Posts

Posted on

Don’t Give Up…Give In…

2020 has been a difficult year thus far.

  • I’ve got close members of my family struggling with the possibility of divorce.
  • I’ve got close friends with health problems.
  • I’ve got close friends with significant financial problems.
  • I’ve got friends out of work…and the list could continue…

We have all been emotionally, financially, and sometimes physically stretched almost to the breaking point.

Each day we are met with something new to:

  1. Be afraid of…
  2. Be angry with…
  3. Mourn the loss of…

It’s crazy! So what are we supposed to do?

Not to downplay the significance of each situation, I think the first thing we need to recognize is the root cause we are triggered in the first place.

I think it all boils down to the fact that:

  1. We realize things are not going the way we want them to.
  2. We try to control situations that we ultimately can’t control.
  3. We project our interpretations of what the future will hold…and that future usually looks bad.

I realize…it’s hard not to get sucked into the daily pull towards negative thoughts and hopelessness…but hard is not impossible…it’s just hard.

So what do you do?

Don’t Give Up…Give In…

In the Bible, (Psalm 55:22) reminds us to, “Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.” NLT.

Why do we seldom truly “give” our burdens to the LORD? I know for me, I freely give all my burdens and concerns to Him each morning in prayer…and then by the end of the day… I have taken them all back…and I’m all anxious once again. Then the next morning…the process repeats itself.

But to really “give” means there is no taking back and to do that, I need to believe the following:

  1. God is real and present in my life. He hears my prayers…and gives a damn…
  2. God is capable…
  3. God is willing…

The great thing about God is this…He will never force Himself on us…either to believe in Him or to intervene in our life unwanted. But like pastor Andy Stanley once said, “Once you give your life to Christ…your problems are now His problems…”

…and if I truly believe that He is real, present, capable and willing…then my future… and all my problems and concerns are all His. And although I may try to take them back from time to time…I know He’ll allow me to do just that… until I once again realize their rightful owner…and give them back… He’s good like that…or better yet…He’s God like that!

Posted on

The Emperor’s New Clothes…

photo from Wikipedia

Last night when I came home after work, I was greeted by my wife who was excited to show me her new purchase…several new face masks that she bought at the grocery store… I managed to contain my excitement…

Fast forward to this morning at 4:53 am as I make my way to work and as I am driving, I am having my morning prayer time…

Typically when I pray, most of my focus is spent asking God to intervene or help me with my marriage, my work, my friends and my family, and then at the end, I throw in prayers for our leaders and our world. Most of my prayers are centered around the areas of life closest to me…but not now… Now my prayers are focused on a national and global scale and less about me…I’m truly perplexed…and I’m not sure what to do…

I believe that there is good within each and every situation…and we just have to stop and look for it. So as part of my prayer time this morning…I went looking for good… and here is what I found…

I saw behind the curtain…

  • I saw how easily and quickly we have given up our freedom and liberty.
  • I saw how quickly the entire world reacted in a similar manner. How did that happen?
  • I saw how quickly our way of being, our beliefs, and our values were rapidly exchanged for blind obedience.
  • I saw how the world is reacting to data that is not being verified and challenged.
  • I saw how questioning or challenging the social narrative is quickly discouraged not only by those “in charge”…but friends, neighbors, and society in general.

How does the entire world change so rapidly and so drastically and why are so many of us ok with it?

Then, I thought about the childhood story “The Emperor’s New Clothes” written by Hans Christian Andersen and published in 1837. As you recall, the story is about two weavers who promise an emperor a new suit of clothes. They say the fabric is invisible to those who are unfit for their positions, stupid, or incompetent – while in reality, they make no clothes at all! When the emperor parades before his subjects in his new “clothes”, no one dares to say that they do not see any suit of clothes on him for fear that they will be seen as stupid or incompetent. Finally, a child cries out saying, “He isn’t wearing anything at all!”

