Is It Just Me?

When I was a boy, I loved playing army men.  My friends and I would take our gear and would go off in search of the enemy. Our epic battles would take place across lawns, down the alley and in vacant lots on the near West Side of Indianapolis.  But in our minds we were storming the beaches of Normandy.  We were parachuting behind enemy lines in Germany. We took the islands of the pacific. Often outnumbered we would defeat entire divisions with just hand to hand combat!  We could save the world before dinner time every day!

Many of you can relate to that.  You may not have played army men but you may have raced bicycles.  Though you were just peddling down the sidewalk in your mind you were winning the Indy 500. Your barbie always won the beauty pageant.  In our child's mind we never lost a battle, race or contest.  Let me ask you this; where does that come from?  Where does the idea that we always win come from?  I believe that our desire to win comes from our spiritual DNA. 

The book of Genesis records that man was made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27).  God is the author of all creation. He saw the chaotic world of Genesis 1 and visualized that things could improve. So He spoke it and it was so.  But first he saw it in his mind.  This is where you got the idea of always winning no matter what as a kid.  It is in your spiritual make up.  The problem is that after people grow up, they leave the creative imagination behind. Then they find themselves trapped in lives were they are always the loser. 

Do you ever find you dream of doing or being something more than what you are right now?  Do you have a dream or passion that you feel burning inside of you to fulfill?  Does it keep you awake at night and consume your thoughts by day? Do you still dream of being a winner?  You may have even asked yourself; "is this for real or is it just me?" IT IS NOT JUST YOU! 

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10 NKJV)

God created you to be a winner.  He created you to fulfill a purpose here on this earth. He placed you here to make a difference.  It is not just you, it is God in you screaming for you to fulfill your mission.  He is prodding you to find your purpose and discover your destiny.

We were all created to be winners. As Chip Esajian says, "You were created extraordinary greatness!"  Get up and pursue your dreams! Stop worrying about what others will think.  Did you worry what people thought when you were pretending when you were a kid?  Why let what someone else thinks about your dream determine the way you feel? It is not just you feeling this way.  Millions of people live lives that Emerson called quiet desperation.  They feel something bigger on the inside, screaming to get out, but is held captive by fear, doubt and unbelief.  I will not live like that! 

Starting today determine to listen to that winner in you.  Listen to that creative power of God in your spirit that says you can do or be anything you desire to be.  It's not too late to find your passion.  It's not too late to fulfill your purpose.  It is never too late to make a difference.

God Bless you!

Better Thinking Better Living: Be Thankful

Better Thinking Better Living: Be Thankful

Be Thankful

Be Thankful


Ephesians 5:20

“Giving thanks always for all things…”

I have heard this passage quoted mucho mas (a lot)! And, sad to say, much of the time it was interpreted incorrectly. Let me give you a few examples: “Thank you Jesus for breaking my arm!” Or “I am thankful for the painful divorce I am going through!” These are a couple of illustrations of how people have missed the point. I myself wrestled with this passage and the misguided interpretations I was given. There was just no way could I be thankful for something that brought me harm or intense personal pain. I felt that by saying “thank you” for my pain, hurt, loss or whatever, I was acknowledging that God was the author of it. I just could not wrap my head around the whole idea of God sending pain into my life. I could not believe that God would intentionally hurt me or anyone else just to teach us to be thankful. And, when I questioned people about this, I was told not to ask why or question God, just accept what He has sent. Fortunately, I learned that God is not the author of pain in my life. I discovered that he takes no pleasure in seeing me suffer. And, He is not afraid or intimidated by my questions. So, what did Paul the Apostle mean when he penned the words “giving thanks for all things”?

I believe Paul was stating that thankfulness is a life style. It is something that we should intentionally practice each and every day. Thankfulness should flow out of us and touch every aspect of our lives. You see, thankfulness starts on the inside and is not reactionary to external stimuli! Thankfulness is not something I demonstrate only when triggered it into action. It is a way of life! That no matter what is going on around me; I have a well of thankfulness I can draw from. Drinking from this well, I am refreshed when the heat is on! Am I thankful for the pain of breaking my arm? No. Am I thankful for the deep emotional hurt of a divorce? No. My thankfulness is demonstrated by me not allowing these painful life experiences to affect me. And, I can be thankful for God’s help, guidance and protection through the difficulties of life.

So, what can a person do to dig a deep well of thankfulness?

1. When you wake up every morning say “thank you” over and over again. This will get your mind and spirit moving in the right direction. Make this a practice throughout the day. Understand that thankfulness must be cultivated and maintained daily!!

2. When faced with problems, instead of asking “why is this happening to me?”, rather ask “what can I learn from this?” The way you view the problems of life will either make you bitter or better.

3. Understand that you have a choice. You are not the helpless victim of circumstances beyond your control. Make the effort to build up your internal person (the real you) to withstand the storms of life. You may not be able to change the wind, but you can change your sails!

