Scott Rodgers

Follow Scott.

2008-08-23T19:14:00.000-07:00

Follow Scott at www.twitter.com/scottrodgers and check out his new blog at www.scottrodgers.tv.

Scott's New Blog.

2008-08-07T12:26:00.000-07:00

http://www.scottrodgers.tv is Scott's new blog.

'IT'

2008-07-31T16:40:00.000-07:00

Craig gave our team a copy of 'IT' today. Did you get your copy of 'IT'? When you do get 'IT', read 'IT', enjoy 'IT', apply 'IT', and see 'IT' impact your life as a leader.

On another note, this Twitter thing is kind of fun. My thoughts are changing from my usual, 'What I am going to do next?' to, 'I wonder if this moment is twitterable?' No, you won't find that word in Webster's.

Articles.

2008-07-26T09:13:00.000-07:00

How long has it been since the Chicago Cubs won a world series? When was the last time people were actually interested in what Paris Hilton was up to? That's about the time I made my last blog post here on 'Images'. To the one or two of you who keep telling me you want more, thanks for your kindness and patience. I have a few writing projects in the works and until those surface, here are a couple articles I've written for Swerve - the coolest church leader blog out there.

This one is called 'Whose Kingdom Are You Building?' Nelson Searcy at Church Leader Insights picked this article up as well - even though he misspelled my name. That's OK, I've always had thoughts of being someone else. It's even funnier when you read the point of the article.

Here's another posted on Swerve as well. It is called 'Innovation'.

If you're a follower of Christ and passionate about your local church check out my pastor, Craig Grosechel's brand new book called 'It'.

Twitter.

2008-07-17T19:41:00.000-07:00

I gave in. I'm trying to Twitter. Do you Twitter? Let me know, maybe I will follow you. If you want to keep up with what I am doing, here's my Twitter address.

Soda.

2008-06-22T13:18:00.000-07:00

I’m a big fan of unique places. This place has become a fun stop for our family. Here at the ‘images’ blog, you will find over eighty entries designed to hopefully inspire you to pursue life more fully. There is a sure fire way to live an inspired life. Wanna know what it is? Add value everywhere you go. Try and make a positive difference for everyone around you. Live to lift others up. Pops Soda Ranch boasts almost five-hundred flavors to choose from. ‘images’ gives you about eighty life enhancing ‘flavors’ to choose from. Share them around the office, with the kids, and even with your neighbors. Just don’t use the same straw.

Memorial.

2008-06-09T09:03:00.000-07:00

There is something sacred about stepping into history. A few days ago I visited the Oklahoma City National Memorial. On the morning of April 19th, 1995, 9:02 am was a moment this city would never forget. In one cowardly act of terrorism one-hundred and sixty-eight innocent victims lost their lives. I highly respect and admire the people of this community who were affected by this tragedy. Their pain must have been great. The Oklahoma City National Memorial does a great job of preserving the memory of those lost. In all its painful detail, the memorial also somehow inspires those left behind to truly live. Walking through its halls I was reminded of many things. Life as we know it can change in an instant. When the value and dignity of human life is violated, heroes spontaneously emerge from all around. There is still more good than evil in this world. One act of hate always seems to arouse the love of the masses. The memory of those who lost their life in the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building will not be forgotten. The legacy they leave behind is our inspiration to embrace the value of life and truly live.

If...Then...

2008-05-01T20:56:00.000-07:00

My first computer was a Commodore 64. I was fifteen years old. Using my Commodore 64 I learned a rag tag computer language called ‘BASIC’. One of the simple commands in BASIC was the ‘if – then’ statement. Basically, ‘if’ something was ‘this’, ‘then’ the computer would do ‘that’. Many of us live in an ‘if – then’ world. It looks like this, ‘if’ I get a pay raise, ‘then’ I will start investing. ‘If’ I had more time, ‘then’ I would exercise more. ‘If’ I ever get this project finished, ‘then’ I would spend more time with my family. ‘If’ my wife would treat me with respect, ‘then’… When we settle for living an ‘if – then’ life, we surrender our right and responsibility to make something happen. ‘If’ rarely happens anyway. Even when it does, ‘then’ never gets done because by that time we’re too used to making excuses. Let’s let go of ‘if – then’ living and grab hold of our future. Stop waiting and go make it happen. Anyone remember those 5 ¼” floppy disks that came with the Commodore 64? They were sweet.

Storms.

2008-04-25T10:09:00.000-07:00

It’s not a matter of if, but when. Storms in life are bound to happen. Am I just being pessimistic or negative? No, simply realistic. Trials, challenges, and unforeseen situations happen to us all. If they are inevitable, how do we deal with them when they come? It depends. Every situation is unique. However, there are a couple things we can do to help weather the storms in life when they do come. First, anticipate them. When we anticipate future storms we aren’t caught off guard. We expect the unexpected. We realize that life has sunny days and rainy days and we’re ok with that. That keeps us from over reacting or feeling hopeless when the going gets tough. Next, we prepare. When the weather is good and the sun is shining we live responsibly. We live beneath our means. We save some of our income. We take care of our stuff. We invest in our relationships with others, especially our family. We keep increasing our skill set. We continue growing spiritually. That way when the storms come our life’s foundation is strong and stable. You may get knocked down but if you prepare properly, you won’t be knocked out. We can weather the storms if we anticipate and prepare for them.

1 + 1 = 1.

2008-04-11T07:34:00.000-07:00

Two halves don’t make a whole. I have the amazing opportunity to assist couples who are at an impasse in their marriage. Shelly and I have been there ourselves. We have found that lying deep beneath the surface of relationship struggles is the belief that someone else can make us whole. In relationships, two halves don’t make a whole. Two halves make a mess. Two insecure people coming together do not make one secure couple. Two people full of bitterness do not create one healthy, forgiving home. The mistake many of us make is believing that we will find the perfect person that will be everything we need. We look for that someone who completes us and gives meaning to our mess. That’s impossible. Our goal, as an individual, should be to become whole. The healthier you and I are spiritually, emotionally, and physically, the healthier our relationships will be with our spouse, our kids, and everyone around us. Imagine two people that are very satisfied with who God has made them to be. Imagine each of them being spiritually secure, emotionally balanced and healthy, taking care of themselves physically, and confident about their future. Imagine those two people falling in love with each other. They would be off to a great start. One whole person plus one whole person makes one whole healthy relationship.

Griefer.

2008-04-06T19:56:00.001-07:00

You’re having fun. It’s a great game. Immersed in an online gaming experience with a bunch of other people you’ve never met, your skills clearly put you head and shoulders above the pack. Then, it happens. A new player starts messing up the fun, spoiling the whole deal. They don’t care; they take pleasure in frustrating everyone else to the point where one by one, they all log off. You’ve been hit be a ‘griefer’. ‘Griefers’ are not only online, but everywhere. Griefers change the atmosphere for the worse. Complaining, whining, gossiping, they swoop in and let everyone know what they think, how they feel, and what they would do if they were in charge. Watch out for griefers. If we’re not careful, we take their hook and become a griefer ourselves. When someone around you complains or whines, ask them this question, ‘What can you do to help?’ Instead of agreeing or joining in on the complaining look how you can contribute towards the solution. Don’t hang with the complainers and don’t fear the griefer.

Serve.

2008-04-01T06:55:00.000-07:00

It’s time to serve. That was the natural response of some great people in our community and our church. My wife Shelly and our kids jumped on board. My previous post was about the tornado that whipped through our area. This picture is my daughter Morgan standing in front of a house that was hit pretty hard. The owner was the recipient of a group of people who cared about them and wanted to help out in their time of need. Serving others is right. Serving others is noble. In the middle of all the crazy stuff in our world and our lives serving others confirms that in the end, love wins. When you’re down, serving others lifts you up. When you’re on top of the world, serving others reminds you that nothing beats making a difference. Serving is more than giving a handout. Serving is giving a hand up. For many of us simply writing a check is easy, it let’s us off the hook and temporarily clears our conscience. And handouts are often underappreciated. Serving others by giving them our time, our energy, and our resources reinforces the reality that we’re all in this thing together. We’ve got some heroes in our community. They’re heroes because they serve others. Who or where can you serve today?

Warning.

2008-03-31T20:42:00.000-07:00

The house shook while it sounded like a freight train going through the neighborhood. With sirens blaring, we took shelter in a closet. It was 1:45 am. It was a tornado. This picture is of our backyard looking out from the patio. The tornado blazed a path through ours and our neighbor’s backyards. No one was hurt. It was my first brush with a real twister. Next time I’m taking the warning more seriously. Because I had heard so many passive stories about tornadoes, I didn’t move too fast when the sirens went off. I thought, ‘What are the odds? If it even touches ground there’s no way it will come close.’ I was wrong. Warnings exist to alert us of impending danger. The surgeon general issues warnings. Medicine labels have warnings. Street signs give warnings. Law enforcement issues warnings. Dad gives warnings. Warnings, they are everywhere. Warnings define the boundary lines between safety and danger, life and death. Warnings exist to protect us. Before last night, I normally ignored warnings. I’m through being stupid. When you are given a warning, respond appropriately. Sometimes you will simply turn away and go in the opposite direction. Sometimes, like last night, you’ll take cover and live another day...and have a great story to tell.

Delay.

