What were your top 3 take-aways for 2010?

What are you looking most forward to in 2011?

How was your identity formed?

How do we set our standards?

What is 'balance'? How do you achieve balance? How important is balance ?

Can you be too busy doing the work of the Lord that you miss the Lord of the work? How do you prevent that from happening?

What's the balance between pursuing a relationship with the Lord & just 'being still' & knowing He's God?

What determines your teachability or willingness to learn?

How important are dreams? How do you grow them?

How do you get out of a life rut?

How mature are you? How do you become 'mature'? What is maturity a function of?

How effective are you at conflict resolution? How do you know? Would those closest to you agree?

Where did you learn to handle conflict?

What determines whether or not someone has enemies?

Is 'change' a challenge? Why?

The more you serve others, the smaller your problems get. -me

Is there a way to show or communicate to someone their value? How?

Whose life have you positively impacted? (You have positively impacted someone's life.) How did you do it?

What's the most powerful force in the world?

Is there such a thing as 'tough love'? How does it work? When do you know how to use/apply it?

What do you do when you don't know what to do?

Your pain is never greater than God's purpose...SBMonolakis

What determines how much of a 'taker' someone is?

What determines how much of a 'giver' someone is?

Are you a good example of what you believe in?

Can those around you tell what you stand for or believe in just by your actions?

Do those around you know what you stand for or believe in? Should they? Does it matter?

What does understanding have to do w/communication?

A timid person is frightened before a danger, a coward during the time, and a courageous person afterward. - Jean Paul Richter

What % of what you 'do' is based on how you 'feel'? What should the % be?

How have you impacted the lives of those closest to you?

Is there a relationship between a numb or hardened heart & forgiveness?

What's the last thing God told you?

Who follows principles above personal gain? What % of time do you?

Who follows principles above personal gain? What % of time do you?

Who follows principles above personal gain? What % of time do you?

How did you create your existing habits? What % are good/productive? What % are not good/productive?

How do you prevent going back to bad habits?

If those closest to you were to pass away tomorrow, what would you have wanted to tell them b4 they passed? Tell them now.

What causes change?

Luke 8:11-18

What determines if someone is needy? Are you? How do you know? What's the fix?

Difference between "inventor" & "innovator"?

WooHOO! It's snowing!

Psalm 103!

Psalm 84!

What determines how effective you are at hearing God? How effective are you at hearing God?

Psalm 78

What's the difference between 'wrath' & 'vengeance'? --STM

Psalm 63

What's a hypocrite? Are 'you' a hypocrite?

Are you living life at 100% of your maximum? If not, what % are you living up to?

What is grace? Can you teach it?

A man's unfilled destiny is the shame of the universe. -JTP

Do you know what 'music' you still have in you?

How do you define 'productivity'?

What is your purpose in life?

What creates consistency?

How do you define success?

What affects how close you are with your friends?

On a scale from 1-10, how tight are you with your inner circle? ("10" is very tight.)

How good are you at changing/improving?

What's the difference between "wise" & "smart"?

What do you think is the #1 leadership principle? Why?

How do you earn the right to lead others?

How is your inner circle making you better?

Sitting with John Cosgrove, Steve Rulli, Tony & Alice Rodriguez, and Kevin & Beth Bell. Who's in your mastermind?

What are you doing to change your life?

How does your association challenge you?

Listening to Colin Powell speak right now

Chillin w/Tony Rodriguez!!

When was the last time you let someone else affect your attitude? What's that say about you?

What's the best advice you've ever received? Who was it from?

If you wanna get to the castle, you gotta swim the moat. -Texan in EPL

How do you pick your friends?

How many minor course corrections have you had in life, as opposed to major course corrections?

Who/what has contributed most to where you are professionally?

Who/what has contributed most to where you are personally?

Matthew 13:18-23 How many do you know have fallen in one of these categories? (I guess everyone falls into one of these...which 1 are you?)

How can you strengthen the integrity, emotional, mental & spiritual toughness of a nation/culture?

What determines how thankful you are?

