Kill The Beast

It has been calling out my name and mocking me. I swear the thing was shouting obscenities and laughing at me. For nearly six months I have attempted to ignore the taunts. Closing my eyes and putting my fingers in my ears and blubbering nonsense to drown them out. But it was no use. The insults were received. I felt the sting. Now, what was I going to do about it?

I had enough of it Today,I would tackle the beast. I would end the six months of incessant ridicule. I would prove once and for all that I could conquer this mountain! So, when I left home this morning, I brought my running clothes and shoes. Something had to change, and I was the only who could do something about it. And I did.

Yesterday I made a commitment to get myself back into shape. For the past six months I have been dealing with the ramifications from a corrective surgery that reattached my bicep tendon to the muscle and bone. the recovery has been slow and the limitations on using my arm had put a major kink in my exercise regiment. But, enough is enough. I had to do something and start somewhere. Might as well be today! So, I set out to attack the beast head on.

The beast is not some gnarly looking animal. The beast is picturesque. tranquil. even awes inspiring. But, don;t let the beast fool you. The beast is a killer! Many walk away from the beast with tongue dragging and limping. I know, been there and done that. But I had conquered the beast before. And, i was confident that i would today as well.

What is the beast? I should call the beast by it's real name: The Melbourne Cause way! A narrow strip of land comprise of three bridges over the Indian River Lagoon connecting the City of Melbourne, Florida to Indialantic, Florida. The view from atop of the bridge is breath taking. You can literally see for miles in every direction. I love the view. It is the journey to the top of the bridge that is the killer.

Six months ago, I was running this bridge three times a week! But that was six months ago. I had been chomping on the bit to attempt it again. Though, running would not be in the cards today. Today, I would walk the bridge. Leaving front street park in Melbourne and walking to Riverside drive in Indialantic and back. Cresting the top of the bridge twice. The trip is just about three miles. my concern was how much of this I could handle today. Would I just make it to the top and then come back down? Would I make it to the other side of the bridge and have to call it quits? Or could I really walk it all? One way to find out! I parked my car and hopped out.

I made the entire trip to Riverside Drive and back. Sunshine and seventy two degrees. It was a perfect day for a walk. Though coming back I did get a Little winded, still I pressed on. Like I said, the view from atop of the bridge is awesome. I could see all Atlantic ocean from up top. Blue skies, sail boats on the river, and even dolphins swimming below. It was fantastic. And, I felt like a million bucks! Getting back into my car I could not help but feel a sense of accomplishment. I had subdued the beast and had a good time doing it.

I don't know what beast is calling you names. I don't know the circumstances and situations that gave the beast power over you. But this I do know; as long as you never face your beast you will be terrified of it. My beast wasn't really the bridge. It was fear. Fear that would I would never get back on track to walk the bridge let alone be able to run it again. Fear the the injury I had sustained months before would completely limit what I could and could not do. fear that what I had accomplished previously would be lost and never be seen again. I couldn't let that happen. I will not be a prisoner in my own head. What about you? The day to change is today. The time to change is now. Take on your beast!

Dig It Up!

