Three Big Mistakes

I came across a great thought in a devotional this AM.
It was titled, Three Big Mistakes.

Three of the biggest mistakes you can make are:
1. Longing for yesterday. A lady wrote to a newspaper editor, "Your paper is not as good as it used to be." He replied, "It never has been!"








Learn from the past, but don't put a halo on it.





The Bible says:
"Do not say, 'Why were the old days better than these?' For it is not wise." (Ecc 7:10 NIV)
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" (Isa 43:18-19 NIV)

2. Longing for the right somebody. It is better to want what you don't have than to have what you don't want.

The "somebody blues" can cause you to finish up like the lady who said, "I never knew what real happiness was until I married my husband; now it's too late!"

Two dysfunctional people usually don't make one happy couple.

When you're by yourself, at least you know who you're dealing with.

God knows you better than you do, and "No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." (Psalm 84:11)

Instead of finding the right person, strive to become the right person!

3. Longing for some future destination. It's a mistake to believe that when you arrive at a certain point you'll be happy; when you retire, take that trip or reach that goal. No, your happiest moments are along the way, not at the end of the trip.



When it comes to living you can't improve on God's Word "This is the day (today, right now!) that the Lord has made; I WILL rejoice and be glad in it."

Dad's Boots

Several days ago, I was selecting the shoes I wanted to wear for the day.
We had 4 inches of snow that had fallen the previous night and I remembered my dad's work boots.

Those boots were different than what you would normally think of as work boots.
My dad had a logging company and worked harvesting timber - huge trees.




I never knew the type of those boots until I received a Cabela's catalog.
They are called PACKER boots. We always called them "logging boots."




I remember Dad oiling, coating those boots with what he called "bear grease". I think it was mink oil.
He would lather it on those boots and then place them in the oven, with it turned on low and the door open, so his boot leather would absorb the oil.

Until you've been in bitter cold, mountain snow... you have no idea how important it is to have dry feet. He'd put on two layers of socks, the outer was wool and lace up those boots.

My father passed away October 31, 2005. He was quite a man.

Those boots are so cool.

I remember his boots, his black lunch pail and beat-up, green thermos.
Oh yes, his pants (jeans) would have the cuff or trim cut off just in case some machinery snagged his jeans, so the gears or machinery would not pull him in.


There was no one more safety conscious then my father.

I sure want a pair of those boots.
But what in the world would I do with them!?!?

Any suggestions? :)

TEN TOOLS from LADDERSHIFT

I am in the process of reading several books by Dr. Sam Chand. I have found the reading encouraging. Especially after saying "goodbye to 2007".

I attended one of his training sessions at our recent A/G General Council in Indianapolis. I was very impressed. The theme Dr. Chand has chosen for his series of books is LADDERS.

Check out his website www.samchand.com.

Chand refers to himself as a Dream Releaser and his work as a Leadership Architect and Change Stragetist.

In his book, Ladder Shifts, he shares Ten Tools for Gaining New Perspective.

1. Ask yourself the Peter Drucker questions:
1. What is our mission?
2. Who is our customer?
3. What does our customer value?
4. What is our plan?
5. What are our results?
   
2. Examine and clarify what you offer. Your product is whatever you offer people.

3. Offer who you are.

4. Recertify yourself each year. Change is always necessary.

5. Commit to a personal development plan (PDP).

6. Focus on personal disciplines.

· OHIO – Only Handle It Once

· Reading widely

· Growing intentionally

7. Remember that the learners beat the learned.

“In times of change, learners inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.” (Eric Hoffer)

Someone with a Ph.D. who has not continued growing is learned. A person with a GED who is a learner, who continues growing and developing, can outdistance that Ph.D…. if I don’t keep up with my field, I’m learned. Unless I’m an active learner, it’s just a degree that looks good on my resume.

8. Be content to be “a work in progress.” I’m not where I was yesterday; I’m not where I’m going to be tomorrow. I’m in progress.

9. Remember, it’s not the destination; it’s the journey.

10. Ask yourself three questions at the end of every day:

· What did I learn today? What spoke to your heart and your head?

· How did I grow today? What touched your heart and affected your actions.

· What will I do differently?

Gaining new perspectives is not something that’s just going to happen to you; they won’t fall out of the sky. You have to make it happen by creating the right conditions and putting yourself in situations that will lead to growth. By regularly working with these tools, you’ll put yourself on the right road – the road to new perspectives.

_________________________

Thanks Dr. Chand. Thanks for writing a great book.

How is your ladder?

TOUGH LOVE - "You go, mom!"

Just read about a mom in Ft. Dodge, Iowa who found alcohol in her son's car, she decided to sell the car and share her 19-year-old's misdeed with everyone — by placing an ad in the local newspaper.
MEAN MOM

The ad reads: "OLDS 1999 Intrigue. Totally uncool parents who obviously don't love teenage son, selling his car. Only driven for three weeks before snoopy mom who needs to get a life found booze under front seat. $3,700/offer. Call meanest mom on the planet."

I nominate her for FORT DODGE MOTHER OF THE YEAR!

“Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot…”

GOOD BYE 2007! I am glad to see you go.

This has been a year that I am glad to see in the rearview mirror.

“Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot…” is the question of Burn's Auld Lang Syne and my answer is YES and NO.

I have learned a lot from this year... A LOT.
I have a list of things I have learned.
I have found, essential with any experience... good or bad... is to LEARN from it.
I have squeezed and will continue to squeeze the lessons from 2007.
I will post some...some I will not...
The full lesson lists may be available, but you have to know how to ask.


I HAVE LEARNED...
I can trust God. He is faithful
I can trust family. They are loyal.
I can trust friends. I have continued to be amazed at the friends (old and new) that have encouraged me.

I HAVE LEARNED...
People can be trusted...
People can't be trusted...
There are some people, who choose to rise to the surface, that are remarkable.
Unresolved "stuff" from the past will impact the present.

I HAVE LEARNED...
Values are the key. Outside of FAITH, values must line up.
Loyalty is like gold.
God has standards. You'd better know them and you'd better observe them.
GOD IS THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE

Thanks to Steve Hahn for the brilliant graphic.