Psalm 136

What are you thankful for?

God doesn't give the vision without the provision. He will provide both!

The moment you stop learning, you stop leading. -JCMaxwell

There are two ways to make yourself feel better: grow/build yourself or tear everyone else around you down.

What does it say about someone that uplifts or encourages someone else?

What does it say about someone that demeans or belittles someone else?

One who asks a question is a fool for 5 min; one who does not ask a question remains a fool forever. -Chinese proverb

Are you sure enough to be unsure? -V.Harris

Believe!

Have a life-changing day!

Can God trust you? What does He base it on?

What are you thankful for?

Can you teach 'thankfulness'?

How thankful are you on a scale from 1-10? Can you develop your thankfulness?

What have been the top 3 biggest lessons you've learned so far this year?

Are you imposing your will on life or is life imposing it's will on you?

Who's the best teacher/mentor you've ever had? Why were they the best teaher/mentor you've ever had?

What/who was the most recent thing that changed the way you think/believe? How did it happen?

What things change us?

Why would you/would you not believe in God?

What does being an American mean to you?

Where are you compromising that you shouldn't be?

What/who are you living for?

Who are the top 3 most driven people you know? What do you think makes them so driven?

Who do you take seriously & why?

Who do you need in your life?

If you were the head hoops coach & were assembling a "starting five" for your life, who would you pick?

What does your inner circle say about you?

Are you getting the results in your life you're wanting? Why? Why not?

Have you created a "time budget"? How's your current time budget working for you?

What do you stand for?

How is the last time God got your attention?

Can you strengthen your principles? How?

How do words matter?

Who has inspired you the most?

What has inspired you the most?

Bible verse that has gotten you through the toughest of times?

Favorite quote?

Who do you influence the most?

Who influences you the most?

Were you to write an autobiography, what would be the chapter titles?

How do you live your life?

What are your core beliefs?

How can you develop your servant heart/attitude?

How can you develop your thankfulness?

What is the meaning of death?

What is the meaning of life?

How do you define 'serving'?

What's the definition of manhood?

Are you being used for your highest & best purpose?

Why did God make you?

What unique gifts, skills, talents or abilities do you have?

Do you know the dreams of those in your inner circle? Should you?

What do you want written on your tombstone?

How intentional are you?

Who/what do you want to be when you grow up?

What difference do you make?

How much do the opinions of others hold you back?

How can you improve your decision making process?

Who has been negatively impacted by your decisions?

Who has been positively impacted by your decisions?

What have been the ripple effects of your good & bad decisions?

What small decision(s) will you make today to begin improving the course of your life?

What's been the longest running passion in your life?

How good are you at making decisions? Do you have the results you want in your life? Why? Why not?

What affects the % of time you choose character over comfort?

If you're on track, how do you stay on track?

If you're off track, how do you get back on track?

What's the most recent thing you've learned?

What can you learn about you from observing those closest to you?

Why do you do what you do?

Who are you?

Does God parent?

What % of your strengths are used at your current job?

What are the qualities of an excellent leader?

What determines if you'll make a good decision or a great decision?

How are you making a difference in the world?

Do you have to have faith to be happy? Why? Why not?

Wow...this is no joke! Thoughts? Check this vid out: http://ping.fm/uUtgs

Psalm 33

VOTE your values & principles! Your vote counts!

Go VOTE your values & principles!

WooHOO! Just voted values & principles!

What makes a country great?

What are you good at?

What determines how much you care about something?

What are you willing to fight for--something you rent or something you own? Why?

What do you take better care of--something you rent or something you own? Why?

What are the components of a team?

What makes a team good?

What did you get out of the best team you've ever been a part of?

What is the difference between a group & a team? -JSavage

Vote your values no later than November 2nd!

Luke 11:10

R u motivated by pain or gain?

What are the factors involved in developing one's self-image?

Why aren't you further along?

Should the opinions of others matter?

Can you make a difference without making waves?

How do you change someone's mindset?

What have you done that was most meaningful to others?

What have you done that was most meaningful to you?

