Excuses

What’s your BEST excuse for why you can’t do what you REALLY believe you should be doing? I mean your most sophisticated, well-documented, thoroughly researched excuse. At the end of the day, it’s still just an excuse... Excuses are basically fancy ways to explain away why I’m not doing what I REALLY want to do. Bag it; sack the excuse; do the thing; make the call; send the email; bust a move (old school); no regrets... Unless of course, the excuse is part of a well-formulated, fine-tuned life strategy that happens to be working at the moment. I’m just sayin.

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

Perception

Change the way you look at things, and the things you look at CHANGE... Obstacles or Opportunities? Problems or Possibilities? Barriers or potential Breakthroughs? It all depends on my perspective. Perception IS reality, and the way that I SEE things today will absolutely determine what I find and ultimately receive... We are continually creating: the thoughts that we dwell on; the things that capture our imagination; the words that come out of our mouths— all part of the creation process. So today I will CHOOSE to look at life in a way that empowers me and allows me to create the reality that I desire... Care to join me?

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

Watch What You Give

Make sure that whatever you give away today, is what you want MORE of; because it ALL comes back. Joy, peace, love, money-- it’ll all come back to you… Trouble, stress, anger and frustration-- back atcha! The more you give, the more you RECEIVE. So you might want to pay attention to what you give away today.

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

Go For It

So, just what are you waiting for? A bolt of lightning; a booming voice from the heavens; angels and a blue shaft of light? The greatest ideas come from inside. It’s not just believing; it’s “knowing.” The tough part is having the guts to take your shot after you already KNOW what you want to do… Here’s to having the courage to make your dreams come true. (Go for it; you know you want to)

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

Don't Waste Your Pain

Don’t waste your pain... Pain is a part of life. Trials, hardship and suffering come and go, and life is filled with things we can’t always understand. However, if you’ve lived on this planet very long, you know that pain makes us stronger, IF we are trained by it... If there were no bad days, then there would really be no "good" days. (How would I know the difference?) The bad days help me appreciate the good ones. Debt helps me appreciate wealth. Sickness allows me to enjoy health. No pain, no gain; no guts, no glory... So today, when I am tested, I will try to remember that trials are the good stuff; they make me into the person that I SAY I want to be.

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

Take Your Shot

I have a confession to make: I love American Idol. There, I said it… 100,000 people try out in cities all over the country. So many kids with so much talent; nobodies, willing to take their shot. Some get embarrassed, most are heartbroken, many are ridiculed and mocked, but they still take their shot. Then a kid like Lee Dewyze comes along: working in a paint store outside of Chicago. Barely enough belief in himself to even try out. Along the way he starts to get some confidence (but he still thinks he’s going to get voted off every week). Then he has a moment like last night. He's become a STAR. People love him. He has learned to use his God given gift, and he has been discovered… What if EVERYONE took their shot? Figure out what YOU have to give, and give it FULLY; not worrying about embarrassment, rejection or ridicule. Who knows what could happen?

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

No Worries

What if I erased ALL fear, doubt and worry from my day today. How would my day be different? What if ALL my energy, attention and focus went toward my dreams, desires, creativity, opportunity and possibility? Fear, worry and doubt are only obstacles, hindrances and unwanted enemies to my dreams. Why give them my very valuable attention today. Does focusing on what MIGHT happen lessen the chances of that thing happening? (or perhaps increase the possibility instead) I don’t know about you, but today I’ll focus on what I intend to create, and do my best to leave the worrying to someone else.

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

Revolution

What an incredible weekend in DC spending time with other faith based, non-profit leaders and volunteers from across the country and around the world. We collaborated and shared with one another how we can better serve the poor, free the oppressed and fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. I am truly inspired and filled with new HOPE. A few really CAN make a difference— just find your desire, make yourself available, and GET INVOLVED. Do you want a revolution?

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

No Fear

Don’t let fear stand in your way today… Science tells us that there are only two truly innate fears: fear of heights and fear of loud noises (we are born with these, for obvious reasons). However, there are now over 2000 classified “phobias” which are learned as we experience life. As I see it, one of our most important life works is unlearning irrational fears, so that we can have the lives that we desire. 99% of the things that we fear NEVER come to pass; so don’t let them stop you today... At the end of our lives, we won't regret the things that we DID nearly as much as the things that we DIDN’T do.

