"Free will and determinism are like a game of cards. The hand that is dealt you is determinism (predestination). The way you play your hand is free will." ~ Norman Cousins

That ought to send you who are on either side of that theological fence into fits! Consider it my gift to you :) … that there is always a third concept of life… I mean we have a triune God, why not then a third view? With that in mind…

How well do you play the hand that is dealt you? Do you have the pure grit necessary to triumph over fear, uncertainty and doubt as you move towards your most cherished dreams and goals? Remember, you have nothing to fear except fear itself, right?

My Top 3 Goals & The Rewards Contained In Them:

1. _______________________ Reward _________________
2. _______________________ Reward _________________
3. _______________________ Reward _________________

Or do they SCARE the livin' stuffin out of you?!

The simple truth of the matter is, we are all afraid of something. Sometimes, it's the fear of being successful itself that torpedoes many of us. Usually though, it is just our fear of FEAR that stops us cold. (This is exactly like the catchphrase "Stop Getting Ready to Get Ready!)

Again, you gain immediate power over your fears by taking a positive forward action. Otherwise, you are robbed of all personal power until the cause of the fear goes away.

Look at your goals again. What is your FEAR to REWARD ratio? You have two choices: Increase the REWARDS within your goals; or, Reduce your FEAR.

Remember, a loss of WILL Power occurs when you permit FEAR to take over your life.

Yes, FEAR is a prime reason people NEVER achieve their goals. It's sad, because all you need to do is ACT through the fear... and do it anyway. Play your cards with His wisdom and grace and you will have a great hand in action… Remember you act your way into a feeling not feel your way into an action. ACT. That is true of all we really achieve,  now I have found change happens or great events take place when we don't want to do something, but talk ourselves (or our spouses) into an action...it is in those times that we really have royal flush happen in life!

While I didn’t always agree with Norman Cousins in his perceptive on evil in our world, he Acted he had Passion, he Achieved, here are some other quotes: "Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live…History is a vast early warning system… In a democracy, the individual enjoys not only the ultimate power but carries the ultimate responsibility... Wisdom consists of the anticipation of consequences."

 

Creative Life Magic, is an action of moving from the heavens into reality, a transformation! Something that never existed suddenly appears. The result is something we recognize immediately. You leave a show, hear some music or read a book or use a new computer… and say, 'That was just unbelievably awe-inspiring!' As people, we understand when that happens--it's touching us in a sensory and intuitive way that crosses a threshold. It would be as if we hurtle ourselves at 55 mph into a pool of water and, live to tell about!

Do you believe in magic? YES! - In a young girl's or boy's heart? If the music is smooth and rich? Don't be tempted to not to! We see it all the time about innovation “not enough”, I think there's still a global shortage of pixie dust. Too much of what passes for creativity turns out to be small-scale rip-offs and design tweaks with the retro’s taking over all the time and saying it’s “NEW” – “WOW” is the thrill of creating, thinking and acting on it gone? NO!!! NO!!! At least I hope not!

Creatively living in faith, passions, deepening ones relationships… THINKING… is nothing short of an antidote to sameness and safeness. Everything I know about business is learned in amusement parks, music, musical/dance & even in history, for creating experiences that made people's hearts move faster--or better, just moved them - which allow for a possible change to transpire. And what we can know is this: We gain advantage in living only when we embrace risky breakout ideas to creatively change our environment or life in general. Our survival depends not on sticking to what has worked for the last 10 years, but on making leaps of faith, that let us predict new challenges and seize on new opportunities - magic happens when creative thinking and living is done!

It starts with the cleaning audit, which is a list of questions that helps us to understand where we are and where we might go next. So ask yourself: “So do I have the right core to make this leap of faith”, “What do I have faith in? Me, myself and I or in Him.” In our work environment, or church (dare I ask?)  “What would Tom Hanks in the movie ‘Big’ think about what you're doing – would it be fun, creative - lasting in it's impact? Like creating a school that works like a trade show, where students visit teachers in booths and choose which ones they want to learn from. Would you invest your own money in this vision? Would you go WOW? What is the BEST way to do this – and not the better or the good but the BEST way to do this? Does this impact people for their betterment or it is worth-while in light of eternity?"