What determines someone's consistency?

How do develop vision?

What is belief a function of?

What determines what you can handle?

Can you teach 'drive'?

What is 'pursuit' a function of?

If someone is suffering a setback, what advice would you give him?

How do you know what you're made of?

Psalm 121

What type of people intrigue you the most?

Asked all kinds of questions this morning on my Fb page that some of you need to take a look at! :-)

Does God do whatever He wants to do? Can we influence what God does? How? How do you know?

Why do people die with the music still in them?

What % of people die with the music still in them?

What topics move you?

How strong is your character? How do you know?

What determines the strength of your belief?

How strong do you believe what you believe? More than the disbelief of the doubters?

What do the masses believe?

How often are the masses right?

How are you different than the masses?

How much do the masses influence the way you think?

What defines you?

What processes do you live by?

How accurate are your beliefs? How do you know?

What matters?

What difference do you make?

Why does your heart beat? What makes it beat?

How strong is your faith? How do you know?

Are you happy with where you're at?

What do you think God thinks about when He thinks of you?

How transparent are you? What determines your transparency? Is transparency important?

Numbers 13-14

Psalm 1, 19

Psalm 121

2 Kings 6:8-23

Another example from previous post: Will God help me financially if I'm not willing to change my poor financial habits?

Can/will God intervene, if we're not willing to change? (i.e.: Will God help me lose weight, if I don't want to stop eating Ben & Jerry's?)

What dream are you currently pursuing?

What are the top 3 things that make God angry?

What makes Jesus smile?

Romans 8:1-6

What are your top 3 strengths?

What major breakthroughs have you had in your life?

What are you currently working on improving in your life?

Who are you in submission to?

"Hell"...being in Hell & 20-30 yrs later you get tapped on the shoulder & your children ask you why you didn't tell them the truth. -P.M.

What are you thankful for?

Can you learn how to be more thankful? How?

Nuestra hija milagra tiene 3 años hoy día! Our little miracle girl is 3 today!! Gracias a Diós! Thank You, Lord!

Qua patres difficillime adepti sunt nolite turpiter relinquere: What our forefathers with so much difficulty secured, do not basely relinquish. -William Bradford

What is your family's culture? Your job's culture? Your church's culture? Your team's culture? How is culture created?

What are you afraid of?

How can you grow/strengthen your resilience?

How important are dreams? Should we 'grow' them? How?

How will you positively impact someone today?

What significance does your greatest accomplishment have?

How are you free? How are you not free?

Psalm 133

What are you currently pursuing? How much time do you invest daily in it's pursuit?

How do you define success?

How challenging & inspirational is your inner circle?

Whose faith are you inspired by?

Are you using the skills, talents & abilities God gave you to your fullest extent?

What would you do if you knew today was your last day?

How do YOU grow your character?

What are the positive & negative consequences for who you are?

What are the positive & negative consequences for who you are?

What enemies are you currently facing?

Can you overcome someone's lack of ambition?

What's the quality of your relationships? How do you know? Would the other party agree?

What is 'faith'? How much of it do you have? How do you get more? What's the purpose of faith? How do you 'use it'?

How do you know if you have the wrong dream? Is it possible to have a 'wrong dream'?

How can you improve your communication skills?

Scale from 1-10: How good are you at communicating?

We possess a boundless ability to deceive ourselves. -JCMaxwell (2 Kings 5)

How do you define "communication"?

What does God expect from us?

What/who do you want to be when you grow up?

How would your friends & family describe you?

What are your current expectations?

Uhh...quick prayer request...please pray for my very first LIVE radio interview tomorrow morning at 0700 (CENTRAL TIME)/0800 (EASTERN TIME)! The link is below if you'd like to listen in!

Why You Need to Expect the Unexpected http://ping.fm/2LwwQ

Does God do miracles for those not expecting them?

What is truth? What is true?

What was the most recent thing that motivated you to take action?

Do something great today!

Does God ever override our decisions?

What's the quality of your inner circle?

How good are you at making good decisions?

