Risk Takers

Risk: “exposure to the chance of injury or loss; a hazard or dangerous chance; to venture upon, or run the chance of.” Are you a risk-taker? Are you willing to take a chance, or are you more about playing it SAFE... Where would you be in life without taking calculated risks? I’m married to a wonderful woman; I have incredible children; I get to do for a living what I would do for free; and the list goes on. Those are all blessings (that I do not deserve) that came as the result of taking a RISK. She could have said no; childbirth can be dangerous; I could have settled for any old job— but the risk was worth the REWARD. Don’t be afraid of the unknown today; step out there and do something you’ve never done. Who knows where it will lead?

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

Walk a Mile

Walk a mile in another man’s shoes, and then you’ll be able to see what he REALLY needs... We live in a world that feels the need to label and judge and to put just about everything into nice, tight, separate little boxes. Its human nature: much easier to categorize people into “those people” and “them” which allows me just to deal with me and “mine.” The problem is that nobody really fits into any of these little boxes. Life’s not neat and ordered like that. EVERYONE has a story. Nobody just woke up one day and went to prison, or chose the streets, or got addicted. It's a process, and everyone has reasons for what they do and where they stand. Let’s care enough to walk alongside them before we judge. Then we can see what they REALLY need. (That is, if we really care.)

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

Change

Are you one of those folks that says people don’t REALLY change? I hear that from time to time: “He’ll never change. That man is beyond redemption.” Well I don’t believe it— I happen to believe that ANYONE can change... The problem is that if you don’t think others can change, then deep down you don’t believe that YOU can change. Last weekend I met a man on death row that really wants to change, and who knows, maybe he will. Anyone who possesses true desire, courage and faith can change ANYTHING. Believe it today— it’ll change the way you see the world. (Everything is possible for him who believes)

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

Never Boring

Thank God for an interesting ride... Twists and turns, ups and downs, bumps and curves in the road: but NEVER boring. Friends and strangers, drama and suspense, questions sometimes unanswered: but NEVER boring. Pleasure and pain, faith and fear, highs and lows: but thankfully NEVER boring... Sometimes we long for comfort, security, and smooth sailing. But if we had it like that all the time, you know what most of us would be? Spoiled and bored; begging for a CHANGE. Thank God for an interesting ride.

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

Creation

Take a moment and think about the creation process... I have a thought, and it lingers. I begin to let that thought roll, and then I dwell on it and begin to concentrate. Depending on the nature of that thought, my emotions begin to change. Those emotions create a mood. That mood begins to change my perspective and my dialogue. As I begin to speak about the things I feel, a mindset and an attitude has been forged. Typically, at this point I begin to ACT according to my disposition. And I begin to CREATE what I have imagined and invented in my mind... Pay attention to what you dwell on today— you’ll most likely see it show up in your life SOON.

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

Givers

You want to be FREE? Find your gratitude and go and serve someone who really needs help today. In serving you will lose yourself, temporarily forget your problems, and come alive as you willingly offer yourself to someone who needs some love. It’s the secret to true joy and liberation. Be a GIVER today. (And the unintended consequence is that you will open up the flow of abundance into your own life as well— everybody wins)

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

Father's Day

I miss my Dad... Gone too soon (Jan 15, 1988). I wish he could have met my children, my wife and my friends. I wish he could have been a part of my life's work. However, I KNOW that God's plan is perfect, and I trust Him. Dad, I love you, and I hope to make you proud and leave an honorable legacy... Happy Father's Day.

Game Seven

There’s something about a "Game Seven." Teams find out what they’re made of... Who can stand the heat; who can best handle the pressure. Who can fight through the pain; because it’s win or go home. Who has the best game plan. Who makes the necessary adjustments. Which players handle their roles the best and stick together through adversity. Maybe most importantly: who will be able to stay focused when the stress comes; when the game is on the line... Yes, there’s something about a Game Seven. We’ll all be tested in the same ways today— we just won’t have millions of people watching. Stay calm, focused, under control, and just stick to the game plan.

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

Motives

What (or who) REALLY matters to you? I mean if you break it down, what truly motivates you? Why not allow THAT to bring out the best in you today. We all need continual reminders of what really matters, why we do what we do, and what it’s truly all about (sometimes only the urgent gets our valuable attention). One day as we look back over the course of our lives, there will most likely only be a few precious things that REALLY mattered. Let’s try to focus on those things today, and let everything else connect, support and reinforce the GOOD stuff.