Where did the car you drive originate? Most would reply, that their car was built in Detroit, Japan or Germany. That in a sense is true. Workers in an auto assembly plant assembled the car piece by piece. But where did it originate before that? A prototype was developed and tested. Designs were created detailing feature on the car from the anti-lock braking system to the cup-holders. But where did the car originate before that? The visible and tangible car you drive began in the invisible and intangible. It began in the thoughts and souls of a person…perhaps even in the soul of a toddler.
Let’s look at the lives of two toddlers: Johnny and Bobby. One day, Johnny is playing on the floor with some Lego blocks. Instead of just placing them together in a random order, this day Johnny pauses. Suddenly, something sparks in his imagination. He begins to create. He first saw it in his mind and his hands work feverishly in attempt to bring the idea into reality. The result of his labor is a crude car constructed from Lego blocks.
Johnny was amazed at what he had accomplished. He laughs and claps his hands. He is so impressed with his work that he seeks out his parents to show them. And, he finds that they were just as excited as he was about his work.
What occurred was more than Johnny just building a car from blocks. It was the releasing of something miraculous. Two of the most powerful forces in the universe were unleashed: talent and desire. Johnny felt something on the inside of him. It was something that made him feel happy and alive. He found something that he wanted to do. And the more he did it, the more he wanted to do it. So, from kindergarten to college Johnny worked at bringing that desire into being. With the encouragement of parents and peers, Johnny pushed forward. Johnny realized that there was a car inside of him that need to become a reality.
The visible world always originates in the invisible. Everything we see began there. Everything we behold, every gadget we use all began in the human soul. And, through desire and discipline those dreams became realities. This is how the world was originally created. The visible creation was brought into existence by the invisible God. God dreamed it, saw it, spoke it and it was. And, God breathed that same creative force into mankind.
Johnny went on to win prestigious awards. He designed some of the finest automobiles in the world. But, if the truth be told, there are other cars just as great as or greater than Johnny’s. There are cars that are engineering marvels. Car that are revolutionary in fuel economy and passenger safety. Sleek, luxurious, and beautiful to behold. They only problem is: they don’t exist in our visible and tangible world. No one is able to drive them or even see them. The reason is these cars were never built. They are stuck in the invisible world of another child named Bobby.
Bobby’s initial experience was very similar to Johnny’s. However, the reaction Bobby received from his father was a bit different. Instead of being praised for his creative genius, he was scolded for making a mess with his toys. The Lego car was dismantled piece by piece. The pieces that were the parts of an amazing creation were coldly tossed into a container. Bobby cried and was sent off to bed.
Later Bobby expressed a desire to draw and design. Bobby’s father response was squelching. He told Bobby that such a pursuit was a waste of time and that Bobby should learn a trade like him, Then Bobby, could get a good job at the factor with him. Bobby was not encouraged to peruse his dream or even achieve academically. Status quo was ok. Bobby’s father reasoned that his son would be working at the factory anyway, why study to be something he will never be? Bobby’s father was right. Bobby ended up working in the same factory as his father. The same factor where Johnny’s dream car came rolling down the assembly line. Yet, inside Bobby, there is still a great car waiting to come out? Will it ever see the light of day?
We can say that Johnny had it better and we would be right. But, someone who realizes their dreams could either come from the home of Johnny or Bobby. If Bobby were to realize his dream, he would have had to make a change somewhere. He would have to learn that the power to give his dream life comes from the inside. What lies deep inside of us is where real life is. It is up to each of us to listen to it, look for it, dig it up and put it into practice.
The reality of life we see and live on the outside is one that emerges from the inside, from our hearts, minds and souls. It is our internal life that creates our external one. So, to find our lives we must find what lies below the surface of our skin. We must look at, listen to, discover and be mindful of our internal life—of such things as our talents, feelings, desires and dreams.
Buried Treasure—
Everyone of us have had experiences that make our internal life seem unavailable to us. These experiences come from our interaction with family, friends, teachers, and even church as well as any number of influences. We can find ourselves living out of touch with the very center of life itself. It is possible just to float through life being completely unaware of who you are and what you want. The issues of life can cause us to bury our hearts and souls. To enjoy the benefits of life, to realize the full intent of its design you must dig them up. You must dig them up and reinvest back into life to make the invisible visible.
This means you must face your fears and obstacles. Find out what was it that caused you to bury your treasure. Was it a father like Bobby’s? Were the reasons economic? Did bad relationships cause you to bury your treasure? You will find that there is no shortage of things in life that can influence you to bury your heart and soul.
Those who succeed in life cannot ignore their hearts, minds, and souls. “Above all else guard your heart, for it is the well spring of life (Proverbs 4.23) Success and failure both come from what is going on inside of a person.
Not Everything Buried is Treasure—
There are some things that are buried in us that must be dealt with. Here are two things you can do with negative things buried in your life.
1. Get rid of the pain or sickness you are carrying around. These are negative influences and they can affect you. If you walk around with unresolved issues of the heart, your goals will be negatively affected.
2. Face the sickness--Each time your face one of these sicknesses something bigger and better will emerge.
Sow—
We will need to make a decision about the things we dig up. If it is negative toss it. If it is good, sow it. Sowing is a risk. But, it is suitable risk. Sometimes it may feel painful and awkward, but we must focus on what the end result will be. There is very little growth and reward in life without taking risks. In Jesus parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-29), the one who buried his talent did so to avoid the risk of loss, failure, and disapproval. The very thing he sought to avoid is what he received.
“The Wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception” Proverbs 14.18
Do you want to grow? Do you want to realize your dreams? Growth is when you take new things that you dig up and discover, and integrate them with the rest of who you already are.
“He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.” Proverbs 28.19
9 Things you can do to digging up your dreams—
1. Listen to what bugs you. It might be a message.
2. Don’t let negative feelings just sit there. Do something about them
3. Don’t let long term wishes and dreams be ignored. Find out what they mean.
4. Listen to your symptoms. They may be telling you there is something to dig up.
5. Pay attention to your fantasies. They may be telling you that something is missing and it needs to be resolved in proper way.
6. Face the fears and obstacles that have cause you to bury your treasure.
7. Don’t mistake envy for desire. You may want someone else’s life because you have lost touch with your own.
8. Do everything in the context of your values and your community of people who are committed to guarding your heart.
9. Ask God to help you find your heart, mind, soul and the treasure he placed there for you.
Conclusion—
Grasp your dreams. Reach for them. Take appropriate risks. It is a sin to die with unused potential. Die with failure before you die with unused potential. Potential is something to be realized, not guarded and protected. Dig up your talents, your dreams and desires. Invest them. And, you will find that it is true—Life comes from the inside out.