What type of person do you look up to?

What's important to you?

What do you bring to the table?

What's your value?

How could you be living with more passion?

How do you get more faith?

Does everyone start out with faith?

How much of what you believe is due to how you were raised?

Is there a limit to tolerance? Is there a limit to intolerance?

If testosterone mated with an explosion, it would have a mangasm. -Expendables

What affects/impacts our level of intimacy with God?

How long does it typically take for you to implement personal change in your life...in an area that you're working on?

What's one word or phrase that best describes you?

Does God have regrets?

How do you bring the best out of those around you?

What will you do today to make a difference?

How much time & effort do you invest in developing the foundation of your character? -K.Bell

Why do you believe what you believe? -K.Bell

Who sets the standards for inconvenience? -B.Harris

What are you not willing to compromise?

Are your habits leading you in the direction you're wanting to go?

If you don't like your harvest, plant new seed. -Heather Harris

Who do you inspire?

Who influences you the most?

What makes you angry?

What are you currently contributing to life & those around you?

Our kid just woke up in the middle of the night b/c of a "boogie". No, not boogie man, but a boogie from her nose. Are you kiddin' me?!?

What have you done for God lately?

What has God done for you lately?

Who is God?

What traits do you admire in other people?

What principle or value is the most prevalent in your life?

Scale from 1-10: How mentally tough would your 5 closest friends consider you? How would you rate yourself?

Procrastination is the grave where opportunity is buried. -Craig Lowe

If I asked your 5 closest friends how emotionally mature you are on a scale from 1-10, how would they rate you?

Proverbs 18:20-24

Who challenges you to grow & change (directly or indirectly)?

The more you serve others the smaller your problems get.

What's the inside of 'your' soul look like?

Why are you at where you're at in life?

Someone please find a Bible verse that backs up my very, very strong inkling that there WILL be chips & salsa in Heaven.

What degree of responsibility should one take for the events that occur in one's life--good & bad?

What do you expect in an apology?

Are words powerful? How?

Are you who your kids need you to be?(What are you doing about it?)

Who are your role models? Who do you look up to? (Why?)

How do the masses make decisions?

Those who don't take risks take what's left over. -Bobby Britt

What's one thing you've learned about yourself this year?

What/who do you take most for granted?

What lesson does it seem like God is really wanting you to learn (as evidenced by the number of times He's presented you w/it)?

What's the most powerful question you've ever been asked?

What do you want to be remembered for?

What's one thing you've learned from the toughest thing you've ever been through in your life?

What do you love most about life?

Can "maturity", "wisdom" or "passion" be taught?

What's the latest thing you've learned from your kids?

What determines the ripple effect of our decisions?

What's the most thoughtful thing someone has ever said to you?

What's the most profound thing you've ever heard?

What's the biggest thing you've learned from your father?

Are you currently living or pursuing the life you've always wanted?

If you could be any hero or villain, who would you be?

What freedoms do you appreciate the most?

What does it take to succeed?

Warfare always surrounds the birth of a miracle. (-M.Murdock) ...or the fool who remains in his folly. (-me)

What are you passionate about? Do you excel at all the things you're passionate about? (Why?/Why not?)

Should you be good at your passion?

What's one thing you could change today to get you one step closer to your goal?

It is impossible to solve an inward problem with an external solution. -JCMaxwell

What little things do you appreciate the most?

What kind of people do you like to spend time with?

Who are your mentors? Are you intentional with them? What are the last 3 questions you asked them?

Mobile photo

What are you intentional about?

Who do you appreciate most in your life? Have you told them?

Is it abnormal for your 2.5 yr old to pee on you a couple times in one day?

What is not being said by what is being said?

How are you going to make your mark in the world?

How much effort are you truly giving to living?

"They know more & more about less & less until they eventually they know everything about nothing." -J.Boyd

The process of observation changes what is being observed. -Heisenberg

How do your strengths line up with your current occupation/profession?

Where do you get your personal 'convictions' from?

Why do some people pursue greatness while others do not?

What/who do you want to be when you grow up?