2008-03-29T08:27:00.001-07:00

There are no ‘secrets’ in life, just principles waiting to be discovered. One of those great principles is called ‘delayed gratification’. That’s when we delay the immediate pleasure or satisfaction of something we love for something we love even more. We get off the couch and exercise because we love the vitality that health gives us more than the pleasure of vegging out. We turn off the TV to study and learn because we love the thought of growing, creating more opportunities, increasing our income, etc. more than watching ESPN Sportscenter. Delaying gratification is one of those huge discoveries a person can make. Practicing delayed gratification on a regular basis yields tremendous results. I once heard someone say, ‘Live today like nobody else so that you can live tomorrow like nobody else.’ I wonder if we practiced delayed gratification more if so many people would still be in debt? Have failing marriages? Working dead end jobs? Living unfulfilled lives? Where can you apply delayed gratification more in your life?

Transactions.

2008-03-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

Every interaction is a transaction. Every interaction with someone else ends up in either a deposit or a withdrawal. Too often I thoughtlessly interact with others not realizing a transaction is taking place. Instead of making a withdrawal by eroding trust or restricting open and honest dialogue, I think our goal should be to make a deposit. Deposits come in many forms. The most basic are showing respect and giving honor. Even in the most difficult situations when we show respect and give honor we are building trust and creating relationships where others feel safe. If we make enough ‘deposits’, a ‘withdrawal’ here and there won’t bankrupt the relationship. I’m trying to remember that every interaction is a transaction. Give it a try. Go make some deposits.

Symptoms.

2008-03-11T14:41:00.001-07:00

Four days ago I had the symptoms; a high temperature, body aches, and a head ache. One day later, I was spiraling downward, physically. Two days later, I was out. You guessed it, I caught the flu. I went to the doctor. He prescribed some medicine called Tamiflu. They say it’s only good if you take it within 48 hours of your first symptoms. I don’t know if I made it in time. I wish I would have acted sooner. There are other symptoms, when dealt with quickly enough, can help us live healthier lives. Some of those symptoms are sarcasm, a short temper, being critical of others, unthankful, and jealousy, just to name a few. Just like our body notifies us of something being wrong, our attitude lets us know when things aren’t right. When experiencing these symptoms, try not to let too much time go by before they’re dealt with. Let a friend know you’re struggling. Ask them to hold you accountable to change your attitude. Focus on things that are positive. Dish out more compliments. Listen to these symptoms and do whatever it takes to get back on the right track. Maybe someone should make a drug called Tamitude.

Behavior.

2008-03-08T07:18:00.000-08:00

‘Birds of a feather flock together.’ ‘Success breeds success.’ ‘One failure upon another.’ Have you ever heard these statements? Are they true? Though things aren’t always black and white or 100% conclusive, I think behavior determines outcome. The book of Proverbs in the Bible has thirty one chapters full of ‘behaviors’; behaviors for living. Anyone who has tried to apply those behaviors consistently realizes that they work. No, they don’t work like flipping on a switch; do it once and life turns into a bed of roses. However, those behaviors applied consistently throughout life result in a much higher level of living. Where do you regularly fall short, mess up, or even fail? Chances are there are a few vital behaviors you are living that are creating those results. One way to change is to search for someone who succeeds where you fail. Observe them intently. Look for a few vital behaviors that seem to contribute to their success. Then, consistently apply those behaviors to your life. Be patient. Stick to it. Chances are you will begin to see more success. Yes, birds of a feather flock together. Why? We feel more comfortable around others who behave as we do. It’s natural. Yes, success breeds success. Why? They mimic each others behavior. Changing a few vital behaviors changes a lot of things. If you’ve never read the book of Proverbs, give it a test drive.

HD.

2008-03-07T19:40:00.000-08:00

Discovery Channel. ESPN. The Food Channel. All in high definition. The detail. The vivid detail. After two years of being on our wish list we finally made the leap to high def. Did I mention the detail? The foliage of the congo. The spin on the ball. The texture of the dish. It’s not that it was never there, we just couldn’t see it; or at least, didn’t take notice. It makes me wonder how easily we miss those things that are right in front of us all the time; the details of everyday life. Our numerous interactions with others. Taking notice of someone’s hard work. The opportunities to express appreciation. The efforts of our kids to get our attention. The humor in the mundane. The details that are there all the time but we don’t always notice. And worse than that, don’t even acknowledge. How much better a husband or wife, co-worker, friend, neighbor, and person would we be if we noticed the details? What if we listened better? Looked closer? Slowed down enough to appreciation the details? In addition to watching TV in HD; maybe, somehow, we can start living in HD.

Collision.

2008-03-04T06:46:00.000-08:00

Emotions are high. Dialogue becomes defense. Someone feels threatened. Your conversation has turned into a collision. Ever had that happen? We all have. I’m convinced that life’s journey either continues in a positive direction or takes a destructive detour as a result of how we handle these ‘collisions’. There are opportunities I have missed out on because I mishandled a few of these high emotion conversations. The next time you find your conversation heading into a collision try stepping back and remember that the other person is human – just like you. Go ahead and debate the issue but don’t attack the person. Express respect. Listen twice as much as you speak. Share your perspective, passionately if necessary. Pursue an agreeable outcome, a win-win; not a win-lose. The next time you collide with someone else; pave the road for the future, don’t destroy it.

Blur.

2008-02-25T13:33:00.001-08:00

Life can sometimes get out of focus, our vision becomes blurred. What do we do when that happens? I’ve discovered a key that may help. When things get ‘blurry’, do what you know is right. Privately, live with integrity. Publicly, love people. Just do what is right. Work hard. Take care of yourself. Expose yourself to things that inspire you. Keep placing one foot in front of the other and continue moving forward. If you do that, whatever it was that caused things to become blurry will pass. You will find that you’re not off track, you’re just human.

Questions?

2008-02-15T08:00:00.001-08:00

‘I have a question.’ ‘There’s your answer.’ What? I once got in trouble for saying, ‘Maybe we’re not asking the right questions.’ We quit asking questions when we think we have all the answers. That is not a good sign. A key to experiencing more at work, more at school, more spiritually, more in life is to ask lots of questions. The old cliché, ‘Your worst question is the one you didn’t ask’ is quite true. Ask questions. Ask lots of questions. I am not saying, ‘Question everything’. There’s a big difference between always questioning things and asking questions. Learn to ask the right questions; ‘What are your thoughts on that?’ ‘How can we accomplish this?’ ‘What have you learned?’ ‘What challenges are you facing?’, etc. Be amazed at what you’ll learn. I can get a good sense about someone’s future just by listening to the questions they are asking; lots of questions, lots of potential. No questions and all answers, they are probably not going much further than where they already are. The answers to the challenges in life are often found through the questions we ask. Any questions?

100%.

2008-02-12T11:29:00.001-08:00

I was seventeen when my older cousin, Shaun, said, ‘Scott, whatever you do - be the best you that you can be.’ Life is invigorating when our pursuit is to be all we can be; to maximize our potential. Life turns tiring and we become distracted when we constantly compare ourselves with others. I enjoy auto racing. A key to auto racing is to ‘race the track’ not the other car. The time you focus on the competition is when they are in your way. Your goal is to decrease your ‘lap time’ each time around the track...and not crash! You are competing against yourself; to maximize your potential. Is there any untapped potential in you? I think the answer is ‘yes’ for all of us. Are we focusing more on others, getting distracted and caught in the comparison game? Probably more than we would like to admit. Let’s make our goal to bring out 100% of our potential each and every day. Let’s not leave untapped potential sitting on the shelf, let’s bring it – 100%. Be the best YOU that you can be.

Defined.

2008-02-03T07:58:00.000-08:00

What defines you? I enjoy hiking. Yesterday I hiked up Camelback Mountain in Scottsdale, AZ. I have hiked up Camelback a number of times. Each time I notice something new, something unique about that mountain and the different views on the way up. Scientists tell us that mountains are the result of huge ‘plates’ colliding and pressing against each other causing volcanic activity, etc. Then the elements; rain, wind, and ice do some more cosmetic work. The elements help to define the mountain. We’re told that there are ‘elements’ that define us as well. Just like rain and wind shape the mountain - the environment, upbringing, socio-economic status, family structure, etc. shape us. I believe that. However, it doesn’t have to stop there. God desires to define who you are. You play a part in defining who you are. If you don’t define who you are, others will do it for you. Others may put a lid on your potential, reel in the horizon, put you in a box, and want you to be just as small minded as them. Who defines you? There’s too much at stake. Define yourself.

Shower.

2008-02-01T10:45:00.000-08:00

Three days without a shower. How would you look? How would you smell? Most of us shower every day. We wash away the grime. We start the day fresh. I try to take two showers a day. No, I’m not obsessed with the fresh scent of Irish Spring. Before I jump in the big square box full of steam and piping hot water, I try to shower my heart and my mind. We shower our heart by spending some time connecting with our Creator. We remind ourselves that life is a gift. We increase our level of thankfulness. We shower our mind by rinsing out the grime that comes from being human; the stress, pressure, disappointments, insecurities, etc. We fill our minds with what God says about us. We check our attitude and shower our minds with things that lift our faith, ignite our dreams, and provide focus for the day. Three days without this type of shower and we begin to smell. Instead of jumping out of bed, taking a quick – hot shower, grabbing a pop tart, and running out the door; take another shower. Wash away the grime of the mind and heart and experience a whole new level of living. It’s time to smell good; inside and out.

Aj-ik-tiv.

2008-01-26T09:23:00.000-08:00

When others describe you, which adjective do they use? By the way, ‘aj-ik-tiv’ is how we pronounce ‘adjective’ . When your name comes up in the conversations of others what adjective do they use to describe you? Scary thought huh? Do others describe you as caring, joyful, confident, sincere, compassionate, authentic, humble, etc.? Do they describe you as angry, fearful, or abrasive? Here’s a question, how do you describe yourself? Would others agree with you? Don’t fret. The good news is that we can change or become even more of a good thing. Think through a list of adjectives that you want to exude. Begin to live them. Do it first for yourself. Later, others will notice and benefit. Long live the ‘aj-ik-tiv’.

