Spirituality

The Weather Report

Weather fascinates me. The cloud formations, the wind and the thunderstorms. Even extreme heat and cold are reminders that I feel completely alive.

But what is your temperature? It’s a compliment to be known as a warm, friendly person. Those types are approachable and non-judgmental. And we have all encountered people who are like icebergs. Their hard exterior is difficult to break through, but I have found that deep down they want to be different.

How many friends do you have? I have hundreds of acquaintances, but only a small number of friends. Many people abandon others when trouble arises. Those are. our fair weather friends. They are nice enough, but you can’t rely on them to stick around when the going gets tough.

Everyone wants to be around you when you are successful. That’s easy. But it’s the people who stay with you no matter what who are worth their weight in gold.

God pulls for us in our successes and in our setbacks. He doesn’t change how He sees us. And God is reliable. He can’t lie to us or mislead us. His weather is perfect. Every time…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

Public Support

Have you ever been honored by your profession or made to feel like a VIP in some way? Perhaps you fly First Class and receive privileges set apart from the Coach passengers. Recognition is nice, but it’s not sustainable.

In 2019 I resigned my membership in Austin Country Club. It is a wonderful club and has an air of exclusivity to it. But what made the difference was the people who worked there. Austin Country Club did a remarkable job with their hiring practices. I have never been much of a country club guy, but I enjoyed getting to know the staff and learning their stories.

Everyone wants to belong, to be part of something bigger than themselves. It begins with our family. Why do you think kids join gangs? It’s due in part because they aren’t feeling accepted at home. Their fellow gang members give them something missing from their lives.

Many people I encounter are dealing with an emptiness inside. People try to fill the hole in their heart with drugs, affairs, gambling or sex. Those are not fulfilling in the long term.

God alone is the only one who accepts us unconditionally. He created us and He wants to see us live full lives on this side of eternity. You don’t have to become a religious nut to get it. Just believe. God will take care of the rest…

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Spirituality

Gaining Wisdom

When I was a kid I did a lot of stupid stuff. Come to think of it, I have done a lot as an adult, too! But there is no requirement that I have to continue the pattern.

As we live and learn, we gain knowledge, experience and wisdom. Knowledge is knowing what is true. Wisdom is knowing what to do with that truth. And experience, that’s a great teacher.

Our personal growth never ends unless we want it to. We are works in progress. The challenges life presents us with allow us to grow. Our creative juices are stimulated while we simultaneously use critical thinking to solve the challenges.

Welcome the difficult periods life presents. Having a positive attitude will get us farther faster than dreading the day. Inevitably we will have to deal with whatever it is. And remember the hard times won’t last forever. You have gotten through every difficulty you have had.

This beautiful life sometimes feels like a roller coaster. Thrilling moments followed by uncertainty. The knowledge and wisdom you have gained up until now will get you through it if you refuse to accept defeat.

Just keep going, no matter what happens…

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Spirituality

Control Freaks

Have you ever known or worked with a control freak? Perhaps you are one. Just kidding. The people who try to control everything are the most uptight people to be around.

All of the future is an unknown. We don’t know what will happen in the next few minutes, the rest of today, or the rest of this year. We make plans yet we have to adapt when things don’t go as expected.

In Proverbs 3:5-6 it says, “Trust in The Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.” This means we should trust God even when we don’t understand what is going on. We can’t see everything but God can. He is already in our future.

When we are going through difficult periods, it’s hard to see past the end of our nose. Our faith is tested. That’s okay. God knows and understands, and He doesn’t change His feelings towards us when we doubt. Jesus reminded us that the faith of a mustard seed is enough to move mountains.

Stay focused and stay true to the One who is in control. He will never steer us wrong. And that is a promise…

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Spirituality

Something On My Mind

Pardon my rant this morning, but I have something to say. The public forum of social media has a lot of merit, but the public can show their ugly side, too.

Recently Susan and Michael Dell were in the Oval Office with the President. Hateful trolls used photos from the occasion to make fun of Susan Dells appearance. The comments were rude, wrong, and meant to hurt her. Do these people believe she doesn’t have feelings?

The Dell Foundation focuses on education, economic opportunity, and improving outcomes for children and families. The foundation contributed over $6 billion to fund Trump accounts. This was a wonderful intersection of the public and private sectors working together.

Weak people ridicule others. It’s dangerous, too. Scripture tells us “Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another.” If you want to read the entire verse it is James 4:11.

Let’s think before we speak. If our comments lift up our fellow man, then by all means speak up. If what you say is hurtful, consider how you would feel if the words were aimed at you. Something to consider…

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Spirituality

What Are You Selling?

Madison Avenue is still alive and thriving. Whether we realize it or not, we are being marketed to all the time. And they know what they’re doing.

