the ability of receiving from the growth of that investment. That is a good prescription. Have you ever wondered how any doctor knows everything about the different prescriptions that could fix your ailment. It takes teams and teams of pharmaceutical company representatives to bring by new information about the next exciting pill in medicine. All of those people have different paradigms that they reference when illustrating what works. These representatives travel all over the country, states, counties and cities to bring new information about the drugs. Please remember that prescriptions don't have to be drugs. Although we correlate prescription with drugs, prescription can be a life style change. I could prescribe to you to swim more often for exercise or eat less cookies and milk to not look like Santa Clause. What if you take a look at your own life, write down your dreams and prescribe steps to accomplish your dreams. What about your health, you don't need an education in sports medicine to prescribe a fun exercise, wear a brace to strengthen joints or eat healthy foods. Did you know that information is at your fingertips? Isn't it the bible that states laughter does good like medicine. What will you prescribe?

Are we lazy?

Ever see your neighbor take down his Christmas lights? There are some that take great care in bringing down the Christmas lights to ensure another year of use. Then there are others that may take them down with a rake, or they may just leave them up year round so that they don't need to hang them back up! Yes, I wish I was the latter. We as Americans have become lazy in our lifestyles. What about things that cause us pain? How about budgeting to save money so you can purchase the items with cash. NO, we whine and cry then buy it with our credit card. I'd rather pay interest than wait to buy it when i have cash. What about our health? Our cars get better service than our bodies. Let me take a pill that has all kinds of side effects to fix one minor thing that could've been resolved with diet or exercise. How many of us say I'll wait to see the doctor if it gets worse. When we go we get served medication to bandage a symptom. How many people dig to the root of our problem to fix it? Hardly any. We are too busy? Our lives have so many juggling acts that all the flaming knives can't stay in the air forever. No, my option is we do not prioritize the main problems. We rather bandage it and keep moving until we have time to deal with the HEART of the problem. God doesn't look at the outward appearance but He looks t the heart. What is your symptom and what is your side effect?

Interesting idea

News papers that have no ink on your fingers after reading it. I think that is why the news paper companies are having a hard time surviving financially because people read it for free online and don't get ink on their fingers. I think having the information at the tip of your fingers is great and it offers the ability of being cleaner. Now if we could only read the information we want without being bombarded by banners, ads and other forms of marketing that complete takes our focus from the main goal.

Speaking of losing our focus..... What kind of world do we live in that we accept everything as status quo and "freely" give up our rights of freedom? We think that we send our military over seas to fight for our freedom when our fight is right here at home. Ever heard of giving kids an inch and they will take a mile? I believe we have given and given and given so much that we forgot what we had to begin with. We have been distracted by all the other things going on year after year that we cannot freely do much of anything. Yes I may be over generalizing something and it is for a good point. Please do not lose focus on why we live the way we do and what has brought us to this point. We have freedom because God sent His son and that is worth fighting for and telling the good news.

Ever wonder.....

Sometimes there are things like Arcenio Hall would say, "things that make you go hum." why do they call where you park your car at your house a drive way and the highway where you drive a parkway. I guess because where there is a parkway there is too much traffic and you will be parking on your way to your destination. Have you ever heard on traffic reports about a disabled moving vans? Isn't that an oxymoron? What about a fine mess? Any schedule that is ridiculous to keep up with should not be called a schedule (airlines, trains, parents). Off road vehicles with turn signals? Rounded corners? Higher education that still gives out "f's." simply marvelous? Please add to the list is you so choose. When you understand that God already knows what you will choose before you make that decision, does it change your decision? Because you get to decide your life after it is already planned out does it mean that those decisions where already made for you? Why would Eve choose something other than what God knew would already be the outcome? Why would Jesus have to come save me before I was even born? In life you will always have decisions to make. God will never take that away from you because he wants you to choose Him. We can ask "what if" questions forever, but until you know who He is and what He has planned for you, you will never be satisfied with what you are offering yourself. We as humans are very limited in our knowledge, understanding and comprehension that we will always miss the BIG picture. Wonder why hind sight is always 20/20? You now know at least one of the outcomes from a choice you made, how many others could you have improved?

Things I think of......

Anyone who knows me knows my saying, "it's all good." have you ever considered the power of positive thinking? How about you are what you say, or how about what you think. What about symptoms of something larger? Side effects of negative thinking. Have you ever heard the long list of side effects from that special drug that is the only one that can take away your symptoms. Wow, what trade. Was it worth it? "may even cause death" let's pop another pill. Some how it doesn't seem all good. Why do we want to fix it now instead fixing it permenantly? It can be "all good." choose wisely. I'm new to this. Let's go on this journey.