Christianity 2009: Preface
These posts are going to be a huge collaboration of my frustrations, opinions, and my “state of the union” for our faith currently. It will encompass numerous posts and probably take us a month. I have been extensively researching this topic as this is one of my biggest issues and concerns with Christianity currently. “What has happened to Christianity and why are we seen as the enemy to many of the younger generations.” Please understand, I am going to quote a lot of data and research from people looking at our faith from the outside and much of it will …
True Confidence: Part 1
“I’m too young” “I’m too old” “I don’t have enough education” “Is this really what God wants for me?’ Voices We all have an mp3 track that plays over and over in our heads sometimes telling us that we are not good enough to accomplish our goals and passions in life. When you are at the starting line and the gun goes off, that is not a time to hesitate. When you are at the free throw line and your team is down with a few seconds left, that is not a time for uncertainty. When you ‘re on the …
Adversity: Our Days in Adullam
One of the areas that myself and I know many others struggle with is dealing with adversity. I have read and been told numerous times that the difference between significance in life and mediocrity is how we deal with adversity and setbacks. Adversity comes in two forms: Self Imposed and Unexpected Adversity. Self imposed is simply adversity that comes from the decisions or lack thereof that we choose in our lives. If you choose to cheat on your spouse or steal from your job, obviously you created this situation and you ultimately must take the blame. It takes a certain …
Reality 2.0
I’m listening to a book on Integrity by Henry Cloud and one of the topics he brought up was dealing with reality. Many of us at times, myself included, create an alternate reality to live in. Let me explain. You have a great idea that you have been cultivating for years, you share the idea with someone and they say that you should try to market this idea. You spend the next 16 months developing a business plan, putting in long hours away from your family and working on finding funding for this project. You finally get funding and launch …
By Grace Through Faith Alone
We were studying Acts and Galatians this week and I heard an interesting sermon that drove home one of the points I have tried to illustrate on my blog and when talking with other Christians. In Acts, Paul is answering some followers who believe that only those circumcised are going to go to heaven and they were preaching this to other Christians. Some times people have the right intentions and are passionate about their faith but they have the teachings a little wrong. Here is an example: How are Christians supposed to dress? How long can a Christian man’s hair …
When Bad Parents Happen To Good Sports
It happens every year and by now it shouldn’t upset me but it always does. When parents think that a child’s success in sports is the end all be all. I sat at the season opener for my son’s Under 10 Soccer League, lots of parents cheering, the kids were excited in their new uniforms. I was standing (I can never sit down when my kids play) next to an older lady who said her granddaughter was playing on my sons team. The game started and the kids were having fun while the parents cheered. Then the guy enters. He …
The Success Illusion: Final
We conclude our look into raising “successful kids” In Part I I stated that I talk with a lot of parents and often I ask what they want most for their children. The most common answer I here is Success. I then ask the parents to define success and what I normally here is a good education, a good job and some financial abundance leading to less struggle then the parents had to deal with. In Part II we looked at Honesty and Discipline as the top factors that lead to “successful” people and family’s according to Dr. Thomas Stanley’s …
The Success Illusion: Part III
We continue our look into raising “successful kids” In Part I I stated that I talk with a lot of parents and often I ask what they want most for their children. The most common answer I here is Success. I then ask the parents to define success and what I normally here is a good education, a good job and some financial abundance leading to less struggle then the parents had to deal with. In Part II we looked at Honesty and Discipline as the top factors that lead to “successful” people and family’s according to Dr. Thomas Stanley’s …
The Success Illusion: Part II
In The Success Illusion: Part I we established that many parents today are stressing and developing areas in their children that will not lead them to true success. In Dr. Thomas Stanley’s book “The Millionaire Mind”, Stanley surveys the households of America’s wealthiest families to determine the traits and habits of financially successful people (Millionaires). He also singles out true financially successful people not those who buy big homes, lease expensive cars and try to “look wealthy.” According to Stanley’s research the traits most mentioned by millionaires that lead them to success are: 1. Honesty – Integrity – Character 2. …
The Success Illusion
I talk with a lot of parents and often I ask what they want most for their children. The most common answer I here is Success. I then ask the parents to define success and what I normally here is a good education, a good job and some financial abundance leading to less struggle then the parents had to deal with. I also believe that actions speak louder than words and when I listen to parents talk and see what they most support and try to develop within their children, it usually falls into the categories of academics, sports, or …