Starting today; make faithfulness a way of life. By doing so you will discover that you have more joy, attract better people into your life and will b e a source of encouragement to others.

That's the way it's suppose to be?

Elroy McConnell II and his family went on a much needed family to beautiful St. Petersburg, Florida.  McConnell, the father of three sons, Elroy III, Nathan and Kelly.  Elroy had arrived from Louisiana with his wife and their just months old son Elroy IV. McConnell wrote on his Facebook page; "They're all really great and unconditionally supportive."  That was on the afternoon of Saturday July 31, 2010.  Sometime that evening McConnell and his three sons went for a guys night out to see the movie Predator.  They never returned.

Around midnight at the corner of Martin Luther King and 22nd Avenue, McConnell was traveling was bound on 22nd avenue when a south bound Chevy Impala, driven by Demetrius Jordan, blew through the intersection at a high rate of speed. The impact of the collision sent the Ford Fusion being driven by McConnell crashing into the sign of the corner Seven Eleven. All four of the McConnell's were pronounced dead at the scene.

Demetrius Jordan, 20, is the second of of four children.  He graduated from St. Petersburg High School  where he played on the marching band drum line and even gave drum lesson to children at Mount Zion Progressive Missionary baptist Church. A college student with no criminal record and described as a quiet and humble man.  He had a life of potential and promise. Now he is facing four counts of manslaughter and his life is in ruins.

I cannot even begin to feel or understand the great sense of loss the McConnell family has experienced.  No way I would even want to feel that.  I am angered by the results of Demetrius Jordan's poor choice to drink and drive. Personally, I feel drunk drivers get off way to easy.  It always seems they can walk away unscathed while the Innocent are carted off draped with a sheet. Personally, I can understand the anger that would want a person to lash out in retaliation to the person or persons who inflicted such loss.  But, that will not right anything that has happened and will not change what has been done. 

And, what about Demetrius Jordan?  A young man of promise and potential.  Now facing unimaginable problems.  There is no way I could even begin to feel what he is going through right now.  He no longer wears a marching band uniform, but a prison jumpsuit. He will not be living in the college dorm, but in a cell block.  He will not be attending college with his friends but will be living in a correctional facility.  He will wear the label of convicted felon for the rest of his life. 

There is no way anyone can tell me that this was suppose to be.  There is no way anyone can tell me that this was fate.  There is no way anyone could tell me that "it was their time".  That is just plain lunacy!! What kind of sick twisted world do people who believe that kind of stupidity live in?  They will try to tell me that it was God's will.  God's will?  What kind of screwed up God to they worship?  This situation had nothing to do with God.  It had everything to do with a choices.  A young man with potential and promise climbed into a car and chose to drive under the influence of alcohol.  That one bad choice set into motion of chain of events that ruined the lives of the McConnell family members, his family, and his own life. 

No.  This was not the way it was suppose to be.  This was not God's will.  This was not fate and wasn't the way it was suppose to be! So, if this event teaches us anything, it is this: your choices not only affect you, they affect others as well.  Four men are dead and three women widowed by a choice made by a stranger.  A family now must now cope with seeing their son in prison and dealing with the public outcry he has caused. Communities, churches, college campuses, and places of business will now feel the loss caused by a bad choice.  Never believe that your life is your own and what you do doesn't affect anyone else.  Don't live your life that way.  Because that is not the way it is suppose to be. 

Hitting a Fast Ball!

In the early 1980's I was a college student in Houston, Texas.  And, it was during this time that I developed a fondness for Houston's Major League Baseball team, The Astros.  While I was working at night to pay for my schooling, KTHR would broadcast the games live on the radio.  It helped pass the time and got me familiar with a man by the name of Nolan Ryan.

Nolan Ryan pitched 27 seasons for the New York Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers.  Ryan was an eight time MLB all star and holds the record for most career strike outs at 5,714. Ryan was a hard throwing right handed pitcher with pitches at over 100 MPH even past the age of 40.  Thus the media tagged him with the "Ryan Express".  There was nothing better than to watch Nolan Ryan throwing the heat!

Though Ryan holds the record for most career strike outs, there were still those who connected with that speeding orb and knocked it out of the park. That is amazing just think about. What is more interesting is that according to Yale University Physicist Robert Adair hitting an 90 MPH is a mathematical impossibility!  A 90MPH fastball travels 60.5' (the distance between the mound and home plate) in 400 milliseconds. According to Adair, it takes 200 milliseconds for the batter to find the ball once the pitcher releases it.  It takes another 100 milliseconds for placement.  Meaning, this is when the batter determines where he will hit the ball as it comes whizzing toward him.  Then the actual decision to swing and follow through takes 150 milliseconds.  That is a total of 450 milliseconds to hit a ball that covers that distance in 400 milliseconds.  It is a mathematical impossibility. Yet, it happens.  And if you are a baseball fan you have seen it happen. 

