Tag Archives: Life

Always Forward…Never Back!!!

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Always Forward!  This was the motto used by my Basic Training Battalion in the Army.  We had to use this motto in place of saying thank you and many other things.  It was ingrained into us as a part of everyday speak.  Hearing the sermon at church this weekend, this term came back into my scope.  What this term mean to you when you hear it?  To me it is a very strong phrase for how we need to approach life and everything we encounter in life.  Some have trouble with this concept when they come across obstacles in life that may seem to slow down their progress through life or push them backwards.  The saying that we have all heard is that we take one step forward and then two steps back.  With this type of mentality in life it makes it very difficult to get through anything or even seeing the light at the end of the tunnel that awaits.

Always Forward!  This is such a powerful statement for life.  It was applicable to me as a soldier in that we always sought to drive forward. In life, I believe it is imperative that we do the same.  No matter what obstacles face us we have to continue to drive forward to finish whatever it is we started.  The pastor also called it having the grit to finish.  In 2 Timothy 4:7, Paul said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.”  Paul is referring to the struggles he has gone through in spreading the Good News about Jesus Christ.  Despite the pain and struggles he went through, Paul was steadfast in remaining faithful to Christ and his mission to spread the Good News.  The reward for finishing the race is lies ahead of us.  In verse 8 Paul said, “And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.”

Throughout our life, whether it is in our faith, our family, our work, or our everyday encounters, we come across obstacles that will try to keep us back.  Paul was steadfast in that despite the suffering, he remained faithful to his cause.  He did not back down. When we face our obstacles in life, no matter how difficult it may see, we have to do the same.  We need to have the grit to stay the course we are on and finish.  You have to remove those negative impulses you have that may pull you off course.  You need to have the grit to finish and remain Always Forward.

I have gone through a great deal of challenges in life.  Right now, as I have mentioned before, I am working on completing my Doctorate in Business Administration.  I have come a long way in this course.  Several times, even to now, I have days where I wonder if I can finish this pathway I started.  Something always comes back to remind me just how far I have come and that I need to have the guts to sweat it out and make it to the end.

George Whitfield said, “Press forward. Do not stop, do not linger in your journey, but strive for the mark set before you.”  This adds more truths.  If we take too much time to linger, then we can find ourselves stuck and not able to press forward.  We cannot wallow in the struggles of now.  You have to always know that there are brighter days at the end if you will but press through.  This is when it also becomes imperative to fix our thoughts on the positive and not let the negative hold us back.  Philippians 4:8 says, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”  Earl Nightingale expressed that “We become what we think about.”  There is an underlying truth here.  If we fix our minds on what is positive in life, things are excellent and worthy of praise, we then can find the strength to finish the race.

With all of the challenges that life can throw your way, you can choose to make a stand and not let then keep you from your goals.  Maybe your goals are for stronger faith, stronger marriage, or anything else.  Always know that you can get through to accomplish those goals.  Stay close to God and prayer and tell yourself to remain…Always Forward!

All Things Are Possible With God!!!

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Every morning I get up and spend at least a good half hour or so in God’s Word.  I started this habit over a year and half ago and it has been a powerful part of my daily life.  For years I was partially engaged and learned the popular versus out there, but never fully dove into the Word and studied it.  I set my reading each day using a set of reading plans that help to guide me through the Word and better absorb what I am reading so as to not just wander all over each day.  Something struck me today as I was reading and it really showed me how God was at work as I spend time in his Word each day.  I always follow each days reading accordingly and think about and pray about it.  What really hit me today is just how relevant each days reading seemed to be to this very moment in my life and how each encounter I have with His Word or in thinking about God in someway brings to light something new that is so relevant to my daily life.  It could be situations with family, with my work, or any other aspect of life.  It’s quite amazing to see Him this way as each day He gives me something to read that has so much relevance to goings on today.  He may provide answers to questions or He may give me guidance in how to handle particular situations.  This may come as not surprise to some of you, but it was funny how it just hit me that way today.  God reveals Himself through the Word in ways that are always meaningful to us if we take the time to really stop and think about what it is He is showing us.