Hero.

2008-01-23T17:41:00.000-08:00

Selfless. Courageous. Someone who takes great risks to help others in need. That’s what comes to mind when I think of a hero. I love to stand up and give an ovation to our veterans when they march in the local parade. To me, they are heroes. There are men and women all around us every day that have served their country, put themselves in danger to protect us, or lead us on toward a noble cause. If that’s you, thank you; you’re a hero. Hero’s, I believe, are also more than that. Hero’s are people who do what’s right even when it hurts. Hero’s are those who live with integrity when no one is looking. Hero’s make the tough choices because they know their children are watching. Hero’s put their plans aside when someone is hurting and needs a hand. I want to be a hero to my kids, to my wife, to my community. Honestly though, I often fall short. Let’s not let that stop us. Let’s act more selflessly, courageously, and live with integrity for the benefit of others. Maybe someday someone will call you a hero.

Pride.

2008-01-11T08:31:00.000-08:00

Pride can be our friend and our enemy. When its source is our family, home, business, or church; pride can be our friend. We become loyal to those things that give us a sense of pride. We should also take pride in things like a job well done, the effort we gave, that goal our kid scored in the game, or the success we’ve been granted. However, if our pride comes from things such as our title, our image, or our reputation; it can become our enemy. Why is that? We tend to do whatever it takes to hold onto those things that make us proud. That can become a problem. Sometimes our pride must be laid aside. If it is not, we can miss out. Miss out on things more important; personal growth, humility, stronger relationships, new opportunities, and more. When it comes to fighting to hold onto the things that make you proud - choose your battles wisely.

Setback.

2008-01-04T11:47:00.000-08:00

A sudden and unexpected halt in progress. Have you ever experienced a setback? When we’re pushing forward for something more, we will experience periodic setbacks. It’s not the setback that keeps you from greatness; it is your willingness to remain resilient - regardless. Great achievements in business have come on the heels of losing it all. Great performances in the arts often come from giving it one more shot with everything you’ve got. Championships in sports sometimes come the season after your greatest disappointment. If you are experiencing a setback, get back up – it’s time to make your comeback.

Routine.

2007-12-28T19:11:00.000-08:00

I love listening to the stories of people who people consider ‘successful’. What they did to get where they are, how they deal with setbacks, and so on. When listening to their stories, a number of similar themes come to the surface. One theme I consistently hear from people who are arguably the best in their field is that most of them have a routine. What they do day in and day out is consistent and disciplined. Sports figures, entertainers, CEO’s, coaches, writers, pastors, housewives, etc. the really great ones have an almost religious routine in their daily lives. I don’t think that’s something we should ignore. A great leader once told me that it’s not the big steps forward that create success as much as it comes from doing the right things day in and day out. You don’t win a marathon race going from zero to twenty six miles in one day. What big goals do you have right now? What steps can you take on a daily basis that will bring you where you want to be? Start doing those things today.

Progress.

2007-12-18T07:40:00.000-08:00

Making progress is very rewarding. You set that goal, work incredibly hard, face all the resistance, and make noticeable progress. Maybe you graduated from that class you were taking. Maybe you received the promotion at work. Maybe the romance is rekindled in your marriage. Maybe you successfully completed that project. Progress feels great. There are two primary things I’ve discovered about making forward progress. One, celebrate. Celebrate that win. Have a party. Reward yourself and those who were a part of it. Enjoy the moment. Be thankful. Two, don’t camp out. After enjoying the moment step back into the struggle and keep moving forward; too many of us just camp out and stay at the point of our last victory. Now that you’ve graduated from that class become the best in the world in your field. Now that you’ve rekindled the romance in your marriage create a little heaven on earth in your home. Now that you’ve completed that project tackle another project with a higher profile and more impact. Celebrate progress, you earned it. Don’t camp out, move on.

Struggle.

2007-12-14T17:30:00.000-08:00

It feels like anything worth doing contains an element of struggle. Maybe I was in the wrong line when the talents were handed out. Maybe I was born on the wrong side of the tracks. Maybe….STOP! If we believe that we are victims, we’ll act like victims. When we strive for something more, we choose to turn around and paddle upstream. Each of us has different abilities and talents. Each of us will face different levels of struggle. I think Jesus talked about this a time or two as well. Are you reaching for more? More impact on your world, more unity in your family, more advancement in your career? Then you know what I’m talking about. To advance we struggle. Lean into it and when you are facing struggles you are more than likely headed in the right direction.

Uncertainty.

2007-12-13T06:19:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I had to drive in heavy fog. Visibility was only about one hundred feet. That’s not much when you’re humming down the road in moderate traffic. The cool thing about this low lying fog is that when I drove into it I could see another hundred feet down the road. Life is that way, isn’t it? We can only see so far down the road. We can’t predict what the future holds. All we can do is responsibly navigate through what we see. When we do that, the next ‘one hundred feet’ will become clear. Are you living with uncertainty about your future? Welcome to the planet. Go ahead, drive into the fog. Navigate through what you see and the rest eventually becomes clear.

Care.

2007-12-11T07:06:00.001-08:00

When was the last time your schedule was interrupted because someone needed your help? What’s their name? That someone who just needs somebody to talk to, to understand them, to give them a hand? When our time is all our own and there is no demand on us to help someone else, we are either real selfish or too comfortable; probably both. One of the best antidotes for complacency, loneliness, and a lack of fulfillment in our own life is to reach out and invest ourselves into someone else. It’s not easy. It’s not convenient. It’s not even fun sometimes. That is not the point. We were created to care for one another. Where are you giving back? Who are you caring for?

Coach.

2007-12-03T21:45:00.001-08:00

Who is your coach? Let’s face it; we don’t have it all together. If you and I are going to do anything great, we need help; we need a coach. I think a good coach is someone who inspires us to pursue the cause and embrace the challenge, invests in us by helping us to be successful, someone who pushes you and I to leave it all on the field. They tell us what we need to hear, when we need to hear it. I have the privilege of having some great coaches in my life. Do you have a great coach? If not, do whatever it takes to find one. Find someone who has been where you want to go. Find someone who knows what you don’t. Find someone you respect for their character and their accomplishment and ask them to coach you. The payoff for you and those around you is huge.

Challenge.

2007-11-20T06:05:00.000-08:00

What big challenge are you facing? Many challenges come somewhat involuntarily. Those are the challenges that we have because we made a poor decision or someone else gives us a challenge we didn’t ask for, we’re kind of the victim of their doing. That’s not the challenge I’m talking about here. What hill do you want to take? What goal are you pursuing that is demanding more of you than you’ve got? What challenge have you personally placed in your life that is stretching you? That’s the kind of challenge I’m talking about here. A couple posts ago we looked at how having a clear cause can energize our life. A cause worth having will demand we embrace some challenges in order to realize the cause. You and I become stronger when we are facing resistance, when we are fighting a battle that is worth fighting. Would it be fair to say that if we are not incredibly challenged we are not going to accomplish anything that’s incredible? Pursue the cause and embrace the challenges that come with it. Not only can you accomplish your cause but you can become a better person because you faced the challenge.

Community.

2007-11-16T08:38:00.001-08:00

Who’s your community? What community of people are you a part of that is like hearted, like minded, and passionate about a cause that you all share? There’s something significant about being around others and inspiring each other toward a common pursuit. Organizations in business, church, and politics have long known the synergy and energy that is created within a group of people who are excited about their collective journey. Living life in isolation and apart from this type of community lacks all its benefits. If you are part of a community with a common cause, make sure to make a positive contribution any way you can. If you are not part of community like this, strongly consider finding one. Not only can it be very rewarding, it can also be a whole lot of fun.

Cause.

2007-11-15T09:34:00.000-08:00

What’s your cause? What cause are you a part of? I have found that when my ‘cause’ is crystal clear my life becomes energized. On the flip side, when things become foggy and unclear and I’m not sure what my cause is – I’m vulnerable to fatigue, frustration, and apathy. Cause and Effect is the relationship between two things when one thing makes something else happen. What’s the ‘effect’ of the ‘cause’ in your life? Did you get up early this morning or stay up late last night focusing on your cause? When was the last time you talked about your cause to someone close to you? What was the last book you read that fuels your ability to realize your cause? The world around us is hungry for men and women who are passionate about a cause. Are you and I one of them?

Butterflies.

2007-11-13T06:28:00.000-08:00

Butterflies are beautiful creatures. They’re also kind of elusive. They swoop in, you enjoy them for a moment, and then they’re gone. I think there are moments in our day that are similar to butterflies. Something beautiful swoops in, and then it’s gone. It’s 7:00 am. ‘Dad’ came from the bedroom. ‘Yeah’ came from my mouth while sitting in my easy chair reading. ‘Can you come here?’ Morgan my nine year old daughter said back to me. ‘Why?’ I responded. ‘Because I want to give you a hug but I don’t want to get up.’ Who can resist that? I got up and got a big hug. I’m back in my easy chair. The moment came and went. Keep your eyes and ears open today for a moment that will be special for you. Get out of your easy chair and enjoy. In a few seconds it may be gone.

Signs.