What value do your 3 closest friends add to you?

How well do you lead yourself? (How do you know?)

How do you define daily success in your life?

What positive comes from being negative?

What are you living for?

What word or phrase would you use to describe your life?

What determines someone's ability to be self-aware?

What quality do you admire most in others?

Do you (we) have an innate desire to engage in endeavors that will outlast our lives?

How do you know if you're growing?

What does "success" mean to you?

You can't talk yourself out of a problem you behaved yourself into. -S.Covey

How do your actions line up or not line up w/your beliefs?

How are you currently developing your strengths?

Are you supposed to feed a 2.5 yr old kid chicken nuggets? Haven't done it yet. Just wondering...

Wow...taking care of a 2.5 yr old all by yourself is no joke! (Big knuckles to all super Moms!!!) My wife ROCKS!

Are you in life where you thought you'd be at this point in your life? Why/why not?

Do something great today!

Psalm 121

What's your favorite Bible verse/passage?

In your lifetime, who have you learned the most from & why?

How does mediocrity become acceptable in one's life?

What value do you add to those around you?

What is the biggest self-realization you've had in the past 12 months?

What is the meaning of life?

What drives you?

Why have you not sought out more help in those areas of life you're struggling the most in?

What expectations do you have of those closest to you?

What's the most recent thing you've learned that has positively impacted your life?

How teachable are you? (In other words, how willing are you to learn?)

What has been one of the greatest attributing factors to your current belief system & thought process?

What is one of your all-time highlights of your life?

All it takes is all you've got & all you've got is just enough. -M.Newgent/T.Rodriguez

Are we our habits or are we a reflection of our habits?

What are some of the small details in life you appreciate the most?

When was the last time someone made you feel better about yourself? How did they do it?

What is one change you'd like to see in the world?

How can someone grow & develop their passion(s)?

How productive are you?

What do you think about the most?

What can you do to develop your ability to bring the best out of those around you?

In what areas of your life have you built walls? Why/when did you build them?

How are you currently growing yourself?

What has the greatest affect (pos or neg) on your self-image?

What behaviors (pos or neg) do you exhibit today as a direct result of your childhood?

How are you different today than you were a year ago?

If you had to "do life" all over again, what would you do differently?

Who makes you wanna be a better person? (How/Why do they make you wanna be better?)

What makes you happy?

How does how you see yourself affect how you see others?

How will you make a difference in someone's life today?

What are the top two things you've learned from your kids?

Do you trust God enough to let Him hurt you in order to heal you?

What is the difference between passion & addiction?

What area of your life are you currently working on the most?

On a scale from 1-10, where would you rate your character?

What's the most recent positive change you've made in your life?

What's the biggest thing you've learned recently?

Why were you created?

What are you intentional about?

How do you define maturity?

What is one dream or goal that you think about the most?

How do you know if you're ready & willing to change?

What were you most complimented for during your childhood?

How do you stay focused?

What affects your personal drive?

What is your 'craft' or specialty?

What's one accomplishment you've already achieved this year?

What are you most consistent at?

What is one thing you've overcome that you're most proud of?

What do you appreciate the most from the person you love the most?

What are you most thankful for?

Who is someone who has brought out the best in you? How did they do it?

How do you define a life of significance?

When is it ok to give up?

When Is It Ok To Give Up?

Hmm...how about that one to get the juices flowing?

When is it ok to throw in the proverbial towel?  Not the little square hand towel you use to wipe your nose.  I’m talking about the big, giant, fluffy, cozy, white, beach towel of surrender—the big one that’s sitting on the top shelf of your bathroom closet…just a little out of your reach…or is it?

How much is too much?

How hard is too hard?

How many times is one too many times?

How difficult is too difficult?

How challenging is too challenging?

How strenuous & arduous is too strenuous & arduous?

How many obstacles are too many to overcome?

How many hurdles are too many to jump?

How many straws is the last straw?

Well…do you have an answer?

What was it for you?

Have you ever waved that ever-so-shameful and embarrassing 1000 lb. flag of surrender before?