I came home from the office today and when I walked in, my kids were watching a great movie, “Facing the Giants.”  If you have not seen this movie, I highly recommend it.  As a part of my daily reading a prayer, I typically will pray for my wife and children and pray that my children will live a life in which they seek God each day.  I was very intent about that prayer these last few days.  My kids are always asking questions about the Bible and take an interest in so many aspects of it.  Again, it may seem so minor, but seeing them so intently engaged in a movie like this that ministers to the heart the way it does, is awesome.  It felt like my prayers for their hearts to seek God were working.  They don’t watch this movie just because it is good.  They are engaged in the message that no matter what faces us in life, all things are possible with God just as Jesus said in Matthew 19:26 and again in Mark 10:27.

It is so awesome the work that the Lord does in our lives.  Everything we encounter in life is because He allowed it to happen.  God can open or close any door He wants to in your life.  Spending time each day intentionally reading and meditating on His Word will help you to see those doors that are opened and close.  God has revealed so much to me each day I spend in the Word.  I am thankful for all that He has shown me each day I spend with Him in reading and prayer.  If you don’t have this as a part of your daily routine, think about making it so.  In there you will find so much relevance to your life.  You may burning questions about any part of life be it in your own faith, the relationships with your family and friends, your work, or your purpose in life.  I promise you, He will reveal Himself in the Word.  Take time each day to read and pray on what He is showing you.  You will find so much clarity in your life and will help you learn to live your life for Him and to glorify Him.  You do that, then all things are possible through God.

The Impact of Relationships

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As we make our walk through life, we encounter so many different people that can have an impact on you and your own life in some way.  It could be with people you grew-up with, people in your church community, work colleagues, family and friends, or even strangers you have not met before.  When you think about it, every person you come across can have a significant impact on the type of person you choose to be in some way.  It’s like the movie “It’s A Wonderful Life.”  George Bailey was given an opportunity to see a world in which he did not exist.  He realized that his life was a real blessing and his own existence made an impact on so many people in his town.  Life is like that for real.  Everyone we encounter, whether short or long-term can have an influence on you.  Some of those influences are full of love and good and some of those are, more or less evil.  Those good and evil influences will help drive you in a direction that is either good or evil where the adversary always dwells.

When we face moments that we encounter people that tend to bring more toxicity to your life, it can be easy to succumb to that and fall into the trap of being that same type of person.  These are people that will do whatever they can to sever any relationships you have in your own life and bring you down.  We have all seen these type of people throughout our walk in life.  What I want to share with you is that no matter how much someone tries to tear you down and bring you to their level, you can be stronger than them.  Do not let them bring you to a point where you may do something regrettable yourself or take on their same characteristics.  This is when you have to choose to let God pull you from this situation.  Jesus said, “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”  This is such a powerful thing.  Even Christ, while he was being hung on the cross prayed out to the Father to forgive those who were carrying out his crucifixion.  It is the most powerful showing of love and redemption ever.  Confrontations may happen, but even after, love and forgive those who may do wrong to you.  They may not accept, they have that choice.  Leave it in God’s hands.

On the brighter side, there are those encounters and relationships with people that just bring nothing but pure love and encouragement.  These are those that stand by you through difficult times or provide you the words that help to lift you up.  We have all encountered these people as well.  I have many them around, from my family and friends, to colleagues, mentors, and even people I may not know as well, but encounter regularly.  There is one gentleman that works out at my gym and everyday he comes in with a smile and walks around shaking everyone’s hand and asking how they are doing.  Have not had the chance to know him personally yet, but he is a guy that just loves life and loves meeting people.  Those types of attitudes are infectious as well.  Like with any situation we can choose to let these individuals have an impact on you and whether you let their kindness reflect in you.