2007-11-02T12:21:00.000-07:00

‘What am I supposed to do with my life?’ ‘Why am I here?’ ‘What’s my purpose?’ I took this picture while recently driving through a small town. I thought it was quite funny that the streetlight was perfectly blocking the sign when you were stopped at the intersection. It’s not funny, however, when we go through life not ever discovering our purpose. The questions, ‘What am I supposed to do with my life?’ and ‘What’s my purpose?’ often surface in my conversations with others. Here’s what I think the answer is….ask some different questions. Those questions are too intimidating, too broad most of the time. Instead, ask yourself these questions: ‘What excites me?’ ‘What do I daydream about?’ ‘If I could do anything this year, what would it be?’ When we take the time to clearly answer those questions, we’re onto something. Your answers could be a ‘sign’ to the purpose of your life. Of course, all dreams eventually dissolve into work. Discover what excites you. If it honors God and makes a positive difference in the world around you get to work and GO FOR IT!

Desire.

2007-10-22T22:54:00.000-07:00

I have made a discovery. Everyone wants to be desired. At the very core of our being we covet another person’s desire for ourselves. Not just desired sexually, even though that is part of it. There is something life giving and almost magical when you have someone who really desires to be with you; desires everything about you. If you’re not yet convinced, think of it this way; have you ever felt like no one desired you? No one wanted you? No one sincerely loved you? That’s a painful, lonely place to be. If we experience that for too long hopelessness sets in. Why do we respond so strongly when others affirm us? Praise us? Express appreciation and love to us? I suggest it is because at a deep level we are realizing that who we are and what we offer is greatly desired. Even God Himself wants to be desired by you and me. A life changing moment also comes when we realize that He passionately desires us.

Salsa.

2007-10-19T08:30:00.000-07:00

Let’s face it; sometimes life can become a bit bland, mundane, and routine. If that’s where you are at, it’s time to spice it up. I once worked with a guy I like to call Mr. Predictable. Mr. Predictable would arrive at the office the same exact time every morning. Mr. Predictable would bring the same exact lunch every day. Mr. Predictable would eat the same apple at 10:30 am every day. Well, not quite the same apple but you know what I mean. Mr. Predictable was a nice guy and if that worked for him, great. I am not suggesting the solution is to go hand gliding, swim the English Channel, or jump a motorcycle across Snake River Canyon. But if you are finding yourself in a lull right now, maybe it’s time to spice things up a bit. Add a little something extra to your routine. Add some salsa. Salsa can make something bland come alive. Put together an outrageous date night with your other. Bring a big bag of chocolate covered espresso beans into the office tomorrow and pass them around. Read THIS BOOK. Schedule a weekend getaway. Go to a sporting event or a play. Volunteer for a local charity. Spice things up. Look at your routine and add some salsa.

Boundaries.

2007-10-11T07:10:00.000-07:00

‘1, 2, 3, jump.’ That’s what I said to myself when I had one foot on the gear and the other on the railing. I was fourteen. I pushed off the rail to clear the concrete pad that was twenty one feet below. If I cleared the concrete it was nothing but a pool of soft, cool water. I jumped. The rail broke. I didn’t clear the concrete. Lying in the hospital a couple days later I was warmed with a near full body cast. My surgeon said, ‘You’re lucky to be alive. I have only seen one person survive with a worse fall than you.’ The chain link fence and barbed wire in this image were not there on that terrible day. There were no well defined boundaries. I had free access. I think we give others too much free access at times; especially when it comes to our relationships. ‘I feel like he’s taking advantage of me.’ ‘Her mother-in-law just doesn’t respect our parental authority with the kids.’ ‘He says that if we don’t let him stay with us that he’ll be living on the streets.’ If we don’t define the boundaries for others in our life, we may someday discover that we’ve fallen and are lying in an emotional or financial body cast. Other people outside your immediate family just don’t need 24/7 free access to your life. If you are being taken advantage or just plain wore out by others, it’s time to establish some clearly defined boundaries. You and I are not responsible for everyone else. There are times when we need to let others know exactly what we can do for them and what we can not do for them. Then we need to communicate that when those boundaries are violated there will be a consequence; a pre-defined consequence. We will all experience a richer life when we establish some healthy boundaries. It’s for our good as well as theirs.

Boxed In.

2007-09-28T13:48:00.001-07:00

Boxed In. ‘Your grandpa was a plumber. Your daddy was a plumber. By golly, son, you will be a plumber.’ ‘Why can’t you be more like your sister? She is such a great math student.’ Does it seem like others are holding you up to the light to compare you to everyone else? Have you ever felt like a clump of hard clay and the rest of the world is holding the hammer and chisel? Who drew a square around your life and said, ‘Here you go, live in it’? If someone else hasn’t, we often do it to ourselves. You are unique. You are endowed to leave a fingerprint on this world. Sure, comparison can be healthy when it motivates us to become more of who God has made us to be. Comparison is not to create copies. You are the only you that will ever walk on the face of this planet. Be you. Be the best you that only you can be. God’s design for your life is not a box; it’s an ocean - an ocean teaming with possibilities. Step outside of the box.

Resistance.

2007-09-21T11:17:00.000-07:00

Someday I will… Someday I want to… While on vacation this summer in Michigan, we drove by my first childhood home. This old farmhouse in the middle of a field has looked the same for probably one hundred years. Inside its walls I remember dreaming about the future; what I wanted to do, who I wanted to become. Not all those dreams have come to pass, yet. That’s ok. I would rather dream and go for it than not dream at all. If you’re a dreamer like me you have discovered something very real; every dream faces resistance. I think that’s why many of us give up on our dreams. When we dream of what could be and pursue that dream our lives begin moving upstream. What happens when we face constant resistance? We are either swept downstream and fall back in line with the rest of those around us or we become stronger. To all you dreamers out there; keep dreaming. Keep getting back on your feet. Keep dusting yourself off and keep moving forward. The world needs you. Face the resistance.

Stuck.

2007-09-14T20:03:00.000-07:00

Have you ever felt stuck? Stuck in your job? Stuck in your life? Not getting traction? Spinning your wheels? Stuck? Here’s a quick remedy: change things up. Change your routine and change what you fill your mind with. Change your routine by taking an early morning walk before work. Go to the gym on your lunch hour. Get up extra early and meet someone for coffee. Surprise your family by going home early from work to take them out for ice cream. Change it up. Fill your mind with things that will inspire you and stretch you. Turn off the TV and read a great book. Download some inspirational talks onto your iPod. Come up with twenty things you can thank God for. Feeling stuck? Change things up. You’ll be amazed at how quickly things can turn around.

Tests.

2007-09-14T12:58:00.001-07:00

Drivers Ed tests. Employment tests. Agility tests. Blood tests. Tests of patience. Tests of courage. Taste tests. Tests, they are everywhere. Today I gave a phonics (reading) test to Dylan, my son for his schooling. He is so much like me. When he heard it was test time he was less than excited. He became anxious, a bit reluctant, somewhat fearful, and slightly hesitant. There’s an incredibly relevant piece of Scripture that says, ‘Blessed are those who persevere under trial, because when they have stood the test, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.’ – James 1:12. Tests are a part of all our lives. I think one of the keys that differentiates some from others is our willingness to take the tests that come our way. We can refuse to take the test and stay the same. Or we can embrace the test, which is often packaged in some sort of trial; and regardless of how we score we are better because of it. If I would have had my way as a child I wouldn’t have taken any tests. I also wouldn’t be able to read or write very well. If I had my way as an adult I wouldn’t take the tests that come my way either. If that were the case I think I would miss out on so many opportunities that life brings. When we persevere under the trial, take the test, their often awaits some sort of crown or reward. Maybe the reward is a stronger marriage, better relationship with our kids, keeping a friend we thought we were going to lose, making more money, gaining more influence, or something so huge we thought at one point we would die without it – our driver’s license.

Responsibility.

2007-09-07T08:24:00.000-07:00

‘I broke it.’ The sequence of those three words passed through my lips one day when I was about seventeen years old. I was working in a restaurant owned by a man named Bob. In the process of one days work I accidentally broke something. ‘Oh no’, I said to myself. ‘I can hide it or throw it away and not say anything’, I thought. Because I respected Bob I decided to suck it up and let him know I broke the thing. As I approached him my heart was beating faster, my breath was short, and I felt as if my life was over. In that moment I learned one of the greatest lessons of my life. Heart beating, rushed breathing, I confessed to him what I had done. Bob looked me in the eye and said, ‘Scott, when you begin to take responsibility for your actions you begin to become a man; today you’re beginning to become a man – thanks for letting me know’. Bob passed away years ago. The lesson he taught me that day lives on. Even though there is usually a certain amount of pain when we take responsibility for our actions and the situation may not immediately change for the better; it’s the right thing to do. Let’s embrace responsibility and in turn learn those life lessons from the ‘Bob’s’ that are all around us.

Discomfort.

2007-08-31T08:17:00.000-07:00

Meet Tucker. Tucker is our dog. Tucker comes from Scottsdale, AZ. Tucker is experiencing some discomfort. Yesterday I took him in to get neutered. Now the vet says he should wear this highly sexy satellite dish around his neck so he doesn’t agitate his incision. It’s driving him crazy but is necessary for him to heal. I sometimes feel like I’m walking through life wearing a sexy satellite dish around my neck. Do you ever feel like that? A season of extreme discomfort that is necessary in order to heal? A season of discomfort that is necessary to go through in order to go from where you are to where you want to be? I hope so. My experience tells me that these seasons of discomfort are necessary. I love comfort. However, comfort doesn’t ever help me move to a new level in life. I think it’s the same with all of us. If you are hungry for something more, get ready for some discomfort; that’s just the way it is. If you haven’t been uncomfortable for a while you’re probably stagnant and not growing as a person. When going through a season of discomfort ask yourself this question; ‘Am I experiencing this discomfort because of my stupid decisions or laziness or is it because I am pushing for something more?’ If it’s because of irresponsible behavior, do something about it. If not, step into the discomfort and stretch to become more and grow. When the season of discomfort is complete, you will be a better human being. In a few days Tucker will be able to remove his satellite dish. When he does he will run free, be comfortable, and not be able to ……. Until then, he’ll be experiencing some discomfort.

