Spirituality, Uncategorized

Your Flight Is Now Boarding…

The airlines have an agreement with me that they sometimes break. When I buy a ticket they agree to honor the ticket with a flight to where I’m going. My part of the agreement is to show up on time. Sometimes I break my agreement, too!

But what about people? There are many people who are going here and there in their lives while not having a destination in mind. They are drifting at light speed. Every new shiny toy catches their attention, at least for a short time.

You must have a dream to propel yourself to greatness. Dreams are powerful. But they are only passing thoughts unless we take action. Putting your dreams in motion ignites something inside of you, an unstoppable force.

If you have lost sight of your purpose, take some time to recapture it. You have greatness inside of you. Feel it in your spirit. Then take action.

The flight of your dreams is taking off. It’s time to board the plane…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

From Dead to Alive

David Berkowitz was a serial killer, an arsonist and a Satan worshipper. You may remember him as “Son of Sam.” In the 1970’s, this one man shut down New York City’s nightlife for over a year.

Berkowitz was filled with demons. In the courtroom he bit law enforcement officers assigned to him and Berkowitz tried to jump out of a window. He was crazed to say the least.

Berkowitz was sentenced to hundreds of years in prison. But something supernatural happened there. Another inmate gave Berkowitz a Bible. Berkowitz placed the Bible under his pillow and forgot about it. Until…

One night, at 3:00 am, Berkowitz woke up in a start. The side of his head felt like it was on fire. He jumped out of his cot, pulled the Bible out and it opened to a Scripture that told him God can forgive and redeem the most evil among us (my paraphrase). David Berkowitz, Son of Sam, was reborn. He bawled his eyes out for hours, asking a God he didn’t know to forgive him.

Today, Berkowitz leads a Christian outreach from the confines of prison. His conversion has lasted and it is real. He has been brought to life by the living God.

God can do anything. Always remember this…

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Spirituality

What’s In A Name?

Our foundations are in our family and our name. We are born into a legacy that existed before us, and it will continue after we are gone. What we choose to do with it is up to us.

God thought of us individually before the world was formed. He decided the era we would be born in. Many times I have been grateful to be alive during the time of indoor plumbing and air conditioning (I live in Texas. It gets hot!).

The family I was born into was a mess. There was insecurity, fear, and sometimes, violence. My brain was in a constant state of “fight or flight.” Fortunately, I have been able to reprogram my mind, but it took time and effort. Not everyone takes the steps to heal.

The legacy I am creating with my children is healthier than that which I experienced. For this, I am forever grateful to God for guiding my steps. He is good.

Be proud of your name. God didn’t make a mistake. If your family was a train wreck like mine, you can change, if you’re willing.

Be willing…

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Spirituality

Beneath the Surface

Surface conversations last about a minute with me. Time is precious and I refuse to use it engaging in meaningless talk. Learning about people in a deeper sense is an art form, in a way. And I do love the arts!

People and their life stories are fascinating to me. My insatiable curiosity is one of the reasons I podcast. Everyone wants to be seen, heard and understood. Sharing their stories publicly allows others to open up a bit, knowing complete strangers will learn about them. It requires courage.

And speaking of the arts, one of my favorite bands is the Goo Goo Dolls. In their song, “Iris,” the lyrics are “And I don’t want the world to see me, ‘cause I don’t think that they’d understand. When everything’s meant to be broken, I just want you to know who I am.” Did you catch it? One man who desires to hide from the world, but wants to be fully known by one person. It’s a beautiful, telling lyric.

Try to get to know people for who they are, not what they can do for you. Be relational, not transactional…

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Spirituality

Dirty Laundry

A few weeks ago my washing machine broke down. It took a week to get a repairman out to repair it. My laundry started piling up in a way I hadn’t seen since my college days!

Conflict happens in life. While it is encouraging that the divorce rate has lessened in recent years, it still hovers around 40% for first marriages. People who are divorcing are usually angry. Rather than processing their anger in the proper way, they bring it out in public. It’s not pretty.

Tabloids like the National Enquirer try to find ways to expose people at their worst. The Enquirer found a market for dirty laundry because the publication is 100 years old this year.

There are many things that should remain private. Embarrassing someone publicly might make you feel good, even victorious in the moment, but it’s more damaging to you than good.

Take the high road, not the low…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

Measuring Up

God has a purpose for you to accomplish in this world. He has fully equipped you to do His will. But the question remains, will you accept the assignment?

Many people doubt they could ever be used by God. They feel like they don’t have their act together, aren’t educated enough or worthwhile. If you are in this group, I want you to know that it’s a lie. God never created anyone He couldn’t use. There is a great design at work we cannot understand. We don’t have to understand it. We just need to know we have a part in it.

In your heart, you know what I am saying is true. You have always known. Consider today’s message to be a reminder.

You don’t need to have everything figured out beforehand. Just begin. God will guide you and no earthly power can stop you…

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Spirituality

Was It Worth It?

During my life I have observed people who spent more time trying to build wealth than anything else. In a moment of confession, I have been guilty of doing the same. I’m one of the fortunate ones. Having children changed my perspective.

When the end of life comes, no matter how much you have accumulated, none of it goes into eternity with you. Great fortunes have been built, only to be pissed away by future generations. Was it worth it?

The most important thing is people. Relationships, like wealth and resources, must be built. They require time and effort. And just like our bank accounts, they can be lost quickly.

My encouragement to you is, take the time to be close to those who are important to you. Do it before the relationships are too far gone to repair. Keep showing up, even if this makes you uncomfortable. You will be creating a lasting legacy no one can put a price on…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

Bad Days

Every morning when I wake up, I’m either in Texas or Heaven. Even I can’t screw this up, and I can royally screw stuff up! Regardless, there is no such thing as a bad day. Stay with me.

All of us have had periods where things went smoothly. Those don’t last. Difficult periods will come. We were never promised this life would be easy. This is a broken, imperfect world we are inhabiting for just a short time when compared with our time in eternity.

Jesus told his disciples that “their faith would be shaken.” I believe he meant that for us, too. There are times I have wondered if God knew what He was doing. His redirections in my life weren’t in my plans. Yet, when I stay the course, over time I realized that God knew better than I did.

God doesn’t lose patience with us when we doubt or question Him. This happens all the time. Consider this: the Israelites wanted to throw in the towel within a very short period of time after witnessing supernatural power in the natural world. We can be short-sighted. God plays the long game.

My encouragement to you is, replace the term “bad day” with the phrase “difficult day(s).” Remember who is in control. And especially remember He is on your side, even to the end of the world…

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Spirituality

Think About It

Answer this question honestly: How much are you relying on your phone over the course of your day? My own answer is, too much. ChatGPT is just a moment away and I find it to be a great resource. But there are trade offs.

Too much screen time is impacting our brains, and not in a good way necessarily. It can cause dopamine overload, shortened attention spans (like I need more of that. I’m already easily distracted), and memory impairment. In a recent podcast interview, I learned that some children can’t self-regulate themselves without watching a screen while they ate. This is a 911.

Our brains are wired for community. No screens can take the place of the human connection that meaningful conversations produce. And we feel better when we spend time with good people rather than focusing our attention on our phones.

We need our phones, no doubt. But I encourage you to keep them in perspective. Go to lunch or Happy Hour with someone you enjoy being around. Your brain will thank you, but probably not verbally. And if you think you hear a voice, go see a psychiatrist!

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