As I said, any relationship we have in our lives has an impact on us.  We have to choose how we let that relationship influence our own self.  The good and the bad will have an impact on you.  Mr. Potter had an influence on George Bailey just as his own wife did.  The negative in life can be so easy to gravitate to.  It’s always easier to fall down that path.  We live in a fallen creation and the adversary is their day in and day out to pull at us in our sinful nature.  You must choose to learn from those good and bad encounters in life and make strides to walk through life in a manner that is positive or negative.  The positive is always harder as temptation is always there, but you can let God take control and he will help guide you through the rough patches and rough relationships.

SpiritofPower

Choosing to Live Versus Choosing to Exist

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I ran across the quote today from Oscar Wilde that stated “To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”  This made me reflect on Pillar 4 and how living a life that is enjoyable and has purpose and meaning  makes so much difference in anyone’s life. Many people today don’t ever fully live their life.  They become so wrapped up that they forget to take the opportunity to get out and enjoy their own lives.  They don’t take time from work or away from everyday routines that it becomes more and more difficult to truly live.  These people, as Oscar Wilde said, merely exist.  They sit in their own complacency, grumblings, and frustrations in life.  This effects their relationships with family and friends, their work, and their faith as well.

Now what does it mean to live and not merely exist?  Living can be so many different things.  It could getting be betting out and experiencing new things.  Getting actively involved in things that you enjoy and have meaning to you around your community. Taking vacations with your family and getting away from the normal grind.  Take risks in starting a new business.  There are so many things that apply to living and this is such a small example.  The biggest thing is that no matter what you do, it is important that those things have a sense of purpose to you and something that you enjoy doing.

Living our lives to the fullest is something that is mentioned by so many.  God’s Word mentions the joys of living where it is stated “So I recommend having fun, because their is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some of the happiness along with all the hard work that God gives them under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 8:15).  We are also told “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days” (Ephesians 5:15-16).  It is important that throughout our entire lives we take the time actually enjoy life and do things that we enjoy and love and has purpose to us.  We have been granted a tremendous blessing of life and it is so short. Wasting this opportunity can leave you with tremendous regrets.

I was at an event where John Maxwell was speaking a couple of years back and he express that we have to take responsibility for our own happiness.  If you have bologna in your life, it’s because you make it.  This was a very powerful message.  At the time, I myself was in a state of confusion and uncertainty of my own direction.  What he said was very true, we have to take responsibility for our own happiness.  You get out of life what you make of it.

Earl Nightingale mentioned that one of the biggest issues people have is that they conform, people acting like everyone else, without know why or where they are going.  This also speaks truths because it shows us that we cannot lump through life like others. Get out and do things that bring joy to your life.  This will help you build success in the other pillars of life and help you to fully come alive.

So my message today is to live.  Don’t just exist, conform, and get along…Live!!!  Make the most of everyday God blesses you with here on earth.  The sky’s the limit.  You are only limited in life by how much you limit yourself.

Sunset

The Launch of 4 Pillar Living

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Over the last couple of months, I have been on a journey building up my new brand and platform that will be used to serve people in many aspects of life.  I started with the platform of GEN Revolution.  This provided a great way to get myself going and to place my writing under a single name.  As time has passed and the work continues to evolve, I have come to a point that it was necessary to re-brand myself under a name that seemed to fit more with what I feel is God’s calling for me.  Introducing 4 Pillar Living!!!  A few weeks back, I wrote about what I called The Four Pillars to Come Alive.  This really got the ball rolling as I figured out, this was the direction that was needed.

