FUN FIRST!

Torching the Gasoline for Explosive Success

MONTHS

2009

January

2008

2007

2006

APRIL, 2007

Live your redemption. Christ redeemed us from the Fall. Focus on how you’ve been transformed; on how Christ in you can do anything. There is no limit to what God will do through you except the limits you impose yourself. Don't look at your limits. Look at the amazing power of God in you.
Life is like baseball. Sometimes a screwball is more effective than someone who’s straight down the middle. (At least I like to think I’m effective!!) Don’t discount someone just because they’re odd.
Talk to strangers. Look for something positive about someone you encounter today and tell them. Tell the sales clerk you like her necklace. Tell the bank teller she has pretty hair. Get out of yourself. Observe and speak.
Listened to "Jesus Freak" by D.C. Talk at extraordinarily loud volume (the only way to listen to it properly!) on the way into work this morning. "I don’t really care if they label me a Jesus Freak. There ain’t no disguising the truth." Words to live by. There really is no disguising the truth about who we are. It’s there for everyone to see every minute of every day. Today we commemorate Jesus’s Last Supper. He ate the Passover meal with a bunch of guys who thought they were ready to restore the kingdom of Israel. It didn’t take long for the truth to be revealed. They weren’t ready for anything but running away and hiding. No disguising the truth. Only the risen Christ and His Holy Spirit later changed the truth about who these guys were. What’s the undisguised truth about who you are? Do you need to be changed?
My favorite part of Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ is early in the film. Jesus is being tempted by the devil in the garden at Gethsemane. The devil is questioning Him, telling Him it's too much for a man to do, pointless, etc. During the conversation a snake slithers out from the devil's robe. It slithers around Jesus for the duration of the devil's tempting. After all of the devil's work to instill doubt in Jesus about the value of what He is about to endure, the camera focuses on Jesus's resolute face. Then "Whack!" He stomps the head of the snake and turns as the mob that has come to arrest Him arrives. I love the sound of the stomp. The sound of victory. I wish I had it on a recording so whenever I'm tempted to give up or think whatever measly little paltry "sacrifice" I think I'm making isn't worth it I could stop and say to the tempter: "Wait a minute. Let me play this for you. 'Whack!' Recognize that sound? That's the sound of God winning and you losing. Let's listen again. 'Whack!'"
Even the greatest golfers hit bad shots. What makes them great is they seldom hit consecutive bad shots. A bad shot is just an opportunity to hit a great shot. Don’t dwell on the trouble you’ve got yourself in. Focus on the amazing recovery your going to make from it.
When the women arrived at the tomb, the stone had been rolled away and Jesus's body was gone. The rock would have kept them from knowing Jesus had risen. If it hadn't been moved, and they couldn't move it, the first step in the revelation that He was alive could not have been taken. God moved the rock. Is there a rock blocking your way to the truth? When the time is right, God will remove it. The women went to the tomb not knowing how they would get in to attend to the body. They must have figured they'd find a way when they got there. God moved the rock and they got more than they were expecting. He'll do they same for you.
Have far-fetched, childlike dreams. Growing up isn't a license to stop dreaming big. In fact, it's a better time to dream big because you can actually act on your dreams. You can't climb Mt. Everest when your six unless you can convince one of your parents to go along. As a grown up, you can do it all by yourself. But, if your only dream is getting home and watching "Leave it to Beaver" re-runs, you're missing out on the main advantage of being an adult. Now that you can act on your dreams, its' time to get serious about having some.
Focusing on the positive characteristics you see in others improves your relationships with them. It’s like focusing on the flower and not the thorns of a rose. The thorns are there but they aren’t that important. The beauty of the flower and its fragrance are why we like roses. They overshadow the thorns.
Ok, where's the giant lion to put an end to this "always winter" thing? (If you don't know what I'm talking about you need to watch the movie "Narnia" or read The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis). Yes, it's snowing here in Northern Illinois, three weeks into spring. Actually, I think it's kind of funny because it can't last. Winter has been whipped and a few stray punches doesn't make it any less whipped. Look at the things that hold you back from reaching your goals the same way. You are on your way to success. The things that pop up and get in the way are just spring snowstorms: annoying but short-lived. Just laugh at them and say "things are warming up and you'll be gone tomorrow. Spring beats winter every time."
Don’t let someone drown because you’re afraid you’ll enjoy being a hero. We can fail to act because we are so busy questioning our motives (or afraid someone else will question them) that the opportunity passes. Do good without overanalyzing yourself. The drowning person doesn’t care why you saved them.
Thomas Jefferson's Birthday: Jefferson said: "I believe that every human mind feels pleasure in doing good to another." Hey, who doesn't like to feel pleasure? That Jefferson was a smart guy but maybe we should put him to the test (he'd like that I think). Do good today and see if Jefferson knew what he was talking about. My money's on Thomas! I'm betting you'll feel great pleasure from doing good to someone else.
Don't let what people say behind your back upset you. If you've heard about it, that means someone has told you, and you've got to wonder why the person telling you would do so. How does learning someone is speaking ill of you help you? Besides, when someone says something bad about you, they're really saying something about themselves. Some inadequacy they see in themselves leads them to demean you. That is 100% their problem. Why should their inadequacy upset you?
One of my favorite stories in the Bible is the wedding at Cana. Jesus is at a wedding reception and they run out of wine. He turns water into wine and the party continues. This isn't making the blind see or the lame walk. It's an act of generosity in a very ordinary thing. Most people there never knew it happened. It probably didn't transform anybody's life. It was the power of God unleashed so a few people could continue their celebration. This is God's love for us. This is the love God calls us to transmit to others. A love that enriches in small and unseen ways.