Or maybe you’re just one of those faith filled friars that just float into work on your fuzzy fabric of unflappable, unphaseable tapestry that has never experienced the defeat or knock-out punch of life.

If you’ve never experienced the bitterness of waving the wispy white wand of weakness…get ready…because your time may come…

I mean even in the Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth (BIBLE), it says that if you choose to live a certain way, there will be struggles & challenges (Matt 5).  And, gee whiz, even the Optimus Prime of aPostles, Peter, had to take the proverbial knee when he disavowed his very own Teacher, Coach, Mentor…not once…but three stinkin’ times…in a ROW!  Are you kiddin’ me?  C’mon Pete…get it together buddy. 

And wasn’t it big Pete again, who when given the opportunity to check out his “bare footing skills” on the Sea Of Galilee when he stepped out of the boat, he sunk like the Titanic.

I mean if Big Papa Pete had to wave the wand of weenie-ness, there’s a pretty darn good chance you may have to as well.

So…let’s just go out on a skinny, shaky limb & say that if Big Pete waved the white flag of surrender…on more than one occasion, there’s a chance you & I will too.  And for the record…unfortunately, I’ve waved that wand of wussiness more times than I’d like to admit.  As a matter of fact, there’ve been times in my life where I’ve felt I had my PhD in White Flag Surrendering 101, 201, 301 & 401.  And it didn’t stop there…I’ve felt like I’ve even taught classes on how to do it.

So…what does that make me?  Wow…you can’t imagine the number of times I’ve asked myself that question.  Who are you?  How many times are you gonna wave that flag, Gib?  (That’s what I call myself.  Sometimes, when I’m feeling especially good, I’ll call myself, “The Gibbenator”.)  :-) Why are you waving the flag…again?  Why are you being such a weenie, Gib?  What’s your problem, Gib?  Why are you being such an Oscar Meyer weenie?

In my infinitesimally finite experience, I’ve arrived at this conclusion.  Let’s go back to the beginning.  The very beginning. 

“When Is It Ok To Throw In The Towel?”

When you own a Rolls Royce, when is it ok to turn it into the scrap heap?

When you own a Rolex, when is it ok to bust out your sledgehammer & smash it into a million pieces?

When you own a home, when is it ok to dowse it w/gasoline & torch the place?

When you own an antique artifact, when is it ok to use it for fire wood?

When you own a vintage automobile, when is it ok to use it in a demolition derby?

When you’re in combat and getting shot at and you have only one good weapon w/ammo, when is a good time to just pitch it & start throwing rocks?

When you have a disobedient kid, when is it ok to trade them in for a better one?

But what if your kid is disobedient repeatedly, surely at some point it’s ok to turn them in for an upgrade, right?

What is the most priceless thing in the world to you?  I would venture to guess it’s either a child or a family member, a spouse, parent or sibling.  Have they ever wronged you before?  How many times have they wronged you?  Have they ever let you down? Surely you’ve never let them down, right?  When should they cut you off?  When should they stop accepting you?  When should they give up on you? 

OR, when would you tell your kid to just give up.  “Throw in the towel, little Johnny.  You pretty much suck like a Kirby vacuum at this thing we call life.  Just give up now.  You’re basically gonna be the Nacho Libre of Neophyte Nothings, so just call it quits little buddy.” 

OR, how about we flip the script a little?  What if your little Johnny or little Susie looked up at you in the eye balls and said, “You know what, Pops?  I can tell you’ve never even lifted a parenting book, much less actually read one.  Just based on the number of times I’ve noticed you’re completely clueless on that thing you call ‘parenting’; I’m pretty much done w/you.  You’ve screwed up enough times as a parent, so why don’t you just call it quits.  I’m just gonna call 1-800-GET-A-REALDAD and then my life will be far out groovy cool.”

Can you even imagine either one of those scenarios? 

I’m really hoping you’re catching my snow drift.

I’m really hoping you connected the dots on my crayola crayon picture.