The simplicity of this childhood story published 183 years ago has never been more relevant than I believe it is today. We need more voices… Whatever or whoever is behind that curtain is not good. Despite what is said, they are not looking after our best interests. And it’s certainly not what God wants for all of us… If you don’t believe me…try going to church!

We need more voices…we need to question all information…we need to do what is right, not necessarily what we are told…we need to place our obedience in the one that loves us…created us… and died for us.

The state of this world should not be a surprise… and we’re probably not going to change it…however, we still have the power…and the responsibility … to choose how we will exist in it…is a choice that is entirely up to us.

I hope we will step back and look…look up…and then choose wisely.

Posted on

Fighting the “good” fight…

Game on…

Who would have thought that just a few months ago, the world would look the way it currently does… Fortunately, I still have a job that I can go to and do what I love to do. But I also realize this is not the case for many, many others. We are literally being bombarded with “apparent” reasons to stress out, worry, and be afraid.

I’m on conference calls several times a week discussing the constantly changing rules and requirements that need to be adhered to or implemented immediately. We truly are at war with an “unseen enemy”…but that is really nothing new…when you think about it…we’ve always been.

While COVID-19 seems to be the “enemy” of the day, we have always been in a constant fight against an unseen enemy. It’s been a battle not only for our health…it’s a battle for our thoughts, our beliefs, our marriages, and our souls. There is an unseen enemy that has plagued our lives from the very beginning and the sad part is…many of us just choose to ignore it. Millions of us have fallen victim to this enemy that literally wants to kill us, to ruin our lives or at least to make us give up on hope…but we can fight back.

But concerning the COVID-19 virus, we are being told to implement the following precautions:

  1. Maintain Social distancing
  2. Wash you hands
  3. Wear masks

But these precautions are also applicable to the spiritual enemy that we also face. Here’s what I mean…

  1. Social distancing. We need to stay away from things that do not uplift us. Stop watching the news, or movies or reading books that make you feel worse rather than better.
  2. Wash your hands. If we are not careful, bad things will stick to us that we need to get rid of. Have we inadvertently picked up or developed some habits that are not serving us? Are we putting things into our bodies that are bad for our long term? How about what we say? Are we encouraging or discouraging? How about our thoughts? Do we have thoughts of hope or thoughts of despair? Have we claimed our strength or given it away?
  3. Wear masks. How about how you appear to others? Do you smile? Do you walk with your shoulders back and standing tall? Do you whistle or hum? (I don’t believe you can do either of those if you’re in a bad mood). How to you appear to others? Have you ever thought about that?

Yes, we are in a battle…but we’ve always been…it’s just a different enemy coming from a different angle and unfortunately that situation is not going to go away…not for a long, long time.

There is good news though.

We can win this battle. But we have to fight each and every day. Get used to it. The world we currently inhabit is our battlefield and our enemy owns it…for now. We can “fight the good fight”, but we don’t have to do it alone. In fact, if you choose to go it alone…your chances of success are minimal if at all.

What am I getting at? Let me cut to the chase…

It breaks my heart to think about all the people in my life that have not given their life to Christ. I know that many of them feel if they do, they will be giving up something. They believe all the fun will go out of how they live. But all of that couldn’t be further from the truth.

It’s in Him where we can find our strength, our security, and our hope that regardless of what happens…we are never alone or off His radar. He promises us this. “I will never leave you or forsake you.” That was His promise…and to date…when I look back on my life…many people have said something similar to me and have failed to live up to that promise…but Christ has never, ever let me down.

I can’t imagine going through this crisis, this life…without this assurance. In my relationship with Christ, I know with certainty one thing…that regardless of what happens…I’ll be alright…and I live each day by that assurance. As pastor Andy Stanley once said, “when you give your life to Christ, your problems are now His problem.” And frankly, I’m good with that!

How about you…aren’t you tired of going it alone?

Posted on

First things first…

Sometimes…I’m a worrier.