Five Touches To A Better Me

Five Touches To a Better Me

New Year provides us with an opportunity to make a start fresh start and to set our lives in order. It is estimated that 48% of Americans will make some Sort of New Year resolution. Of those resolutions made, 92% will not be kept. In fact, 45% will fail before the end of January. Only 8% will reach their goal. That is a sad commentary. Many see the need for improvement in their lives, yet when it comes to actually doing something about it they fail miserably. Why?
The key to achieving any goal or fulfilling any New Year resolutions is having an effective strategy (action plan) in accomplishing them. Most people are overwhelmed by the effort that is involved to their goals and give up. Some will set un-realistic goals, like trying to lose 50lbs in 30 days. While others set their goals too low and thus become bored and quit. And, most just ain’t got a plan on how to make it happen.
People need something simple, something easy to remember. They need something that helps them to prioritize their goals and life accordingly.
I have come up with something I want to share with you. I call it five touches to a Better Me: These are five things I can do every day that will impact my future in a positive and life changing way.
1. Touch God—Psalm 63.1 “O God, you are my God; Early will I seek you…” Make touching God your number 1 priority every day. Praying/devotion is not something you have to do, it is something that you get to do. Every day you can touch the creator of the universe and seek His counsel and direction for your life. James 1.5—“if any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally and without reproach and it will be given to him.” That is a powerful promise. If I lack wisdom—understanding-direction, I can ask God and He WILL give it to me! Touching God everyday is an opportunity to invite the divine supernatural presence of God into my life. To guide and order my steps. Make it the first thing you do every day. Pray and spend time in God’s word.
2. Touch my family—Outside of my relationship with God there is no other relationship more important that my family. First to my wife, then to my children. Ephesians 5. 25—“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it.” The love that a husband has for his wife is to mirror the love Christ has for the Church. That is a selfless sacrificial love. A love completely devoted to serving the other. Colossians 3.18—“Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as is fit in the Lord.” Some like to use this verse as a means to subjugate women. But, that isn’t what it is talking about. Just as the man is to love his wife as Christ loves the Church, the wife is to love-honor-respect her husband as unto the Lord. This is an act of worship.
The way we treat our children is even spelled out for us in Ephesians 6.4—“And you fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” Be an example to your kids. Do not live a life that provokes (motivates) them to evil. Set a good example.
3. Touch My Future—Proverbs 13.22: “a good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children…” I will touch things that will live beyond me. God has lain on my heart to start projects that will touch the lives of people and make them better. You may want to start a business, write a book, and start a ministry for the needy. Whatever it is that you want to touch that lives beyond you invest in it every day.

2 Timothy 2.15—“study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” –READ-LEARN-STUDY! The world and technology is changing at neck breaking speed. You must keep up with it and embrace it. Fill your head with knowledge. Life is about learning. Learn as much as you can. Enroll in classes; attend seminars and read, read, read. It will keep you sharp and will keep you young. Proverbs 19.2—“Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge.”

Touching your future also involves your health and fitness. There is only one of you. Take care of yourself by eating right and exercise—1 Corinthians 6.19, your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. Take care of it.

4. Touch My Finances—Set aside money each week for God, business, savings and household. Proverbs 22.7—tells us that the borrower is servant to the lender. So try to pay cash as much as possible. Manage your money or your debt will enslave you! Money is not good or evil. It is simply a tool. A hammer in the hands of a carpenter can construct a fine home. The same hammer in the hand of a psychopath can kill someone. Use the money you are blessed with wisely.

5. Touch My Friends—Ecclesiastes 4.12: “…a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” The friends you hang out with speak volumes about you. Good solid relationship will keep you safe. Surround yourself with good friends. People who celebrate you. People will build you up instead of tearing you down. Touch a friend every day. Proverbs 27.17: “As Iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”

Make this year the best year of your life. Take time to prioritize what is important to you. Write those goals and dreams down. Ask yourself how these goals will help you and those you love most. And, just make five touches every day. It will help to keep you on track.