Guidance.

2007-08-27T06:29:00.000-07:00

Someone once wrote that success in life is associated with the level of guidance or advice we receive from others. Too often I have found myself wanting to prove my worth by showing what I know – or what I think I know. Like fine china nicely placed in the display cabinet for all to see, we want the world to know just how smart and self sufficient we are. That approach hasn’t really got us too far has it? Instead, let’s assume the position of the learner. There is a lot to learn from those around us if we just ask for their advice. This doesn’t mean we always do whatever everyone says but for the most part we can always learn something from most everyone. Shelly and I just finalized a major life decision. We didn’t come to a conclusion before we asked for the opinion and counsel from probably thirty or more close friends. Assuming the position of the learner in our conversations with others brings a broader perspective into our lives. Let someone else look like the Einstein, the know it all. You and I can assume the position of the learner and gain a whole lot of knowledge and counsel that comes in pretty handy for navigating through these crazy waters called life.

Moments.

2007-08-03T10:04:00.001-07:00

Our lives are made up of a perpetual link of moments. Some of those moments we create ourselves, others we have no control over. This image is one of those moments we have no control over. Luckily we had the camera nearby. I often miss the moments life brings my way. Maybe a lot of us do. We tend to be either focused on the future and what could be, or we focus on the past and what has been. I often focus on the future because I’m not satisfied with the present. I also struggle by focusing on the past, especially the negative experiences I’ve had. We can focus on a point of pain in the past that happened maybe an hour ago, yesterday, or five years ago. Focusing on the past often robs us of the present. As I began to realize this for myself I embraced a value for my life that I call ‘being fully engaged in the moment’. Life gives us brief moments, snapshots all the time. If we don’t attempt to be in the ‘present’ we miss them. Look around. Notice what moments you are a part of today. Take a picture of something or someone beautiful in your life. If there doesn’t seem to be anything beautiful in your life, look harder; you’ll find it. Be fully engaged in the moment.

Friends.

2007-08-02T21:30:00.000-07:00

I think life is all about relationships. I’m not alone on this thought. This picture is from a party our daughter Ashley had tonight. It took us three tries to catch this shot. I’d put money on it that we all want to be loved and accepted and desire to have someone in our life we can express our love to. In my neck of the woods we are going to be doing something called, ’30 Days To Live’. What would you do if you had only thirty days to live? I’ve been asking that question to some friends lately. Every single response I get has to do with places to see or people to spend time with; often both. Most of my friends are saying they would focus on spending more time with someone they love or make amends with someone they love. Life is all about relationships. If you had only thirty days to live who would you spend more time with? Who would you get with to make things right? What’s holding you back? Get in touch with that one person that comes to mind as you read this. Go for it, you’ll be glad you did.

Discovery.

2007-07-31T06:40:00.000-07:00

There are some things we need to discover for ourselves. One of those discoveries is who God is. Another one is to discover who you are. There is a catch to all of this. If God really does exist and if the Bible is really the primary way He chose to reveal Himself to us, then there’s a bit of a problem. There’s a problem because the Scripture (another cool word for the Bible) says in Ephesians 1:11 in the Message Version, ‘It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for.’ If that’s the case then we just discovered that we will never discover who we really are and what we are really living for, or our purpose in this life outside of a relationship with Jesus Christ. Now I’m thinking, ‘Hold on their Bible man, don’t get your pants all bunched up and start pounding an idea that’s from another planet…’ Just for a moment stop thinking about some of the stupid stuff people have done claiming they represented God, stop thinking about the church down the corner that for some strange reason makes people wear white shirts, a tie, and ride a bicycle around, stop thinking about ‘religion’ and think about this statement out of Scripture – ‘It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for.’ Maybe there is more to who we are and why we’re here than what we currently see. Maybe there’s a lot more. Maybe all of that can be discovered through a growing relationship with Christ. Is there more? What could it be? I guess we all have to discover that out for ourselves.

Regrets.

2007-07-27T09:10:00.000-07:00

I have a few regrets in my life. One big one is that when I was younger, I hated school. I didn’t say, ‘disliked’, I said ‘hated’. I think I know why but that’s a conversation for another time. I regret not enjoying my educational experience and taking better advantage of it. The great thing is that if you and I have regrets we don’t have to camp there; we can actually do something about it. For many years now I have been a student. No, I don’t pay a local university to take classes. I have been a student learning from some incredible people in my life that I very much respect. In addition to that, I love to read. I used to hate to read because in school I somehow believed that the only thing to read about were things I had no interest in. I now tell my kids that leaders are readers. I really believe that. I didn’t say, ‘Readers are leaders’, I said, ‘Leaders are readers’. To lead effectively in most of life I believe we need to exercise our mind and stretch our perspective. For me, that comes from reading. Allow me to try to sell you on something. Develop a habit and passion for reading. You and those around you will be a better person because of it and I guarantee you won’t regret it.

Work vs. Play

2007-07-26T06:57:00.001-07:00

‘Work hard, play hard’, ‘All work and no play…’, ever heard that before? Why does it seem that the words ‘work’ and ‘play’ are opposites? It is kind of like water and oil, Britney and Kevin; they just have a hard time staying together. Let’s change that. Create some play out of your work. What can you do that will bring some fun to your home, workplace, or classroom? Bring somebody a gift, go out for a fun lunch, pull a prank (respectful prank of course) on a co-worker, take sack lunches to the park and bring a Frisbee, crank up the music in the office, have a rubber band fight; get the work done but have some fun today at the same time. If you’re in Hollywood, take the topless bus fun tour.

Let's Connect.

2007-07-24T14:19:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody. If you're a reader of the madealive blog, It would be great to hear from you. Let's connect sometime via Facebook, LinkedIn, instant message via google talk at madealive@gmail.com, or email at scott.rodgers@lifechurch.tv. To hook up via Facebook just type in Scott Rodgers in the search field and I should pop up. If you get someone with a three foot afro, that's not me; keep looking down the list. Afro's are pretty sweet though.

Clones.

2007-07-24T06:37:00.000-07:00

If you had one wish, what would you wish for? A lot of us would probably wish to become someone else. Why is that? Why do we fantasize about being something or someone we’re not? Why do we want to be just like everyone else? I wish I were like you and for some strange reason, you may wish you were like me. I think it’s because we don’t really know each other. If you really knew me you would realize that I have the same ugly insecurities and weaknesses as you. I wonder if God gets frustrated in some way seeing how we expend our energy trying to be someone else and not embracing who He made us to be. I am closer than I’ve ever been to surrendering to the fact that God made me different than anyone else and that is a beautiful place to be. Jesus said to ‘love your neighbor as yourself’. I wish I could jump through your computer screen right now and convince you that you are unique and special enough to be loved, loved by yourself. Surrender to who you are. No, don’t stay where you are as an individual; keep growing and becoming more. However, at the core - be 100% you. Stop fantasizing about being someone else. Stop trying to become a clone. The crazy thing is that when you embrace who you are the world around you stops to look and becomes envious and wants to be just like you.

A Secret.

2007-07-14T07:13:00.000-07:00

I had one of those moments this week with my daughter. She and I were in the car on our way to somewhere and she said, ‘Dad, I wouldn’t want to be one of those guys doing that and working outside all day.’ She was referring to some guys working outside in the 110 degree heat framing a house. She was obviously not demeaning the important work those guys do. I think maybe for the first time she was hit with the reality that some day life stops being all about play and it turns into work. Or does it? It was in that moment that I had the opportunity to say something to her that I’ve never said to her before, something that someone once told me and I’ve never forgot it. ‘Honey, I’m going to tell you something that I never want you to forget. If you do this, your life will be much more enjoyable. Discover what you love to do and become so good at it that other people will pay you to do it.’ That’s a secret that shouldn’t be a secret. Are you doing what you love to do? If yes, then become the best at it and figure out how to get paid for it. If no, it’s not too late? Start today and discover what you love to do, become the best at it, get paid for it and make a difference by giving back to the world around you. Live free or die hard? I say live free, live hard, and give it all away before you die.

The Icon.

2007-07-07T07:57:00.000-07:00

An icon is a picture or image that represents someone or something. Don’t we feel a stronger sense of patriotism when we see our national flag? Feel a bit hungrier when we see the golden arches off in the distance? When you see the picture of an apple with a bite taken out of it what do you think about; Adam and Eve or the iPod and iPhone? Icons are all over the place. People’s names and faces even become icons. Princess Diana, Bono, Paris. What cause or lifestyle comes to mind when you think of those names? Wouldn’t it be cool if the mention of your name stirred thoughts and images in others? Well, it does. The challenge for us becomes what thoughts and images; images of something good and important or something selfish and destructive? The apostle Paul understood the reality of becoming an icon. He made a statement that takes a lot of guts. He said in 1 Corinthians 4:16-17, ‘…imitate me…my way of life in Christ Jesus…agrees with what I teach…’ Wow. I’m not sure if I would want others to imitate everything about me. Reality is though that the mention of our name conjures thoughts and images of what we represent. Your name is an icon of sorts in your world, with your family, friends, neighbors, etc. Could we be bold enough to say, ‘imitate me’? That’s a heck of a goal to have. Congratulations, you’re an icon.

The Dance.

2007-07-02T16:02:00.000-07:00

Wanna dance? Someone once said, ‘All the world is a stage…’ I think at times that all of life is a dance. It is up to us to stay in the groove and keep moving forward whatever comes our way. The rhythms of life constantly change and if we don’t dance to the rhythm we can get stuck or left behind.