I was walking the jobsite recently worrying about a wide variety of issues. I was thinking about things that “could” happen or “might” happen and then thinking about steps to make sure what I want to happen… actually happens. In most cases, these thoughts were usually not the “good things” that could happen…they were usually bad…and with that came anxiety and worry. When I think about this…I’m embarrassed because 99% of the time…I can’t control the inevitable anyway! Yet, I continue to choose to carry the emotional burden of control anyway…ridiculous.

The Bible addresses this directly. In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus instructs us not to worry. He goes on to give examples of why worrying is a wasted effort…which I agree with…intellectually…but I often fail to do it…

So what can I do?

Verse 33 gives me the answer…“Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness…” Ok, so what does that look like to me?

Maybe it looks like this…

I’m right in the middle of some home renovations. During this process, I’ve tried to save money by doing most of the work myself. What I’m learning in the process is that it’s physically demanding on this 60-year-old body. I also don’t have the tools I need and as a result, I either have to work with what I have or go and buy the tools I need and that is becoming expensive. Also, I’ve never done some of the work before, so it is taking me much longer and the end result proves it.

What I should be doing is to find a contractor that has the correct tools and the skills to do what I need to have done. If I did that…it would take much less time and the results would be much better than I could have done and it would be a welcomed relief for my 60-year-old body.

In essence, it’s about seeking the “right” person for the job and realizing that in most cases, I’m not that person.

So, going back to Matthew 6:33…Jesus is saying that He is the right person for everything we need to be done…not us. We need to trust in his expertise and competence to do what needs to be done and if we do that…the results will be way more than what we could have done ourselves or what we would have expected.

Which brings me back to the jobsite. As I walked the site and contemplated these new thoughts, I immediately felt my worry and anxiety melt away. The problems I worried about were now His problems. My concerns were now His concerns and I let go of them…and felt better for it because I knew He would handle them. I knew He was in charge and I felt certain everything was going to be ok. At that moment, I happened to look down where I was standing and saw this on the ground…

Seek first…I got it…

Posted on

Character…

Recently, my wife and I took a local “staycation” to St. Petersburg, FL. We stayed in a nice hotel and just played tourist for the weekend. One morning we had breakfast at one of our favorite restaurants, The Mill. Along with breakfast, I had a glass of orange juice and from the moment I tasted it, I could tell it was fresh squeezed. It was amazing!

The next morning we had breakfast, this time at the hotel. Again, I ordered orange juice and this time I could certainly tell that it was anything BUT fresh-squeezed. The two couldn’t be more different, while they both originated from the same fruit the taste couldn’t compare.

The next day, I started thinking about my experience and the difference between the two juices and I thought about the verse in Matthew 7:

“By their fruit, you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.”

Picture a person in your life that has impacted you in a positive way. What attributes did they have that impacted you? These are the attributes that many call Character.

I believe – Character is what comes out of you when you are squeezed (when you experience adversity, pressure…) So my questions are…

  • What would come out of you?
  • Is it what you want?
  • Would someone put you on their list?

I don’t believe we can fake our own good character, it is simply revealed in us. Think of it like sediment… we only see it when we are shaken up. But where do we get it? Where can we find it?

I truly believe Character comes from what you are being fed. It comes from what you allow into your thoughts, what you are attached to, who you associate with, what you expose yourself to regularly.

Jesus said, I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

We have a choice of what (or whom) we are going to attach ourselves to…but be careful…this decision needs to be a very deliberate and intentional decision. Because it will also be what feeds us with thoughts, beliefs and it will shape the person we ultimately become.

Given the choice to be “fresh squeezed” is still a decision…choose wisely!

Posted on

Alignment…

Yesterday, I had a thought…I wondered if there was ANYTHING that got better when it was out of alignment. I couldn’t think of anything and even asked my team…and they were stumped as well.

Think about it…

Good relationships require alignment…communicating, sharing expectations and so forth…

Your car tires…naturally, drive better and smoother, and wear longer when they are regularly aligned.