I used to whine and cry while doing my tax returns. After I went to work for the government, that seemed kind of hypocritical so I stopped (whining that is. I still do my tax returns!!) The process is a stark reminder of the complexity that comes from trying to manage individual behavior by broad government imposed policies. We are free beings and our behavior is the result of our choices. Our choices come from what is important to us and that comes from inside us. The promise of getting or the threat of losing some cash from the government (which it took from us or someone else in the first place) is not an effective incentive for most of us. If you want other people to live in a certain way, don't spend your time trying to get the government to encourage the behavior. Live that way yourself, with such joy, that people yearn to live that way as well.
Today is the 17th birthday of Cigar, the world's greatest living racehorse. Cigar won 16 consecutive graded stakes races. A record he shares with Citation. Cigar didn't get off to a good start. He ran through a fence when he was young and required surgery on his leg. He didn't run well in his early races. His owners tried running him on turf (grass) instead of the dirt track. That didn't work. A horse with potential that wouldn't perform. But, then Cigar got a new trainer and a taste of success. He got a great jockey and became unbeatable. The right people drew out Cigar's best and he amazed the racing world. Are the people in your life drawing out your best or running you in the wrong races? Cigar couldn't pick his people. You can. Hang with people who'll make you a winner. You can amaze the world as well.
Life is a bottle of fine wine and your problems are the cork. There’s always a way to get out the cork. What "cork" is blocking your enjoyment of the richness of your life? What’s the right "corkscrew" to remove it? Don’t get mad. Find the right tool.
Here's hoping and praying you get this test email!!
On this day in 1775, the American Revolution started. No one knows who fired the first shot at Concord Bridge or why. It was a bad day by any account. After the skirmish at Concord left a few dead, the British headed back to Boston. Militias mustered and fired on the British as they retreated inflicting serious casualties. An unknown trigger-finger started a chain of events that ended with the creation of a new nation ,the United States of America. There certainly were better ways the U.S. could have come into existence. Ways that would have been a lot less painful for all concerned. But the best way isn't always taken because we are blind to it. Past hurts, our own selfishness, anger keep us from seeing the best way or prevent us from taking it. These problems brought both sides to that bridge in Concord. Don't let them keep you from seeing and taking the best path for your life.
If you want to have more fun, get interested in people. They're everywhere! Maybe even in your own house. Certainly, on the streets, at your job, in your school. The place is swarming with them! You'll never run out. If you start to care about them, you'll never be bored again. You'll always be thinking about them: their joys, sorrows, hopes, dreams, hobbies, oddities, the ways you can make their lives better. If you're passionate about people, you'll love your life.
What are you waiting for? This is a great question. If there is something you want to do, and you're not doing it, what are you waiting for? Probably, the certainty of success. The fear of failure often stands in the way of doing what we want. If we don't try, we don't fail. Of course, this is stupid. Not trying leaves us with regret and unfulfillment. Don't wait any longer. What's the first step you need to take toward getting what you want. Take it now.
If you only go to the driving range, you're not playing golf. You're just developing skills without putting them to their intended purpose. Church is like the driving range. If you're going there but not living what you learn, you're not putting church to its intended purpose. You've got to spend some time in the rough to really be a Christian.
Shakespeare (today's his birthday) wrote tragedies and comedies. A tragedy ends with the lead character worse off than at the start. A comedy ends with the character better off. Which type of play are you writing for your life? Is your next line going to be positive and uplifting pointing toward a better future? Don't be Hamlet. Tragic heroes are only good in fiction. In life, heroes transform the tragic. They become better off each step of the way no matter the conflicts they face.
Life is like baseball. If you sacrifice yourself at the right time, you can move someone else ahead and benefit the whole team. It may not be as glamorous as a home run but success often rests on a small thing done well.
Today is St. Mark's Day. Since the chances of me getting my own saint's day are remote, I'm celebrating today! Mark wrote an early account of Jesus's life and that story has enriched me immensely. Clear cause for celebration. It's good to take a celebratory spirit into everyday anyway. Life is a gift. It's sweetness is enhanced by the people who touch us. Pick somebody living to celebrate today. St. Mark won't mind sharing the day.
Life is like hang gliding. It's no fun unless you jump off the cliff! There's no point to getting the kite, learning to use it, and climbing to the top of the cliff if you're not going to jump. You can only prepare so much. Then, you have to act. You have the tools for a fulfilling life. You've got dreams, skills, a mind and a heart. Go ahead, jump! You'll fly with increasing confidence each moment. Why stand around with that heavy kite strapped to your back?
"Fun First!" is simply applying "Eat Dessert First" to the rest of your life. It's not letting the best parts of life get pushed off till after everything else. Let's face it, if you make yourself choke down every last vegetable of "have to's" before you enjoy your "love to's", the cake's going to get moldy before you ever take a bite. Start with what you love. Eat between meals. It won't spoil your appetite for meeting your obligations. It'll give you the energy to conquer them.
A friend is sorry you’re hurting even if you deserve it. A friend will also tell you that you deserve it when you do.
Jesus didn’t rid the world of leprosy. He healed the lepers he met. Don't get wrapped up in trying to solve the world's problems. Heal the next person you meet. Guess what? You'll be solving the world's problems.
On this date in 1975, the city of Saigon, Vietnam fell to the invading North Vietnamese army. The searing image from that day is of the throngs of Saigon residents crammed into the U.S. embassy trying to get on the helicopters evacuating those fortunate enough to get out. People were clinging to the runners of the last helicopter out as it was taking off. They were that desperate to escape. You are not going to have to do that today. We can lose perspective on how bad our problems really are. Whatever you face today be grateful. It could be much much worse.