Step two: Take stock of your life and then your ideas, classifying them by order of advancement. A higher order of innovation forces us to change strategy, but not the whole business. Remember though in your life – faith does change the way you do business and sometimes you stop doing business the way you have in the past!
Now, in the highest order, of course, are the truly transformative ideas--the ones that make you think, "Hey! I could lose my job for this! Or my friends will think, I think to much or worst they will think I am a religious nut case… SO… you might really discover life!
 When you make the leap of faith... when transformation is required you will have these kicking-and-screaming or at least some crying moments, I do at least once a week – but it is mostly fun! Anytime you move from one state to another (moving forward - magic) in anything, you have a third of the people who are so excited they can't believe it, and another class who think the world is coming to an end--which in a way, it is and another third who now hate you.

"Making magic," is a lot of hard work, but worth it – just look at Walt and Roy Disney…Which is to say, there may be nothing magic about it – but really living in a faith walk in a life giving manner for a “Change" the REAL MAGIC!" !

 

  Thankgiving unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Thanksgiving makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. While Thursday is our National  Day it doesn't just last one day, but in all times give thanks, in all things give thanks - it changes the way we think ...not just about the great triune god of our age "Me, Myself, I" but of Him and others.

  If you are not GETTING what you want out of life, maybe you're not GIVING enough to it.

 

We all run on two clocks. One is the outside clock, which ticks away our decades and brings us ceaselessly to the last season here on earth and into the eternal season.

The other is the inside clock, where you are your own timekeeper and determine your own chronology, your own internal weather and your own rate of living. Sometimes the inner clock runs itself out long before the outer one, and you see a dead person going through the motions of living..

Fresh ideas, dreams, vision, challenges, thinking of others, service not being served, joy, praise of others and of Him, thanksgiving in all circumstances, purity of life, clear consciences, all these things and more will add to your inner clock and beauty of a life lived well.

"If we work upon marble, it will perish; if we work upon brass, time will efface it; if we rear temples, they will crumble into dust; but if we work upon immortal minds and instill into them just principles, we are then engraving that upon tablets which no time will efface, but will brighten and brighten to all eternity." Daniel Webster

Two more thoughts … The Clock is ticking in other ways too in America

1.) We have some clearly marked out definitive government actions in our near future, may we have those that cast votes or sign or not sign, such actions have the principles in place that they can say… “Sink or Swim, live or die, survive or perish, I give my hand and my heart to this vote…” Daniel Webster. Then those who sign or not – vote in the houses of leadership, be held accountable for their actions by us who do have the principles in place the we will brighten all eternity by our action here.

2.) A few months ago Yahoo collaborated with the Chinese government in the imprisonment of a reporter Shi Tao, he is off the headlines in fact not many have given him much thought since. It speaks more of the full times we live in rather than our hearts, I hope.
  The real question is which would you be a Yahoo collaborator or are you willing to pay the price and speak the truth when you know the cost is high. What you do in your inner clock living (your core) will determine your actions and how high of a price you will be willing to pay! Some I know have been willing to give it all to the point of hanging on a hook than to collaborate and die inside by touching the hand of evil. Are you?

 Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety (fear) or the handle of faith." ~ Henry Ward Beecher

Fear knocked at your door – Faith answered and no one was there. Do you have the faith to open the door? Little faith is better than none!

Your Mission... Vision... Values and Goals.

The future is a canvas that has yet to be painted. Next year at this time, you will look at what has taken place in the last twelve months, and you should be able to fill that canvas with the HISTORY of your life... what happened... where you went... big and little accomplishments... failures...joys... heartbreaks... laughter... disappointments... and peace that surpasses understanding.

The future will happen, and day-by-day, it will silently move into the past whether you like it or not. Please remember your politics can't be your sole effort in life...or else your life will be like old oil; wearing, broken down, useless and only worthy to be buried in your back yard for some kid to someday dig there and think they struck oil - a childs fleeting joy.