Through 4 Pillar Living, a platform is in place to help people truly unleash their God given potential by paying attention to these 4 key pillars; Faith, Family/Marriage, Work, and Life Purpose.  Each area of life has a significant impact on the type of life someone may lead.  Neglecting one more areas, prevents someone from coming alive, from what I have found.  Paying attention to each area will bring out the best in you.  Many people have become very complacent in their lives and don’t pay attention to certain aspects of their life.  They don’t walk closely with God, they neglect the relationships with their families, the hate their work, or they feel their life has no purpose.  One or more of these areas may be you.  I have been there myself.

I am here to help anyone with struggles in these areas to build more clarity in how to focus and bring the best out of each pillar.  I want to help you to come live through 4 Pillar Living.  I have already began writing my first book on these four pillars.  In the next month, 4 Pillar Radio will be launched, which will be my regular podcast where I will talk about each area and have discussions and interviews with others on these pillars.

I have been called to serve you all and will do my best to provide the information and insight I can drawing from my own experiences and knowledge and the insight of many others that have grown to trust, in particular, God’s Word.  It’s going to be great ride!

A New Year is Upon Us

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2012 is about to fade into the history books and we will begin to embark on a new year.  The start of a new year can mean so much to people.  A chance to start over and make a fresh start or a chance to resolve to accomplish something through a New Years resolution.  Many will make resolutions, but unfortunately very few will hold to those resolutions.  I always see that at my Gym after New Years where people flood in for the first few weeks and then it slowly dwindles back to the regulars.  Many times, life will just get in the way or there can just be a lack of will and determination to stick with what is resolved.  Who knows, there can be any number of reasons for this annual phenomenon to occur.  For myself, I have usually tried to avoid to New Years resolutions.  For the simple fact, that it seems to add additional pressure to stick with a new habit or practice.  Resolving to change should not just be focused on the New Year, although symbolically, I can understand why it is.

Aside from resolutions, moving into the New Year provides a great opportunity to refocus ones life toward optimal living.  We have the opportunity to move away from things that discourage upward movement and take greater control of our lives to truly live out its purpose.  This can come in how we approach our faith and walking closer with God.  It can be how we manage our homes and focus on our families.  It can come with the work we do and whether we decide to find work that is purposeful to our own hearts.  Finally it can be how we live and enjoy the life we have been blessed by God to have.

I have started a journey toward optimal living in every pillar of life, as I highlighted in a previous blog.  It has been a phased process for me.  It first started with my faith and my walk with God.  Over the past couple of years, I have gradually committed myself to more to my faith.  I spend time everyday in God’s Word which has helped me build a closer relationship with Jesus than I had before.  With that renewed faith can the quest for clarity with my family and how lead my home and the time I spend with my wife and my children.  Through lots of reading and prayer I found greater clarity in the father and husband I should be and one that keeps God central t how I lead my home.  Now comes the next phase in the work I do.  I am determined to focus on building a business doing work that I love to do and that will have greater meaning and purpose in serving and helping others.  My wife will be an integral part of this journey, which I am so excited about.

What I have found is that everyone of us has the opportunity come fully alive in every aspect of our lives if we choose to do so.  We all have a chance to take charge of our futures by focusing on each key area of life.  As we move into 2013, take some time to think about areas of your life that may need greater clarity or focus. It could be in your faith, your relationship with your spouse and children, the work you do, or not enjoying life in general.  Each area is an integral part of what I call Coming Alive Through Optimal Living.  Taking the steps to focus on each area will help you to come alive.  This may not call for drastic changes to your life, but maybe just a little bit of clarity and refocusing.

In 2013, I will continue to talk to each one of these points through my writing and in the coming Podcast.  I want to help you find that clarity in each area to come alive.  Through Faith, Family, Work, and Living.  2013 is going to be the start of a great ride with GEN Revolution and I hope that you will join me on this journey and help spread the word as well.

I wish you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year in 2013!