As a Leader, one of the primary responsibilities is to get everyone aligned on the team’s goals and responsibilities.

Even in my “ever-changing” golf swing, one of my most basic swing faults is not having my body aligned correctly to the target. As a result, my body naturally begins to make all sorts of horrible compensations…and I then try to react to these compensations…and it goes downhill quickly…sound familiar?

Getting…and staying aligned is simple and basic, yet we often don’t take the time to make the effort…and as a result…all hell usually breaks out…

So take a look at your life…

Are you aligned with:

Your goals?

Your finances?

Your spouse?

Your friends and family?

Your faith?

Your little voice inside your head?

If not…write down what actions you need to take to get aligned…or at least better aligned!

Believe me…it’s worth the effort…and life doesn’t need more bumps in the road…

Posted on

The Magic Pill…

Yesterday, I went to get acupuncture for a pinched nerve in my back. The place where I went to is owned and operated by a wonderful Vietnamese family and they do remarkable work. As I sat in the examination room, the young Vietnamese therapist asked me when I first experienced the accident that caused the pinched nerve. I exclaimed, 1976! He commented that that was the year “he believed” he was born… Naturally, I didn’t let that comment go un-explained…so I inquired why “he believed” he was born in the year 1976. He shared the following brief story with me…

He said he arrived in this country by boat from Vietnam…as in a refugee boat. He said that during the trip, their boat was attacked by “pirates” not once, not twice, but on three different occasions. Each time, they stole all the food, water, and even the boat engine. They beat the men and raped the women. He said he “believed” he was about 4 years old when all this took place.

I was speechless…

As I prepared this morning for my regular staff meeting, the thought of this young Vietnamese man weighed heavily on my mind. As we move into the Thanksgiving week…I have so much to be grateful for. The life that I’ve lived as an American far surpasses the lives of most other people in other countries on this planet. The minor things that I view as “problems” are not problems at all…they are just minor inconveniences…not problems. Every night I’ve lived on this planet, I’ve had a roof over my head, food in my stomach and warm blankets to cover me when needed. That is a statement that far too many other people in this world cannot attest to…

So during my staff meeting, I asked my team if someone created a pill that if taken each day would make the following changes in your life…guaranteed! If there was such a pill…would they take it? This pill would:

  1. Make you happier
  2. Make people like you
  3. Make you healthier
  4. Boosts your career
  5. Strengthen your emotions
  6. Develop your personality
  7. Make you more optimistic
  8. Reduce materialism
  9. Make you less self-centered
  10. Increase self-esteem
  11. Improve your sleep
  12. Let you live longer
  13. Increase your energy level
  14. Make you more likely to exercise
  15. Make your memories happier
  16. Reduces envy
  17. Help you relax
  18. Make you friendlier
  19. Help your marriage
  20. Make you look good
  21. Deepen relationships
  22. Make you a more effective manager
  23. Increase your goal achievement
  24. Improve your decision making
  25. Increase your productivity

Naturally, they all said yes! Well…there is no such pill…but only a practice…the practice of being “grateful.” Gratitude, practiced daily has scientifically been proven to help you achieve these changes in your life. Gratitude…

As we move into this Thanksgiving week…I’m hoping we will all take some time to truly reflect on our lives and begin to notice all the things, all the people, all the experiences we have to be grateful for…

We are far better off than we sometimes think…

Posted on

One coin…two sides…

We all want to have the freedom to believe what we want…and to do what we want…but when things don’t work out the way we want…we get upset and usually (especially lately) we look for someone else to blame.

Blame is everywhere! It’s always the first thing people reach for. It’s become our “go-to” action to justify our pain or unhappiness that is a result of actions that we most likely took or failed to take. And the funny thing is…once we have found someone or something to place the blame on…it rarely, if ever removes our pain…and many times…it only enhances it! So why do we do it? Why do we think blame is a viable option for pain relief?

I think it’s because blame is easy. It requires no new action on our part. It requires no discipline. It requires no risk. It’s safe…and it’s ineffective.