I’m really hoping I’ve made it clear that the answer to “When’s a good time to call it quits and throw in the towel…for good?” is NEVER.  Never, ever, ever, never.

As in Winston Churchill’s famous speech, “Never…never…never…give up.”  And then he walked off the stage. 

So, my dear friend, I’ve got two closing thoughts to wrap this up:

1.)   1.) Exchange your wimpy wand of wussiness for the Extra Large Life’s Louisville Slugger.  Use your same wand waving muscles to swing that monster bat around & start beating the snot outta whatever giant may have the guts to face you.

2.)  2.) Never, never, never give up.  I don’t care if you get knocked down.  Beat down.  Thrown down.  Or you just wanna break down.  Just picture Hulk Hogan (HH) back in his glory days.  When he’d get slammed to the ring & it looked like it was all over but the shoutin’…and Hogan’s opponent was doing the happy dance…all of a sudden, you’d get a little glimpse of Hulk Hogan’s big index finger startin’ to wiggle as he laid flat on the mat…and then a few seconds later his hand would start to jiggle…and then a few seconds later his whole arm was a wavin’…and then a few seconds later he’d slowly drag himself up to one knee…and that was about the time when the opponent knew he was in deep Korean kimchee…and the bad guy would start to wale on Hulk w/all he had, but it was too late…HH already had his mojo back…as the crescendoing crowd immediately rushed to his aid w/applause (because everyone loves an overcomer), the mighty Hulk Hogan went from one knee to standing back up on his two big giant oak tree legs & commenced the marvelous beat down of beat downs…until he was VICTORIOUS. 

Keep fighting...until you win.


I believe in you.

Go.

Do.

Pursue.

Who has been there for you during critical times in your life?

Who makes you feel like you want to be a better person?

What leads to quality decisions?

Prayer is not an old woman's idle amusement. Properly understood & applied, it is the most potent instrument of action. -Mahatma Gandhi

A famished heart is vulnerable enough to fall victim to the world's most tempting vending machine. -J.Tesch

I would rather go with God in the dark than go alone in the light. --Mary Brainard

Matthew 12:33-37 Think before you speak, Grasshoppa...

Eating chips & salsa while watching a workout video...that's what I call efficiency!

http://ping.fm/XJKVD (Awesome relationship skinny!)

How much can you accomplish when you think about you? How much have you accomplished thinking about you?

The truth hurts...what truths have you heard that have hurt?

Do you know your purpose? How/when did you find it? Or have you stopped looking? Will it find you?

Are you around people who make you feel alone?

What's the biggest thing you've learned from your kid(s)?

What's the best 'kid' question you've ever heard?

Who do you appreciate the most? When's the last time you wrote them & told them?

Who inspires you?

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Who needs what you have to offer?

What are you wanting to do?

What's slowing you down?

What are you waiting for?

Who are you accountable to?

How are you doing at the pursuit of your goal(s) for 2010?

What are you most thankful for?

How often do you do what you're good at?

What are you good at?

One Goal...

Alright super people...

So, as I'm writing this post, we're already 3 days into the New Year...wow...I think now is an appropriate time to drop the wonderfully overused cliche..."My, how time flies…”

Seriously, can you believe it?  It's Two Thousand and Ten...are you kidding me?  Back in the old days growing up as a kid I remember looking on the 21st Century as a mythical dragon or a land far away...off in some distant land that I would never reach...only something that my successors would be living in.  You know, kinda like how we watch a movie like the latest Terminator movie as some futuristic never-in-our-generation-sci-fi flick or like Tom Cruise in the movie Minority Report.  How cool were those "air computer screens" he would just access by moving his fingers in the air like a conductor conducts an orchestra or when he would stand over a "table" & physically touch this digital "table" & manipulate the images by just flicking them w/his appendages or enlarging the photos by placing his left & right pointer fingers on the table & spreading his fingers apart. 

I thought, "man, there's no way that'll ever happen."  And then a few years later the iTouch & iPhone are launched.  Now, my 2-yr old knows how to use my iPhone better than my wife does.  That's no joke.