The Four Pillars to Come Alive

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Ever since I first began this GEN Revolution journey, I have spent much time reflecting on what is it that I was really doing.   What do I want to focus on and what do I really want to bring out to everyone?  I always knew that one day I would be able to pursue my own work avenues.  It has taken some time to figure out what it is I really wanted to do.   Even after developing the idea of GEN revolution, it still took time to figure out what it would turn out to be.  I knew I wanted to help people in some one.  To provide guidance to help them in their work lives and maybe more.  With much prayer and thought, the idea is really beginning to take shape in what I feel I was called to do.  I have known for some time that God has been calling me into service in some way.  I have written many times about this in the past and now here.

The journey of GEN Revolution is coming alive and my mission has really started to unfold.  I was thinking through my mission statement this week and this is what came about,  “Use the abilities God has given me to make a difference in my life and the lives of those I encounter and work with. Motivate and inspire others to stand up for what they believe and never make excuses for unleashing their full God given potential. Create value for people in wanting to live in freedom with intentional purpose and achieve prosperity.”  There is a lot being said behind that statement.  There are so many areas in life that shape who we are and the kind of life we decide to leave.  These are areas of faith, marriage and family, work, and life purpose.  What was made clear to me was that neglecting one of these areas leaves  void in your life.  I will give a quick high-level look here.

Our walk with God and faith in Jesus Christ is a very important aspect of living.  He is the creator of all and placed each one of us here to glorify Him and serve Him, praise Him, and to follow the path He has laid forth.  We need to be able to turn back to God, repent, and continue praising Him for the blessing we have.  Doing so, is building block that carrier over to everything else in life.  Next, is our family and marriages (if you’re married).  One of the biggest issues I see is when married couples begin to disconnect and let little things get in the way of their happiness.  Your love for each other is meant to be unconditional just has God’s love for us is unconditional by the way he sent his son to bear the punishment we deserved for falling short of his grace.  People need to not neglect this area of their lives and also not neglect the time they have with their children.  Work is next and this is big.  It is our means providing for making a living and providing for our families.  Far too often, people settle for work that makes them miserable and they dread getting up in the morning.  I have most definitely been there.  They neglect this area by not pursuing work they love and actually has meaning to them and is profitable.  Finally it is life purpose.  All of these pieces fit into our life purpose and discovering what it is we want to accomplish in life and the kind of life we lead.  This is they way to unleash your full God given potential in life by answering each of these areas.

These four critical pieces will be the foundation of GEN Revolutions focus.  In 2013, you will begin seeing ways that can help you reach each of these areas and unleash your potential.  I will continuing writing each week on each of these areas and I will also begin to offer what will be Revolution Radio, my new podcast that will be launching soon.  Finally, I will be developing and providing a coaching service that will help people reach all of these areas and getting out to speak on the subjects as I can.  This is what I have been called to do  and something I have absolute passion for.  I may not have all the answers, but I most certainly will be able to work with you help you find the answers to your life’s mysteries and unleash your own potential enabling you to come alive.  It’s going to be an awesome journey.  I look forward to be able to serve and help people in their lives.  We can all come alive, nothing is impossible with God on our side.

 

The Journey to Growth

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Each day I find myself taking time to reflect on my personal growth journey.  I use that time to read and take note of the actions many have take and the advice that has been place before me to help me in my journey.  I have become very intentional, also, about opening my heart to listen to the path God continues to lay before my feet.  Every step of my journey through life and work has been another step in the pathway He has laid out.  They all build upon each other as a preparation for fulfilling my life purpose.  This goes for everyone.  Every decision to get up and go to work, to go to school, and everything in between on that journey is all a building block.  Many of us find ourselves taking a journey that may not seem like the path that was intended.  It all builds toward your ultimate purpose though.  God has granted us the free will to make decision on our path and we have to choose whether to listen to where he leads us or to take a different route that does not reach that ultimate purpose.