You see, I believe Actions and Consequences are two sides of the same coin. You take an action…you get a consequence.

Let’s take a look at the actual word…

“Consequence” = Con + Sequence

We all know that Con means Against. And we all know that a Sequence is a particular order in which related events, movements, or things are expected to follow each other.

So when we put that understanding together…it basically means that a “consequence” is an outcome from an action that is opposite of what is expected! No wonder people don’t want to accept the consequences of their actions!

It’s not was expected! It’s not what we wanted! So we’re not going to accept it! We’re going to blame (or transfer) the consequences of our actions of someone else! But we can’t…because it’s the same coin. Actions and Consequences are permanently bonded together!

Pleasurable undisciplined actions most always result in unpleasurable consequences.

But the flipside is also true…

If you want pleasurable consequences…you need to take unpleasurable disciplined actions!

Life ain’t easy…it was never designed to be…

Two sides…one coin…

Posted on

…Guest contributor…

Bob has allowed me to write a bit on his blog.

It’s odd that he would make such a choice due to the decline of our relationship over the past few years. Yes, Bob and I go back a very long time. He and I have been together since he was a kid. I was friends with all of his high school friends and especially all of his college friends! We got together just about every weekend during that time. We use to spend every holiday together and as he grew older, we even traveled together. We rarely went a week without seeing each other. I miss Bob…but evidently…he doesn’t miss me…go figure…after all we’ve been through.

That’s ok. I still hang out with lots of Bob’s friends and even some of his family. They love me and so do millions of other people! Heck, I’m on TV all the time, I’m in the movies, I’m in just about every magazine. Yep, I’m pretty popular with just about everyone and its been that way long before I knew Bob.

So if Bob doesn’t want me in his life anymore…tough…I’m just going to involve myself in the lives of all those people around him. He can’t get rid of me that easy! I won’t allow it. I don’t understand why he wants me out of his life…

Maybe it’s because of my reputation…

You see, people that hang out with me…well…frankly speaking…their lives pretty much get worse. I don’t know why (not really)…but they do. I’m always there for those that love me (and even some that don’t). I’m there when people are celebrating and when they are lonely. I’m there when people are pursuing the love of their life and when they have found the love of their life. I’m there when people are worried and even when they drag themselves home after a long day. I’m always making myself available, yet…when things go bad… I’m usually to blame. But get this…even when things got worse…guess who the first person people would call…you got it…me.

Well, I’ll just be patient. I like Bob…even if he hates me. I’ll wait him out…he’ll come back around…they usually do. In the meantime, there are plenty of people that like me and want to hang out with me…regardless of my reputation. I’ll always be around…

Cheers!

Mr. Al C. Hall

Posted on

The Currency of Words…

When one thinks about a unit of currency, for instance, a dollar bill…the value of the bill does not rest in the printed paper itself, but what it represents to others. The value of that piece of paper is a shared belief and agreement between everyone that comes in contact with it. Simple right?

But is it the same for something else we share with others…our words… Are they worth the same to both parties? Even the words we say to ourselves…do we choose those words with equal care?

I ran across a story a year or so ago about a young man that honored his recently deceased father at the father’s funeral. In giving the eulogy, the son remarked, “My father was an average man. He was no war hero. He never wrote a book. He never ran marathons. He was a pharmacist. No recognition. No fame. But for everything that made my father “average” and “every day,” there was one thing he did exceptionally well. He kept his promises. My father was a man of his word.”

The son later printed out what he referred to as “promise cards” to help remind people of the importance of keeping commitments. This simple act turned into a movement that has changed the lives of people all over the world!

The idea was simple…write on the card what you wanted and then…keep your commitment!

If you say it…you do it!

How different our lives would be if we just did this one thing! Keeping our commitments to ourselves and to everyone else.

Do what you say…

Wouldn’t you value someone that consistently did that? Even if it were you?

Now seems like a perfect time to start…