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

Blessings or Curses?

Once upon a time, a poor old man had a horse. He loved the horse, and although many tried to buy it, he wouldn’t sell. One day the horse broke out and ran away. The people of the village told the man he was cursed, that he should have sold the horse while he had the chance... One day the horse returned with a dozen more. The people of the village told the man he was surely blessed, and now the richest man in town... The man’s only son went out to break the horses, but broke his leg. The people came out and said, “Now we KNOW you are cursed. Your only son is now laid up and you have no one to work the fields...” War broke out in a neighboring country and all the young men were sent out to fight. The old man’s son couldn’t go because of his leg. The people said “Now we know that you are truly blessed, for our sons will die and yours is safe at home.” The old man replied: “We know not whether it is a blessing or a curse; we just know that he broke his leg.” Today’s curse might just be tomorrow’s blessing— try not to judge before the appointed time.

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

Vigilance

Vigilant: “keenly aware, wary; ever awake and alert; sleeplessly watchful.” What a great word. And an even better state: to walk through this day, not asleep, but fully awake and fully aware; fully prepared to make the most of every opportunity and to discern what is BEST. Today countless people, ideas, prosperity, fortune and potential will come across our path. We just need to be awake and alert so that we do not MISS it. Here’s to recognizing that answered prayer today.

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

Faith

ANYTHING is possible today. Unlimited potential and infinite possibilities… The determining factor? Faith. The limiting factor: lack thereof... The bigger your God, the smaller your problems. How big is YOUR God today? (Huge, I tell ya, HUGE.)

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

Miracles

I'm continually blown away by God’s amazing grace. Yesterday I was able to see my friend Omar baptized into Christ. They wouldn’t allow me to do the honors, due to the fact that they are currently holding many high profile gang members at this facility, and they felt as if I would be a “high risk hostage opportunity.” However, they did allow me to officiate through the glass and over the phone, as a wonderful officer helped with the proceedings. They even allowed Omar to wear WHITE, which they NEVER do, as he was immersed. Yes, even inside a maximum security facility, surrounded by danger, God provides a way... I can’t wait to see what He’s going to do next.

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

Cinco De Mayo

The 5th of May, 1862… A rag-tag group of about 5000 Mestizo and Zapotec Indians defeated almost twice as many superior French forces in the Battle of Puebla. This day symbolizes freedom, liberation and unity for our brothers to the South. Who knows, if young Mexico doesn’t stand up to Napoleon III and eventually win their freedom, then maybe our own civil war goes a different way and our nation is ripped apart? (As the French were committed to our destruction as well) Maybe we should take a moment today and celebrate our own freedom along with them— for gratitude is a powerful force.

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

No Fear

He’s there. He cares. And that’s enough... Worrying doesn’t make Him love us any more than He already does, because He can’t. But it does get in the way of our ability to SEE Him work. Here’s to Faith instead of Fear today.

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

Just Change

I’ve recently gotten to know a man who teaches kids what they need to know in order to avoid coming to the place where he now lives. Some of those kids listen and learn, and just maybe they avoid prison… This man was raised by a career criminal. By the time he was a toddler, his dad was using him to crawl through windows and open front doors— breaking and entering, instead of happy meals. He has changed, and now he is making a difference. Today, many people will make excuses and blame others for their inability to change. I wonder what this brother would say. (Excuses are typically for people who don’t want to change)

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

Ego vs. Soul

Your ego will tell you that you’re all alone today; your soul will tell you you’re not. Your ego will try to defend, protect and criticize; your soul wants to connect, trust and collaborate. The ego is the false self which is constructed by what you do, what you have and what others think of you; the soul is the true self, eternal and one. The ego must exist by living in the past or the future-- obsessing on what was, or worrying about what is to come; the soul is ever present, living in the eternal NOW... Which will you identify with today? Ego-mania or soul-power? Your choice.

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.