In my thinking today, I looked back on things I wrote a couple of years back.  This was a time, when I was really questioning my path life.  I had lost my Dad a year prior in a horrible car accident, and I was still reeling from the effects of the dark shadow that was cast from that event.  I reflected on talking to my older brother Rob, who had asked me after we had finished a workout, what is it that I want to be remembered for.  Part of my answer was that I wanted to be someone that can make an impact on the lives of others.  When I think about it though, I think what I said in 2010 very valid in the direction I am taking now as I build this platform to impact lives.

I also took time to look back on notes that I took at a book launch event for John Maxwell in October and his “15 Invaluable Laws of Growth.”  One of his laws is the “Law of the Mirror.”  This law states that you must see value in yourself to add value to yourself.  Two years ago, that journey may not have meant as much to me.  Today, I really see the importance of that statement.  All too often,  people fail to see their real value in themselves and don’t capitalize on making the most out of their potential.  They find it easy to stay complacent in their role because they do not believe in themselves and their value enough to grow further.  If you find yourself in that spot, and believe me, I have been there, you have to know that there is always room for further personal growth and that if you listen to Him in your heart, God will help you find that value in yourself put you on that path to growth spiritually and in work and life.

While driving today, I was listening to an audio CD today with Dan and Joann Miller as they reflected on their journey together in “Living, Loving, and Working.”  There was a great deal that took from that, first that applies and mirrors the life Amber and I have led in our lives together.  I will reflect on that in later writings, but one thing Dan closed with was from Earl Nightingale’s “The Strangest Secret” which is on my reading list.  The point that was mentioned was that “A man becomes what he thinks about.”  This is important because it also ties into the concept of what value we see in ourselves and our growth journey.  Start thinking of ways you can succeed in your life journey to answer God’s calling.  The more you think about it, I also believe that you will get there.  Think about it, not just in reflection to yourself but also talk about it with others, maybe your spouse, and most definitely, think about it by talking to God.  This will help open the path for you.

Me, I have been on a path of growth for many years.  Each step has brought me to where I am now, and I have found that avenue to realize everything I have worked for and unleash my full potential in life, love, work, and spiritually.   You can get yourself on that path as well, no matter what it is.  We all have a purpose under God and we can all find that purpose and realize that purpose through intentional growth.

Never Forget What’s Important

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This has been a week of emotion changes. I began the week pumped after a great weekend of networking in Tennessee and then a week filled with brainstorming new ideas including book ideas that will be unfolding soon and nailing down the GEN180 strategy. After all that greatness building up, the week ended with the sadness of Newtown,  CT and the shooting that took place.  My wife and I were in line to pick our kids up from school when he got wind of what had happened. It tore through our hearts and Amber was in tears from the thought of what happened.  Such tragedy with the deaths of so many innocent little children along with the adults that were taken as well.  On top of that, we found out this evening, that one of my son’s former coaches was killed in a car accident today driving home with his son through Texas.  My family and I have been through our share of tragedy and it never gets easy to see.

It is hard to try and stay focused on the good with such sorrow blaring through the news and the evil that the adversary continues to push in our lives. As many people stated over and over, I hope everyone takes the time to hug their children tighter and not forget the importance of the relationships we have in our lives. The time I have with my family is so precious to me and this event shined a bright light for many people on just how precious life is for all and how much we need to not waste the time we do have.

Christmas is coming in 10 days and I know many of you will be spending this time with your loved ones. I would like to stress the importance of looking beyond just Christmas time and make the most of the time you have with you families throughout the entire year. I have always been very intentional about my time with my wife and kids, no matter how busy my work and schooling has become. I am now going to take a step to make them even more of my priority, as they, next to my walk with God, are the most important thing to me.

I know it can be very easy to get bogged down in our work, whether intentional or not. Just never forget what is important in our lives. Hug your spouses and children tighter and maximize your time with them. I have a big focus with where GEN Revolution and GEN180 will be headed next year. Through it all, I will not lose sight of my family. That balance is very important.

Let us all continue to pray for the families and the community in Newtown, CT. Pray that the Lord brings comfort to everyone involved