 10 Critical thinking steps to develop a productive future:

• I have a written list of the most important, heartfelt VALUES that I want to experience in life.
• I have a personal mission statement that PROMISES how I will "live what I value" as my code of conduct for everything I do.
• I will not live a minute being COMPLACENT with the way things are today - JOYFUL today but not smug.
• I can describe each of my VISIONS in clear and colorful detail.
• I have to learn from my pasts success’ and failures to live - I LEARN and LIVE … instead of live and learn… which will lead to failure, guaranteed!
• I make DAILY DECISIONS based upon my values, vision and mission.
• I have at least ONE clearly defined goal for EVERY major interest and role in my life.
• I set my goals so they are DIRECTLY aligned with my life's MISSION.
• I am not CONTROLLED by what happens in Washington D.C., they do not control my future.
• I will defend/speak/teach about the FREEDOM I walk in and express it through the truth and strength of Jesus who is greater than any power or principality in the World.
• I will not LIVE in fear even in our time of war, political stupidity and change...I choose to live in FAITH, GRACE and STRENGTH, knowing WHO really holds all my tomorrows!

   Now what???? after a very tough week of changes from my home church to the elections.. it can't get any worse that this? The answer is, it can, but will it? Maybe, but the only hope we all have to see us through these storms is a persistent presence of standing in His strength and not our own.  If we must choose between righteousness and peace in the times we are living in, we need to choose righteousness. 
  "Life brings sorrows and joys alike. It is what a man does with them - not what they do to him - that is the true test of his mettle." T.R. Roosevelt 
  What is your mettle? Heaven heated titanium that can take the heat of friction from those that seek to destory and tear down and even friction that can happen from those who's life's core is weak and broken that need restoration?
  The hardest lessons to learn are those that are the most obvious, NOW is the time to learn and live NOT live and learn.
  I don't know about you but my hope is not what I see in leaders, politian's or even our wonderfully giving miltary who sacrifice so much, but in Him who holds me in His faith and love. Then I can see the leaders as they are POHer's (plain old humans), politian's good and corrupt and pray often throughout the day for our miltary and families in harms way. And hug my family, my bride with tender hearted joy, inspite of the troubled times that storm outside my window of life.
  Last thought... again T.R. Roosevelt: "Progress has brought us both unbounded opportunities and unbridled difficulties. Thus the measure of our civilization will not be that we have done much, but what we have done with that much."  
  Use it wisely! I am commited to it doing just that, are you?

 

Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.

Insanity is my only means of relaxation.

Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.

You know you're getting old when you stoop to tie your shoes and wonder what else you can do while you're down there.

You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.

One of life's mysteries is how a two pound box of candy can make a person gain five pounds.

Every time I think about exercise, I lie down 'till the thought goes away.

God put me on earth to accomplish a certain number of things. Right now I am so far behind, I will live forever.

I finally got my head together, and my body fell apart.

Time may be a great healer, but it's also a lousy beautician.

Age doesn't always bring wisdom. Sometimes age comes alone.

Amazing! You just hang something in your closet for a while, and it shrinks two sizes.

Inside some of us is a thin person struggling to get out, but they can usually be sedated with a few pieces of chocolate cake.

 I hope this light note on life will clear the cob-webs of this past few days and help you smile and vote with a clear head! 
 Remember to vote as people who have passion for the future of America being safe &strong - who will continue to speak for freedom for others everywhere.

 

Locust are bugs that only know how to devour and are considered a plague in any country. The left of this country have transformed into locust and they are seeking you. Winston Churchill said in the 30’s the political oppositional party  in England had become locust seeking to devour anything in their path that opposed their isolational/socialist positions. Today we find the left, “gay” and isolational groups of today have become the same. They seek to destroy at any cost, say anything to malign and castigate anyone who speaks, stands or acts on behalf of the truth.

You know Jesus said it was going to be like this if you do speak, act or stand for the Truth because those who do not know or comprehend the Truth hate it. I hope you are ready for the Locust… they are here, don't you see them on the news, papers on platforms... sometimes in black robes. They are seeking to devour and they aren’t easily stopped. It isn’t for the faint hearted - but don’t grow weary or faint hearted, in standing your ground or else they will devour you. We need you to stand – stand and when you have done everything stand.

Personal note: Ted Haggard is my pastor and the locust have come for him, his faithful wife and his kids. Stand with him – my family is and will through this attack and any others, as he has in our tough time that we are going through! I am honored to have Ted Haggard as my pastor and friend – Gayle you are wonderful example of a strong & faithful – standing women of God!

 

 How come Kerry never Apologized to the troop and their families directly?