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

Carpe Diem

Without dreams, all we have is our present reality... Aim high, shoot for the moon, go for a personal best. Why not try something that’s never been done before? Stretch yourself to a new maximum. Imagination is the beginning of EVERY worthwhile venture, achievement, or invention. In the end, we won't regret the things we DID nearly as much as the things we DIDN'T do... Bag the status quo— go for the gusto!

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

The Unlovable

Anyone can love the “easy” to love. It’s loving the unlovable; that’s the trick. Well-behaved children, sweet elderly people, kind neighbors; that’s the easy part. What about the guy in the office that you just can't stand. What about the girl down the hall that gets on your last nerve. Or what about the one who has offended you, disrespected you, or just ignored you— got any love left for them? The "loveable" are EASY to love. It doesn’t take anything special to show them some extra care. But the unlovable— when we begin to show them some love, that’s when we begin to become like HIM.

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

Adversity

What would we do without the tough times? We wouldn’t know what we are made of... Adversity tests the quality of our work. The muscle must be pushed and broken down for it to strengthen and grow. If there were no trials, we would never learn to persevere and never attain true maturity. Even tragedy brings out the best in the human race: a compassion is revealed that we may not even be aware of. I know this: I never grew much during the “good times” (though I did enjoy them). But it was the hard times that produced the significant changes. Maybe we shouldn’t be so quick to whine and complain about the tough times— they might very well be the answer to our prayers. (Consider it pure Joy)

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

Just Do It

Go ahead, do what you know you ought to do. That thought that keeps popping into your head; more than just a good idea, or a hunch-- it's a gut feeling, prompting you, pushing you, stalking you, to get on with it. Perhaps it's your destiny? You'll never know if you don't get out there and try. Some of the greatest accomplishments, inventions and movements began in precisely the same way: just a little "feeling" that wouldn't go away. (An idea whose time had come)

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

Love & Light

Darkness is nothing but the absence of light, and evil is merely the absence of love. Overcome darkness and evil with LOVE and LIGHT— opposing forces cannot stand against the most powerful force in the universe. You possess that power as you go about your day today. (Try not to keep it to yourself)

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

Imagination

How big is your imagination? There's your ceiling. (Hopefully there's alot of room between here and there) "You can't depend on your eyes if your imagination is out of focus."

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

Revival

Revival: restoration to life, consciousness, vigor, strength; a time of reawakened interest.” I am witnessing an awakening... Do you believe it's possible? Do you believe that one person at a time, individuals can come back to life and start a collective revival? I’m SEEING it: a gang banger who has become a peacemaker; a homeless junkie who has been set free from addiction; convicted felons finding true liberation, while surrounded by danger. Don’t believe all the hype, and just LET GO of your best excuses— I am seeing true CHANGE sweep across the land. Don’t you wanna be part of it? (Just open your eyes and you’ll see the signs)

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

Press On

“But ONE thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize.” Wow. What if I can live like that today? What a difference it would make. FORGETTING the things that hold me back and try to keep me down. EMBRACING that which lies ahead: my purpose and my destiny. Pressing on and NOT giving up— keeping my eye on the prize set before me. Sounds like a good mission statement for today. I believe that I’m IN. (you with me?)

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

Seek

What I dwell on long enough, I begin to believe. What I believe, I begin to expect. What I expect, I begin to unconsciously LOOK for. And what I look for, I tend to FIND. It all begins with what I dwell on today. So I will focus my conscious attention on what is true, real, and present-- and what I want in my life. After that, it's all fairly simple: SEEK, and you shall find.

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

Dreams

What is something that you REALLY want; I mean really, really... Why not take some time today and visualize the realization of that dream. Develop some affirmations or “Power Statements” that surround and support your vision becoming a reality. Share your dream with a friend, who will supportively hold you accountable. Then take one action step TODAY to confirm your commitment to your mission... Focus, visualization, affirmation and accountability—that’s what dreams are made of. Go GET it.

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.

You Matter

You are loved and you MATTER— especially when you don’t really feel like it... You’re just right, just the way you are. Every quirk, every imperfection; you are just the way that you were intended to be. Celebrate the wonderful, beautiful, UNIQUE you today. There will never be another one— the world couldn’t handle it... Take a minute and admire how well your creator did His work— He makes NO mistakes.

Catch it, come alive, pass it on.