What does it mean?  It means that despite all of the fact and figures we are all creatures of hope.  We all have inside of us the belief that we can accomplish anything.  Look at all of the technology advances made since 1900.  Many of the things we enjoy today, someone said they were impossible. But,we have them and use them every day.  What some said would never be...IS.

What impossibilities are you facing today?  What dreams, hope, aspirations have you allowed to be buried because you believed the notion that they could never be?  You will never hit it out of the park if you don't try.  You maybe thinking that you only have three strikes then you're out!  Here is the truth:  God is the umpire and when it comes to you and accomplishing your dreams He will allow you to swing until you slam the ball over the wall!  The only thing that can limit you from doing what others say is impossible is you.

I challenge you to step up to the plate.  Look the pitcher right in the eye and tell him to bring on the heat!  Then swing like a wild man!  If others have done it so can you. It can be done.  But you have to try!

Write your life.

"...Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it."
 Habakkuk 2.2 KJV

One of my favorite quotes comes from the movie “Lawrence of Arabia”. After Lawrence and his men make a long and arduous journey through the desert, they stumble into an oasis to refresh themselves. Upon arrival, it is noticed that one of the camel boys is missing. Lawrence mounts his horse and is preparing to ride back into the blistering desert to retrieve the boy to safety. He asks for help in the search, but his men refuse. They all declared that the boy is taken by the desert and it is futile to go after him. Lawrence insisted that they must find the boy. His men replied that the fate of the boy is God’s will. That it has been written and they cannot change that. Lawrence, angered by their ridiculous belief rides into the desert to find the boy alone.


After several days, Lawrence appears on the horizon with the boy. They collapse in the shade of the oasis and take water to refresh themselves. His men all gathered around to see with their own eyes that Lawrence and the boy had indeed returned alive. Lawrence looks at his men and says, “Nothing is ever written unless you write it.”

That is a powerful quote! Too many are living lives that they have allowed others to write for them. They feel they are prisoners to a way of life, circumstances, culture, disadvantage, or socio-economic status. They feel that there is absolutely nothing they can do to remedy their situation. Their mantra is “it is what it is.” As they attempt to make sense out of their dysfunctional reality. Reasoning and rationalizing in an attempt to dull their emotional, spiritual, and mental anguish.

Understand this: your destiny is not set in stone. It was not painstakingly chiseled out and predetermined for you. The one who writes your story is you. “Nothing is ever written unless you write it.” You have the power to write things out and to write thing in. You have the power to change the outcome. You have the power to take a bad story and make it good. It is all in your hands. The pen is in your hand.  How will you write yoru story?

Flawed

Flawed


You have heard of the four R’s, but have you ever heard of the four C’s? Chances are if you have ever shopped for a diamond ring you have. The four C’s are: cut, clarity, color and carat weight. The value of the diamond is determined by these four characteristics. The better each if, the more valuable the diamond will be. But, here is something that I think most jewelry sales people fail to tell their customers. No matter how valuable a diamond is, every diamond has a flaw. Yes. Every diamond has a flaw, just like every person does.

The whole concept of flawless perfection, when it comes to people, is a pipedream. I know that there are religious people out there laboring for perfection. They subject themselves to all sorts of disciplines in an attempt to be perfect. And each time they think they have achieved it, something happens to remind them they still have flaws.

When this happens, guilt comes in and sets up camp. Compounded guilt produces shame. Shame will bring feelings of inadequacy and inferiority. Then the self loathing starts. “I am worthless”. “I can’t do anything right”. Now you have diamond that is so focused on the flaw that it fails to see its real value.

Now, understand I am not attempting to give license to behave anyway you want and excuse it on your flaws. We should continually be working on the things that bring value to our lives. What I am saying is, don’t beat yourself up every time you have to deal with your flaws. Guilt and shame have no place in your life. When you mess up (and you will) deal with it. Admit you were wrong and take action to correct that behavior. And, exercise forgiveness.

Forgiveness should be something we practice on a regular basis. After all, everyone is made from the same dirt and we all have flaws. We should not only learn to forgive others, we should also learn to forgive ourselves. When was the last time you forgave yourself? Could it be that we have a hard time forgiving others because we fail to forgive ourselves? Forgiveness simply means to let it go. When you are faced with the reality of your flaws (and you will be) deal with it and let it go! Forgive yourself. You will find that by allowing forgiveness to flow into you, you allow it to flow from you. Remember Jesus said that the two greatest commandments are to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. If you cannot love and forgive yourself how can you love and forgive anyone else? The more I invest in me the more I have to invest in others.

Flawless perfection is a pipedream. Stop trying to achieve it! You have flaws. Come to terms with that. You are a diamond. Let the world see your value.