The Gap.

2007-06-28T21:11:00.000-07:00

There is a gap in all of our lives. That gap is what I like to call the difference between expectation and realization. If you’re human you often experience less than what you expect. At times we can experience less than what we expect from our job, marriage, kids, relationships, tax returns, movies, restaurants, etc. For some of us that gap or the difference between what we expect and what is realized can create disappointment, frustration, confusion, and in its extreme; hopelessness. Here is something that can help. Be realistic. Lately I’ve been to a few Arizona Diamondbacks baseball games. Though I was never a big baseball fan I can say that I’m now a dbacks fan and a baseball fan. One thing that is interesting to me is that even the very best hitters only have around a three hundred batting average. They only get a base hit three to four times for every ten at bats. That tells me that even the best have to have realistic expectations. They may be swinging for the fence but they realize that most of the time they will be walking back to the dug out with the bat in their hand. Where can you adjust your expectations to be more realistic? Yes, swing for the fence, give it your best, and believe that with God all things are possible. Just balance it all out by having realistic expectations. That way, we’ll all experience less disappointment and even enjoy life a little bit more. Go Dbacks.

Identity.

2007-06-25T06:25:00.000-07:00

Who am I? Who do I want to be? Those can be difficult questions to answer. It doesn’t have to be so difficult though. Who am I? I just have to read my driver’s license to figure that one out. Who do I want to be? That can be a bit more challenging. Often when we ask the question, ‘Who do I want to be?’, our answer is more about what we want to ‘do’. We want to ‘be’ a doctor, a school teacher, an entrepreneur, a professional athlete, etc. Those are things we do, not really who we are. It is easy to misplace our identity in what we do. I think Jesus got his identity in something a bit more than what he did. So did the apostle Paul. When we misplace our identity in what we do life becomes very one dimensional. It’s all about our work and what we do. When we place our identity in who we are as it relates to our creator, life becomes multi dimensional. Who am I? A child of God. A lover of Christ. A lover of my wife. A lover of my children. A lover of learning. A lover of sports. A lover of 80’s big hair bands. A lover of… That’s multi dimensional. Who are you? Who do you want to be? By the way, I took this photo on a recent trip to Hollywood. I saw this guy before he put his mask on. He is not Spiderman. Not a chance. Spiderman is way cooler looking than this dude.

Character.

2007-06-22T11:11:00.001-07:00

We are building a house. Though we have owned a number of houses this is the first one we’ve had built from the ground up. The other day I was walking through what you see here. I don’t know much about building houses but I was amazed at all the details that went into the framing of this thing. Then I realized that once the exterior walls went up and the interior walls went up what is beneath the surface will most likely never be seen again. While the framing may never be seen it will definitely affect the quality of the structure and the quality of living inside this house. All of this reminded me of our character. That thing that drives our behavior, helps formulate our decisions, and fuels our actions. Character can be good or bad, strong or weak. The choice is up to us. Someone once said that character was what you did when no one was looking. We all behave, make decisions, and take actions that line up with who we are on the inside. Our character is a lot like the structure of a house. It’s the foundation and framing that enables our life to withstand the elements, the pressures of life; or not. Here’s the thing I hate; our character grows stronger mostly during adverse conditions. Our character doesn’t grow stronger while we’re getting a tan at the beach. When life sucks and things get hard is when our character is formed. For myself, any positive character growth I have experienced came through a good amount of pain. Character is formed when we choose to do what is right even when it’s not popular. Character gets stronger when we take the high road of love and compassion even when we feel wronged. The opposite is true as well. Our character is weakened when we seek vengeance, fly off the handle, or behave in a way that would not honor Christ. Let God create strong character within you. Don’t run from the pain of character development. Stick it out. Press on, honor God, and become a person of strong character. Someday life will hit you like a freight train and you will either be glad you allowed God to shape your character or you will regret that you ignored the building process. Take some pictures of your ‘frame’. Ask God to show you what’s beneath the surface. Psalm 139:23-24 ‘Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.’

A Scorpion.

2007-06-12T21:50:00.001-07:00

In Phoenix, where we live, you won’t be too hard pressed to find a scorpion every now and then. We took a picture of this little beauty as we went arthropod hunting down the street last night. Scorpions are venomous but rarely lethal. When a person is stung by an Arizona bark scorpion I’m told it hurts, big time. You can experience numbness near the sting, difficulty in breathing, muscle twitching, and even convulsions. The good news is that there have been no reported fatalities as a result of a scorpion sting in the US in the last twenty years. Now you can breathe a bit more easily. And, now that you have your breath back, let’s briefly look at something else that can sting and tend to be venomous. The words we speak to others. In a moment of anger, disrespect, or selfishness you and I can hurt those around us through the words we speak. In fact, the old saying, ‘sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me’ is a flat out lie. Harmful words can cut deep and the wound can remain for years. One of the most vivid verses in the Bible reminding us of this fact is in Proverbs 18:21 ‘The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit’. This is a two sided coin. On one side we can literally inject venom into someone by the harsh words we speak. On the other side of the coin we have the ability to infuse hope and life into those around us. Let’s stop stinging people and start loving them by speaking words of appreciation, thankfulness, and encouragement. Whenever you’re in Phoenix, let me know; we can go arthropod hunting together.

Alarm Clock.

2007-06-09T08:24:00.000-07:00

Why is the clock next to your bed called an ‘alarm clock’? On top of that, why does it sound like an alarm? Dictionary.com gives us a definition for this ‘alarm’ – ‘an automatic device that serves to call attention, to rouse from sleep, or to warn of fire, smoke, an intruder, etc.’ Is that how we view our day? An intruder? A warning of impending doom? Maybe our day would be a bit more positive if our favorite song was what woke us up. How about hooking our iPOD up to our clock and our favorites play list is what we wake up to? That would be so cool, 80’s big hair ballads at 5:00 am. For now, I think most of us are stuck with the ‘alarm’. So, if it is an alarm we have then an alarm it shall be. So let’s think of it this way; tomorrow morning when your ‘alarm’ clock goes off let it remind you that you’ve only got about sixteen hours to do something significant before you lay your pretty head back down to sleep. Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:14-17 to ‘awake’ and ‘be careful how you live’ and to ‘make the most of every opportunity’. So wake up and stop sleep walking. If you are like me, you have a tendency to sleep walk through your day by just going through the motions. Some people even sleep walk through their whole life. Not you, not me, not anymore. Let’s look for opportunities to grab hold of and ways to impact our world. On top of that, throw in a very dangerous prayer that asks God to give you those opportunities today and help you realize when they are staring you in the face. Maybe our alarm clock should be called our opportunity clock. Whatever we call it, let’s wake up and live.

Iced.

2007-06-03T18:04:00.001-07:00

The effect of fear in our life can literally be paralysis. Fear strikes, we freeze. We all wrestle with fear. When fear overwhelms us we tend to freeze by not making decisions we need to make or taking action we need to take. Why? Maybe we fear failure or rejection. I think it’s mostly because we fear loss. We fear losing something we value. That could be losing some level of comfort, identity, security, and so on. Sometimes what we fear losing is income or a relationship. Whatever it is, when fear strikes we freeze and paralysis sets in. How can we dissolve fear in our life? For those of you who are followers of Christ read 1 Samuel 17 to see how David dissolved fear. While everyone else was fixated on Goliath (can anyone say Rampage Jackson and Chuck Liddell wrapped up into one?), David turned his focus on God. Because he stayed focused on God, his faith increased and he was able to embrace any fear he had and move forward. Step into your fear. Focus on God, increase your faith, and go for it. Reality is that if God is asking you to do something but fear has paralyzed you, realize that on the other side of your fear can be a great reward. What great reward could be waiting for you on the other side of your fear? Fear will paralyze you but faith will mobilize you. Go get that reward.

Big Stuff.

2007-05-31T23:25:00.000-07:00

I saw some big things and experienced some big stuff this week. Shelly, the kudos and I went by the Arizona Cardinals football stadium, actually called ‘University of Phoenix Stadium’. We went to Cabela’s, a huge outdoor outfitters store. We drove by a big airplane and took a picture. I had a cool opportunity to hear a marketing guru talk about his new book. I watched a friend pray with some people who began a relationship with Christ. I had a conversation with one of my children that both of us will never forget. My wife and I went to a new restaurant and enjoyed it. Today a friend and I drove up South Mountain and shot some video. Tomorrow Shelly and I are taking the kids to a movie at our church. Saturday I get to….Does that sound like an amazing week? It was. But this isn’t about me, at all. It’s about you. If I were to put money on it, I’d bet you had quite a week as well. ‘What?’ I can hear some of you saying. ‘I think not’. Well, I still bet that you did. Think back. What did you see? Where did you go? What conversations did you have? If we would simply take a moment and look around, savor our experiences a bit more, we might all be amazed at what life brings. There’s big stuff all around.

Fruit.

2007-05-25T09:26:00.000-07:00

How do you describe a big piece of crisp, cool, juicy watermelon on a hot afternoon in Arizona? Refreshing. Strawberries, grapefruit, oranges, pineapple, cherries, fruit galore. There’s just something about a big bowl of fresh fruit that screams ‘life’, health, goodness. I find it real interesting that God chooses to use fruit to teach us something. He tells us this in Galatians 5:22: ‘But the fruit of the Spirit is…’ The work of the Spirit of God in our life will be evident by the ‘fruit’ that shows up. What is that fruit? It’s not watermelon. Check it out, the rest of Galatians 5:22 says, ‘…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.’ Wow, that’s some impressive fruit. Imagine living life full of that stuff. That would be quite a life and probably real refreshing for the people around you that may need some relief from the heat of the day. Got any fruit?