Amazing isn't it?

Or the first time I heard about someone developing a telephone that will be able to go in a car.  “HA!  Whatever!  That’s absurd!  I’m sure the next thing you’re gonna tell me is how one day we’ll be able to carry around a telephone in our hands!” 

Or how about when my dad told me about someone may have discovered a way to shoot a laser beam containing music onto a small flat disc ¼ the size of our vinyl Beethoven records and that someday 8-tracks & vinyls would be extinct like the dinosaur.  “Yeah, sure, Dad!  Ok!  Wink, wink.  Got it, Dad.  Whatever you say.”

Time.  Technology.  Life.  Change.

The seasons of life seem to blow by us as if Hurricane Katrina were our standard of living.

WHAM…I was 5 riding in a little 2-seater Go-Cart with my adopted Grandpa Georgey on a little farm in Norman, OK.  Then, WHAM, I was 10 in a small little 1,000 person farming community in central IL riding on the back of a tractor shucking corn.  Then, WHAM, I was a 15 yr old freshman as a back-up wide receiver on our varsity football team due to my amazing blazing 8.0 sec 40-yard dash time.  (Not exactly sure why they called it the 40-yard “dash” anyway!)  Then, WHAM, I was a 20-yr old college kid at West Point taking more credit hours of classes per semester than I was old.  Then, WHAM, I was a married Infantry officer in the 82^nd Airborne Division jumping out of very comfortable, cozy, quiet luxury Air Force airplanes at 800 ft above the ground to get to work.  (Hopefully you caught the sarcasm in that one.) Then, WHAM, I was 30, already had two black belts in failed conventional start-up businesses (an outdoor fitness club & a mobile medical imaging center) and a successful online marketing business.  Then, WHAM, I was 35…happily married for almost 14 yrs now w/a vibrant bilingual little 2-yr old girl that currently waves and says “bye bye poopy” as she’s watching her newly plopped poopy disappear into the bowels of the porcelain poopy catcher…(fortunately I don’t have any more “Wham’s” to throw out at you…at least not for another 4.5 years!) 

Wow…that was a little bit of an intimidating exercise…sum up your life in 5-yr increments that takes up a small paragraph.  Hmm…makes you ponder your significance & effectiveness.

At any rate, we can all do it, and it still baffles me how fast time shoots by like a 45-caliber bullet.

So, as we plan & set goals for 2010, what’s it gonna be?  Knowing that THIS year, this two thousand and tenth year, is gonna zing by…what’s that ONE goal…that ONE thing…that if the sky fell in 2010 and someone flushed your life’s toilet and everything is just swirling around and around…what would that ONE goal be that if it was the ONLY thing you accomplished, it would bring you happiness & fulfillment? 

I know we all like to set 85 goals a year (or maybe that’s just me) and have more good intentions for the New Year then Sears has power tools…but just this once…think about just ONE goal.  The Grand Daddy Goal of them all…the Cats Pajamas Goal…the Grand Pubah Goal…the Mother Load Goal…the Taj Mahal of Goals…the penultimate ninja “Chuck Norris” of Goals (which we all know trumps all other goals combined!)…

I encourage you to set THAT goal.  Focus on THAT goal.  Set a game plan for THAT goal.  Get some accountability in your life for THAT goal.  Set up some good positive self-talk for THAT goal.  Put THAT goal up on your refrigerator or bathroom mirror and focus on accomplishing THAT goal for 2010.  All the other myriad & minutiae of goals are all gravy on the toppings of our 2010.  But, for 2010, keep the main thing the main thing.  After you plan, prepare, focus on and attack that ONE main overarching goal you set for 2010, celebrate!  Encourage yourself!  Build yourself up!  Do a big giant happy dance!  But, seriously, build upon that one foundational goal you set for yourself in 2010. 

You NEED to accomplish THAT goal this year.  You must.  For yourself.  For others—directly or indirectly.  For God.  For your children.  You must and you will.  I KNOW you can.  I know you WILL. 

Go.

Do.

Pursue.

I believe in you.