Did the homework, didn't learn the lesson

I think this is true for a lot of people, they do the homework, but don't learn the lesson.

The news report on MSNBC.COM - Criminal Weirdness stated...

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Justin John Boudin may have done his anger management homework, but he apparently didn't learn his lesson.

The 27-year-old Minnesota man pleaded guilty to fifth-degree assault charges for losing his temper on the way to class.

According to the criminal complaint, Boudin was waiting at a bus stop in August when he harassed a 59-year-old woman. Witnesses say he yelled "Why don't you show me some respect?" at the woman.

The complaint says when she took out her cell to call police, he punched her in the face. When a 63-year-old man tried to stop him, Boudin hit him with a blue folder. Then he ran, dropping the folder.

Police were able to track him down using the papers inside, which included his name and his anger management homework.

THE PRINCIPLE should be...

Do the homework and LEARN THE LESSON!

ONLY LOVE WINS

My friend, Layton Howerton, always captures me with some of his great original work.
He sang one of his new songs when he was at our church over the weekend of January 13 -
Love Wins.

Layton's ability as a story teller is so impressive. One of his favorite phrases is "Long Story Short." So he is my "LSS" buddy.

I am so glad that I can count Layton as a friend.
Layton, thanks for a great song.

When the song comes out on his new CD, make sure and get it!
www.thestorytellersjournal.com



Love Wins

On life and love, it's complicated
Whether You're single or married, you' get frustrated
I Know love and how it makes you feel
yeah I know love and how it makes life reel

You put your right foot forward and drag your left
With all the heart/faith/life that you've got left
Even when you don't believe
You keep your eyes forward and don't look down
When your world's spinning round and breathe

If the first shall be last and the last first
In the end only love wins

On life and religion....(laugh)
It's mostly opinion and blended superstition
I know the truth, You can't outrun what You've done
Yeah I know the truth and the need for redemption

When your faith in folks fails you, when you forget to forgive
Remember everybody dies, few people live

Layton Howerton
Whistlin' Biscuit Music Co/BMI
OWM/19 Entertainment

Every line in this song is beautifully crafted.
But that last one is powerful...
"When your faith in folks fails you, when you forget to forgive
Remember everybody dies, few people live."

Thanks Layton.

HOORAY FOR THE UNDERDOGS

I just watched one of the most amazing Superbowls.
Congratulations to Eli Manning and the New York Giants.
Winners of Superbowl XL II.

How must Archie Manning feel?

Peyton - MVP last year...
Eli - MVP this year.

Very cool.

Bloomberg news reported...

Manning, whose brother Peyton was named Super Bowl MVP a year ago, completed 19 of 34 passes for 255 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception. He capped an 83-yard drive with a 13-yard scoring pass to Plaxico Burress with 39 seconds left in the game.

``We believed in ourselves all year,'' Manning said at a televised postgame news conference in Glendale, Arizona. ``That's the position you want to be in. You want to have the ball in your hands with four minutes left. You've got to score a touchdown. That's where you want to be, with a chance to win the game.''

The Giants' 12-play game-winning drive included a play where Manning broke free from a knot of defenders and found receiver David Tyree for a 32-yard reception. Tyree caught the ball over his head, holding it against his helmet as he was brought to the ground. The Giants scored four plays later.

``I don't know if there's ever been a bigger play in the Super Bowl than that play, at least from my viewpoint,'' Giants coach Tom Coughlin said at a news conference.

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!