Bulk Foods.

2007-05-19T08:50:00.000-07:00

Tootie Fruities vs. Fruit Loops. Quantity vs. Quality. In a family of five, we often buy food by the bulk. The good thing about it is that you can get a lot more for about the same price. You can get around 50% more Tootie Fruities for the same price as a box of Fruit Loops. Talk about feeling like a stud. You are ready to throw the Fruit Loops in your cart and out of the corner of your eye you see the huge bag of Tootie Fruities. The price is about the same. The amount is a lot more. Toss the Loops, grab the Fruities. As a consumer you just beat the system; at least you think you did. You get home, pour a bowl of Fruities, blanket them with some fresh cold milk, scoop ‘em up, insert in mouth, and chew. Something doesn’t seem right. It doesn’t take long to realize that the Fruities don’t taste as good as the Loops. Angered and misled you toss your spoon on the floor, throw your bowl against the wall, and punch the cupboard with your fist…just kidding. I hope. You may be thinking, ‘OK, Scott; what’s the hidden spiritual point in this one? Tootie Fruities vs. Fruit Loops – you’re really stretching things now.’ Maybe, but I don’t think so. It seems that getting both quantity and quality in the same package doesn’t happen to often. Today 2 Timothy 1:1 grabbed my attention. It says, ‘…to tell others about the life he (God) has promised through faith in Christ Jesus.’ The life available through a relationship with Jesus Christ is eternal in quantity (John 3:16) and fulfilling in quality (2 Peter 1:3). God is so good that we get both quantity and quality in the same package. Eternity is a large quantity of life to spend without God. If you are not sure that you have peace with Him and are ready to stand before Him when you step into eternity, make that decision right now. Surrender yourself to Christ and ask for his forgiveness (Romans 10:9-11). If you have already made that life changing decision but want more richness and meaning in your life right now, than do something about it. Put Jesus the center of everything. Then enjoy the quality of life that comes only through knowing him.

Video Games.

2007-05-18T15:09:00.000-07:00

I love video games. With every new game I believe I can win. The cool thing is that if I mess up, crash, make a wrong move, or shoot the wrong guy; I can just start over. Sometimes I wish life were like a video game coming complete with instant super powers and extraordinary talent. When having a bad day we could just push ‘pause’ or when we fall, fail, or tragedy strikes we could just push ‘restart’ and everything would be good again. The difference between our life and a video game is that in life we’ve only got one shot. One shot to make our mark. One shot to make all the pain worth it. One shot to make the world a better place. At some point its lights out, last call, and we all stand before God. Jesus gave an interesting illustration concerning how you and I are responsible with our ‘one shot’ in this life. Check it out in Matthew 25:14-28. Life may not be like a video game but there is at least one similarity between the two. Though we can’t change the past, we can choose to get up and try again. I’ve played the same games hundreds of times and most of the time I don’t win and lots of times I don’t even survive. But I try again. Maybe it is time for you to try again. Maybe it’s time to get back on your feet and start moving forward. You’ve got one shot and if you are reading this it means you’re still alive and your one shot has not passed you by. Get up, push ‘new game’ in your life, and give it everything you’ve got.

Cash.

2007-05-13T18:30:00.000-07:00

Necessary. Essential. Required. Seductive. Deceptive. Desirable. Money. Contrary to popular thought, money is not evil. Money is neutral. Money is a tool. Beyond being used to provide for the necessities of life, money is a tool that can be used to help acquire what the heart desires. Money can be used for good and it can be used for greed. When used for good, it can make a positive impact in the lives of many. When used for greed, it can be a drug that that gives ‘self’ its fix. Scripture tells us that it is not money but the love of money that is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10). When we love money for the sake of having more of it, we become its slave. When we desire money because we know that it can help us to make a difference, it remains just what it should be - a tool.

The Cup.

2007-05-05T07:12:00.000-07:00

I don’t like doing dishes. There is nothing glamorous about scrubbing pots and pans, dishes and silverware. When I do the dishes it is always easier to wash the outside of a cup than the inside. The outside can be done quite fast. The inside takes more time and is a bit more meticulous. I have to try and fit the cloth down in there and scrub the edges at the bottom. You know what I mean. When I was a kid my mom would check my dishes to make sure I washed the inside of the cups real well. Of course, everybody thinks it’s gross when you grab a clean cup only to find it dirty on the inside. Jesus used dirty dishes once in a conversation he was having. He was a bit ticked at a group of people who considered themselves ‘religious’ and better than others. He said to them in Matthew 23:25-26, ‘…You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence…first clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.’ I think maybe that’s why we gravitate towards religion more than we pursue a relationship with God based on love. It’s easier to clean the outside; how we look, how we talk, go to church, or not, than it is to live a life where our heart (the inside) is surrendered and worshipful towards God. God is always looking at the inside – 1 Samuel 16:7. Really only the spirit of God can create a clean heart on the inside of a person. It is a really sweet thing when you experience a ‘clean cup’ on the inside. Go ahead and keep a clean cup on the outside, look and smell your best but minor on the outside and major on the inside.

Sorry.

2007-04-27T11:08:00.000-07:00

‘I’m sorry’. When was the last time you said that to someone? When was the last time you should have said that to someone but didn’t? There is something almost soothing that happens in a relationship when we acknowledge a wrong we’ve done to someone else. Saying ‘I’m sorry’ to a friend, spouse, your child, or a co-worker when you’ve made a mistake or behaved disrespectfully tends to build a bridge to an even stronger relationship. When we wrong someone and don’t acknowledge it, the bridge to a stronger relationship begins to erode or is completely destroyed. Being sorry and acknowledging a wrong takes much more strength than just blowing it off because you don’t want to look whimpy or soft. Don’t believe me? Try it. Oh yeah, this same thing applies to our relationship with God. If I’m correct, the Biblical word for expressing ‘I’m sorry’ to God is called repenting. That takes strength but builds a heck of a bridge – ‘if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’ 1 John 1:9.

Tech-nol-o-gy.

2007-04-21T09:24:00.000-07:00

Lately I’ve been infatuated with technology. When I think about technology I think about my ability to consume, connect, and entertain. I love to consume information, connect with people, and be entertained. I’m amazed at how much a person can learn when we harness all the information that is available to us through the internet, podcasts, blogs, etc. Having a computer and an iPod and not harnessing this information is to me like owning a Ferrari and making your wife walk to the grocery store. It just doesn’t make sense. I am also amazed at how my network of friends and co-workers is not ‘local’ anymore but ‘national’. In moments I can check in on a friend across the country and create something worthwhile with a co-worker and not even be in the same state. I can’t wait until my network of relationships is 50% domestic and 50% international, that’ll be really cool. How about entertainment? I love high definition, 3D Metaverse environments, my XBOX, and Windows Mobile cell phone. The question I’ve pondered is why do so many Christians fear technology? It’s as if technology were the anti-christ. Genesis 1:1 tells us that God created the heavens and the earth. If God is a creator and we were made in His image (Genesis 1:26), maybe He gets excited when we create things and maybe…maybe He gets excited with our advancements in technology. Technology enhances our ability to consume more of God’s truth, connect and build relationships with His earth kids (you), and even enjoy life a bit more. Advancements in technology inspire me to worship God, the creator of all good things.

Citizenship.

2007-04-18T22:07:00.000-07:00

I’m Croatian. I’m Korean. I’m American. What’s your citizenship? When I lived in Michigan I was what they call a Michigander. When I lived in Oklahoma I think I was an Okie. Now that I live in Phoenix, Arizona I’m called a Phoenician. If you are a follower of Christ God says that you are a citizen of heaven. I’m not kidding. Scripture says in Philippians 3:20, ‘But our citizenship is in heaven…’ Think of it. You are entitled to the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of a real place that God Himself rules and governs. That blows my mind. As a child of God you literally carry a spiritual passport that says ‘citizen of heaven’. You have the rights to God’s provision in your life. You have the privilege of immediate and equal access to Him through prayer. You have the responsibility to represent Him to those around you, literally an ambassador of heaven. Sound crazy? It does to me. Regardless of what it sounds like to us, it’s true; it’s real. Here’s the question. If you are a follower of Christ are you embracing the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of a citizen of heaven? If you are not a follower of Christ imagine if this were actually true and available to you. Chew on that for a while.

The Word Search.

2007-04-02T16:26:00.000-07:00

There’s nothing like a good old word search puzzle. A big block of letters. A long list of words. No problem. You jump in, you scan fast, find one word, then another then all of a sudden the words disappear. It gets harder. What’s up with that? My daughter Morgan and I were doing a word search together recently. We were tearing it up. Then as the list diminished the difficulty increased. We scoured that box of letters. There were only a few words left to find. We looked and looked. All of a sudden, after some intense searching, the few words that were left began to pop out; one here, another there. We finished with a sense of completion and accomplishment. Discovering God’s design for our life is kind of like a word search. In the beginning, it’s pretty easy. God loves me. Jesus died for my sin. I’m forgiven through Him. It’s cool stuff. It’s life changing. It’s quite easy to embrace. As time goes on we get hungry for even more; some more specifics. What does God want to do with my life? Where am I supposed to be? That kind of stuff. Figuring that out can get harder. Kind of like the word search. But as we pursue Him, live to glorify Him, become a billboard for His goodness to those around us, the specifics begin to pop. We look at the box of jumbled letters called our life and the specifics jump off the page. God wants me here. God wants me to do that and so on. Be relentless in your pursuit of Christ. Then and only then does life become vividly clear. The specifics begin to ‘pop’ out right in front of your eyes. Now, go enjoy a good word search puzzle.