Years ago, I took my three year old son to a football game. It must have been wishful thinking on my part to think he would care about the game at such a young age. Yet, during a commercial break he heard a gong. My son looked up and said, “That’s Taco Bell!” Yes, marketing is effective.

We might fall for the latest marketing gimmick. We believe something is “new and improved” and our expectations are raised. But what are you telling yourself?

What you believe about yourself is going to come true. In my experience I have met people who think they are a nobody, that they have nothing worthwhile to contribute. This is a lie they have chosen to believe.

Life is a constant growth process, not a destination. Consider where you were twenty years ago when you want to see how far you’ve come. You might surprise yourself.

Take inventory of your life. Focus on the good you have done. Telling yourself the truth is part of holding yourself accountable. Meditate on what you do well. Do more of those things.

You are marketing to yourself. Make sure there is truth in what you are advertising…

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Uncategorized, Spirituality

They Called Him Stoneface

He was born in 1925 in the tiny town of Mission, Texas. His was a star athlete and went on to play football for The University of Texas. Included in his early adult experiences were 30 combat missions during World War II.

Tom Landry played defensive back for the New York Giants, eventually becoming a player/coach. It was this experience that shaped his relationship with his players when he became coach of the expansion team in Dallas in 1960.

Those first years were tough. The team finally had their first winning season in 1966. This started a remarkable 20 year run of winning seasons. Landry believed in his system. Players would tell you it was complicated, but it worked.

The players called Landry “Stoneface” behind his back. He had a serious demeanor, and didn’t allow himself to develop relationships with his players. In an interview Landry said it was because it would be too hard to let a player go if you had a friendship with him.

Someone once asked running back Walt Garrison if he ever saw Landry smile. Garrison thought for a moment and said, “no. But I’ve only been here 7 years!”

Tom Landry had character. He was the same man every day, on or off the field. His players respected him, even if he wasn’t one of the boys…

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Spirituality

A Desperately Needed Renaissance

Our education system is failing many of our students. In Texas alone, only about half of students are reading at grade level by fourth grade. Same for math.

When Horace Mann created the curriculum for public schools, he focused on teaching the head, the heart and the hands. In other words, teachers taught the intellect, emotion and the application. Now teachers are required to “teach to the test.” Teachers are frustrated and the students suffer.

We are three dimensional beings: mind, body and spirit. Mann recognized this. Teaching the whole child got results. People go into teaching because they want to make a difference in the lives of their students. They certainly aren’t seeking fame and fortune. They are called to teach.

We desperately need a renaissance in education. I’m not one to live in the past but in this case the past was significantly superior to today. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Students and parents might bitch a little, but that’s nothing new. Empower the educators to do what they’re called to do!

It’s not too late. We can right this ship if we are willing…

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Spirituality

Stigmatized

Being stigmatized often causes people to be unfairly judged, stereotyped, excluded, or treated differently. Why do we do it, you might ask. It is my belief that people stigmatize others to avoid looking at themselves.

Have you ever made an embarrassing mistake? Most of us have said or done things we would like to erase from our memories. In 1981 I was arrested for driving while intoxicated and spent a night in jail. The drunk tank is no place I wanted to return to.

Even in 2026 seeking therapy is still stigmatized by some parts of society. Up until 2008 insurance companies paid partial benefits for therapy. It took federal law to rectify this.

When I’m speaking with inmates, I share my story of growing up in a dysfunctional family. Most of the men and women in prison can relate. The people who have been in prison often get stigmatized. Yet, I remind them that when they get out, they should walk out with their heads held high and their shoulders back. They have satisfied everything the State of Texas has required.

We aren’t limited by the worst decisions we made unless we allow them to limit us. Keep the people who throw your past in your face far away from you. Those aren’t your people.

Surround yourself with people who inspire you to be your best. They are your people…

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Spirituality

Competing Voices

We have two voices inside our heads. Both are talking to us all the time, competing for our attention. Let’s dive into this.

We talk to ourselves more than we talk to anyone else. Our minds are always working, even while we are asleep. This is one of the reasons we must be discerning about what we read, watch on TV, and who we listen to. The subconscious mind remembers all.

One of the voices is encouraging us, prompting and pushing us towards our purpose. The other voice is reminding us of everything we have ever screwed up. “Why should this time be any different,” the voice says. If you listen to and believe that voice, you will be talked out of trying something before you begin.

One of the voices is from God. He is rooting for us every millisecond of our lives. The discouraging voice is from the devil. He wants us to stay mired in mediocrity and frustration.

I encourage you to listen to the voice of encouragement. You might be risk averse because of something that happened in your past. Break free from this. You weren’t created to fail. You are here to thrive and to make a difference.

Embrace the unknown and live fully…

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