Checkers.

2007-03-29T20:21:00.000-07:00

My five year old son beat me in checkers last night. Yeah, I let him get a couple easy jumps but he really did beat me in the end. Your first game of checkers you are just looking for that quick ‘jump’ over your opponent. It’s all about the next move and only about the next move. My son beat me because somehow he has quickly learned that winning is not about looking at only the next move; it’s about thinking ahead two or three moves. I’ve discovered that life should be approached the same way. It’s not about the quick fix or just the next twenty-four hours. I know I’m oversimplifying the deal but I believe God orchestrates our life kind of like a great checkers player. He is always looking further down the road than we are. What may look today like a real bad deal, when we follow Christ according to the path He describes; we’re going in the right direction. Follow Him, be patient, and enjoy a good game of checkers every now and then. Psalm 37:3-5, ‘Trust in the Lord and do good…delight yourself also in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart…commit your way to the Lord …and He will bring it to pass…’

The Story.

2007-03-24T08:42:00.000-07:00

Montel, Oprah, David Letterman, Dr. Phil. I like talk shows. Evidently so do millions of others. Stories of tragedy and triumph, love and hate, loyalty and deception; why do they intrigue us so much? Is it because their story is similar to our own? Maybe their story resonates inside us because when we see them, we see ourself; the yearning for good, the propensity toward evil. I find it interesting that God chose to reveal Himself to us through His written word by the means of story. God speaks to us through the stories of His people. He doesn’t stop there. God will speak to you through the story of your life. Are you looking for Him? Are you listening to Him? When you do, your story begins to make sense.

Problems vs. Opportunities.

2007-03-21T13:53:00.000-07:00

'Problems will scream at you, opportunities will only whisper. Listen closely.’ I don't have an image for this one. It was just a thought that came to me in a conversation today. Isn't it true though? The problems and crises of life SCREAM at us while the opportunities all around us seem to only speak in a whisper. If we don't look and listen closely, we'll never see or hear the opportunities that God may bring our way.

The Hush.

2007-03-09T05:16:00.000-08:00

The alarm clock. CNN. The beeper on the microwave. Cell phones, radios, iPod’s, jackhammers, meetings, traffic, sporting events, dinner parties, the kids, Larry King….QUIET! We wake up to noise, live in the noise, and try to turn it off in our head at night so we can sleep. There’s something therapeutic about the hush. When I go hiking I’m on a quest to find the hush. That quiet spot where I can hear nothing but my own heartbeat, a few birds, and the breeze as it blows over the peaks around me. I’m certain God is onto something when He says to us in Psalm 46:10, ‘Be still, and know that I am God…’ He says that in the context of the outbreak of war all around. Is it possible to ‘be still’ internally when externally all hell is breaking loose? God seems to enjoy giving us a sense of peace while we stand in the midst of a rushing and noisy world. The next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, go on a quest to find the hush. In the hush you just may be renewed, re-energized, and hear the breeze as it blows by.

Signs.

2007-03-07T05:18:00.000-08:00

Can’t you read the signs? They’re all around us. Every day we are bombarded with thousands of signs competing for our attention. It seems they are either telling us what to do as in a speed limit sign or telling us what we need as in a Budweiser billboard. The other day I went hiking in what’s called the San Tan Mountains located just south of Phoenix. It was a beautiful hike. Maybe I’ll share some images soon that I captured while on the hike. When I first stepped on the trail, I saw this sign. It made me think, ‘Why don’t I even think of disregarding that sign and do what I want anyway?’ I guess for a couple reasons. One is because I’m sure there’s some authority behind that sign. If I were to defiantly do what it said not to do, there may be a consequence; break the law, etc. The other thing and the bigger reason for me was because I realized that sign was there to help preserve the health and beauty of that mountain range for the rest of the world to enjoy. Why do we obey most of the signs we read? Is it because we’ve thoughtlessly surrendered to all forms of authority? Is it because we realize they are there to help us, provide safety, or for the common good? What if this were written on a sign; ‘He (God) rules forever by his power, his eyes watch the nations – let not the rebellious rise up against him’. Psalm 66:7. How would you respond? I imagine there’s quite a bit of authority behind that statement, potentially even some consequences. Even more, maybe it’s there to help us; to restore and preserve the health and beauty of the world around us. Obeying God becomes a lot easier when we discover that He is for us and not against us, that He has our best interests in mind.

The Wall.

2007-03-04T06:31:00.000-08:00

In Phoenix the backyards are generally quite small. There aren’t a lot of white picket fences and green meadows. Most of our yards are lined with brick walls. They make for a nice warm neighborly feeling. Not really. The wall in my yard makes me think of the walls in my mind, in my life. Maybe they’re similar in some ways. At times the wall is a good thing. Other times they annoy me. To me a wall can provide protection or build a prison. Establish healthy boundaries or create confinement. Is the grass greener on the other side or are the weeds bigger? Does my wall provide privacy or produce isolation? What happens when I peek over my wall and look around? Am I stepping out of line and infringing on others space or am I trying to bring people together? Maybe both. Maybe I’m free when I jump over the wall and run. Maybe I’m free when I keep the walls around me and cut only my own grass. Paul said something in 1 Corinthians 7:21-22, ‘Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you – although if you can gain your freedom, do so. For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave.’ Maybe that whole thing about freedom bringing responsibility is true after all. What’s on the other side of your wall?

The Tool.

2007-03-03T07:29:00.000-08:00

What’s the difference between a toy and a tool? A toy entertains. A tool helps us get work done. I think they’re both necessary. We’re all consumers but not all of us are contributors. We all think, ‘What’s in it for me?’ How often do we ask, ‘How can I give back?’ When you leave a restaurant, finish a conversation, or interact with others; what do you leave behind? 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 always challenges me. Verse fifteen basically tells us that God ‘…uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.’ Are we possibly tools in God’s hands to spread the aroma of Him everywhere we go? Does He want to use you in His work of changing lives? I think so. Become a tool for God to use.

The Paradox.

2007-02-26T22:09:00.000-08:00

The definition of paradox is ‘a statement that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.’ How about this one, ‘in everything give thanks’. That’s written in 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Have you ever been in a situation where it seemed absurd to give thanks or be thankful? Maybe it even seemed downright disrespectful. I know I’ve been through some situations where being thankful was the farthest thing from my mind. Does God really have the audacity to tell us to be thankful ‘in everything’? Maybe He knows something we don’t.

The Lamp.

2007-02-21T20:52:00.000-08:00

A lamp when lit does a couple things. It lights up the room and makes its existence very evident. When a lamp is not lit it makes no difference to the room and no one notices that it’s there. Jesus himself said, ‘A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house…’ What’s inside of you that you are keeping from the rest of us? God has placed within you something beautiful. Find it. Turn it on. Light up your world.

The Cell.

2007-02-21T06:10:00.000-08:00

Aahh…My cell phone. Over two-hundred million people in the US are staying conveniently connected and instantly accessible to the rest of the known world; or, at least, our circle of friends. Let’s be honest, we love our cell phones. Doing what I do, my cell is a valuable tool I need to get work done. Have you ever lost your cell? Then you know a bit of what it feels like to lose a child, if only for a moment; the horror, the fear, the sense of desperation. Have you ever left your cell phone off for a few hours, on purpose? Withdrawals, shakes, sweaty palms, etc. I’m a user, you’re a user, everyone else is a user too. I’ll be honest. Sometimes I get my identity and desire for acceptance connected to my cell phone. Does anyone need me? Does anyone love me? Does anyone desire to connect with me? Will they answer my call when my name pops up on their caller ID? We all have the need to be desired by others. I think God made us that way. He crafted us to crave relationships. My problem is I don’t crave Him enough. I find that when I am satisfied in my friendship with God, I have a more balanced and healthier craving to be accepted by others; I become less co-dependant. Scripture tells us in Colossians 2:10, ‘you are complete in Him’. It also says in that same book called Colossians regarding what Jesus did for all of us through his journey to the cross that ‘now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation…’ (1:22) Talk about acceptance. I wonder what my life would truly be like if I fully embraced that. Better pick up your cell, someone is calling…

The Horizon.

2007-02-16T08:01:00.000-08:00

I love San Diego. The beach, the ocean, the hills, the palm trees. If you ever go to San Diego make sure to plan your day around the sunsets; they’re beautiful. The sun sets over the horizon. To me, the horizon is very mysterious. I don’t notice it until the sun shines on it and reveals its presence. When the sun illuminates the horizon I become paralyzed as I watch and wonder. I wonder what’s on the other side. I wonder why only a few are watching with me while everyone else drives by as the sunset goes unnoticed. The horizon is something God has created. The beauty and the mystery so effectively capture the essence of living a life in connection with Christ. Scripture says in Jeremiah 29:11, ‘..I know the plans I have for you..plans to proper you and not to harm you…plans to give you a hope and a future’. Psalm 139 asks the question, ‘Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?’ and goes on to say, ‘All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be’. The more I come to know God, the more mysterious He is and the more questions I have. For some reason, that doesn’t concern me; it only brings me peace. Because I can trust God’s character, I can rest peacefully in the unanswered questions of life, the mysteries of the horizon. Most of us are grasping for answers. Why is life so hard? Why did this happen or that happen? Why does life seem unfair? My experience has been that life is much more rewarding when we simply come to know our Creator, little by little; day by day. The unanswered questions don’t haunt us as much; they become part of the beauty of life, the illuminated horizon that reveals to us that life can be beautiful when connected to the One who is beautiful.