tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62907387816549553432024-03-13T12:42:25.267-04:00 cking1224Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290738781654955343.post-58394555985008912082014-08-26T16:10:00.001-04:002014-08-26T16:10:51.812-04:00New Post/New BeginningsI know what you may be thinking... I am not checking this blog anymore, he doesn't make posts anymore. (and when he does it is just about a monthly challenge or books he is reading)<br />
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Not so fast my friend...<br />
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Don't be alarmed.... www.cking1224.blogspot.com is in the stage of making some changes because of the growth in views. These changes have been getting worked on during this month and will be coming soon to a computer near you. <br />
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So stay with me and I will update when the changes are complete. For the time being please don't hesitate to follow me on Twitter (<a href="http://www.twitter.com/cking1224" target="_blank">www.twitter.com/cking1224</a>) and check out my most recent photographs on <a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/cking1224" target="_blank">RED BUBBLE!!! (click here)</a><br />
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Look forward to the new awesomeness that is about to go down!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290738781654955343.post-77808312850157670932014-07-02T12:16:00.000-04:002014-07-06T12:16:41.027-04:00June's Challenge Complete and On with JulyWell the last I believe of workout challenges of the year are done as I completed the month of June being 30 pull ups everyday for the month!!!<br />
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It started out difficult since I have never been a "pull up guy". But then as the month went on it actually became pretty easy to complete this and most days try to do more than 30. But on the last day I wanted to be able to get it all done in less than 3 sets which I was able to accomplish and can now do 13 pull ups straight... when I started the month I was at 4. Next year I might have to add push up and pull up challenge in the same month?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>JULY's CHALLENGE</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">STRETCHING</span><br />
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Do I think this can be completed pretty easily?... yes. Do I think I will enjoy it?... No!<br />
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I use to hate even looking at this...<br />
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I was always the guy in elementary school that couldn't get presidential because when it came to doing the sit and reach I couldn't even reach the board to even count a score. I think that is the best way to describe how non flexible I am. So here goes nothing...<br />
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<b>At least 15 minutes a day of stretching, and get up to 30 minutes a day be the end of the month.</b></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290738781654955343.post-81260770454733233242014-06-23T05:06:00.001-04:002014-06-23T05:06:30.367-04:00Managers On A Mission (taking over #WakingWithPurpose)<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As many may have seen through my Twitter account <a href="http://www.twitter.com/cking1224" target="_blank">@cking1224</a> and on the top of my blog (a link - <a href="http://www.managersonamission.org/" target="_blank">MOAM</a>) a connection I have with Managers On A Mission. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You may be wondering WHAT IS MOAM AND WHAT IS MY CONNECTION?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Around this time last year Drew Boe (former GA for football at Virginia Tech) and three other former student managers of athletic programs around the country launched the non-profit organization Managers On A Mission. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Throughout 2013 I knew God kept putting MOAM on my heart and wanting me to be more involved with it in some capacity as I kept telling Morgann how awesome I thought it was and kept looking at what God was doing through the men who started it and their <b>ultimate goal of serving His Kingdom.</b> With this on my heart and mind, and a conversation with Chad Atherton (former GA for football at Virginia Tech and now board member for MOAM) I started to pray about what/how I could be a part of Managers On A Mission.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In January of this year God finally put it on my heart to call Drew Boe and express to him how I wanted to be fully involved in what Managers On A Mission is all about!</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Six months later now and God has lead me to the opportunity to start posting my #WakingWithPurpose tweets (<a href="http://www.cking1224.blogspot.com/2012/12/why-are-you-waking-up-early.html#links" target="_blank">WHY WAKING WITH A PURPOSE BLOG LINK</a>) <u>through the MOAM twitter account (<a href="http://www.twitter.com/mngrsonamission" target="_blank">MOAM Twitter</a>)</u>, which I am super pumped about because I feel MOAM is definitely a representation of what <u>God speaks through those tweets at 4 am each morning!</u></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What is MOAM?</b></span> <a href="http://managersonamission.org/" target="_blank">MANAGERSONAMISSION.ORG</a></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho64lZVGR4sDOyKgd5drA41DdAYUJmNHZOTK8f2o-YZbW4UVY2Ye8yzSnL2zD2Wf1oe4tXY4GQ_4MKphZ6k5BqlZ5XswSpwqoPpy-8vPwYuWBuIfXXuc13dP-lbbdUjlPze6axbjjIJ87B/s1600/1399476469.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho64lZVGR4sDOyKgd5drA41DdAYUJmNHZOTK8f2o-YZbW4UVY2Ye8yzSnL2zD2Wf1oe4tXY4GQ_4MKphZ6k5BqlZ5XswSpwqoPpy-8vPwYuWBuIfXXuc13dP-lbbdUjlPze6axbjjIJ87B/s1600/1399476469.png" height="182" width="400" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;">Managers On A Mission is a non-profit organization that was established to develop ‘uncommon’ leaders that will maximize the utilization of the prominent and influential platform afforded to sports leaders. </span><span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt;">MOAM prepares and equips college athletic student managers for the challenges, pressures and temptations of the industry through connecting these future industry leaders with resources and programs. The focus of these is to challenge them to become men and women of character, integrity and courage, who exhibit both confidence and humility and who know the value of family and faith.</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Through service projects and mission trips, both domestically and internationally</b>, MOAM encourages student managers to walk a path towards living a life of true significance.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Managers On A Mission was founded by four former student managers with the assistance of our mentors Tubby Smith, Frank Beamer, and Equipment Managers throughout the country.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-kUzpPWJLm72_oeG9XZmakCcCGajuSvoP4GDTrlfcJSfXsVJW9kuTLmBCCuoiqLYxZhPpfxJ8gpm1cB7ZFkJQcX-L7IfJ89NyZnODLQtbIOedwkl5BnwdMLIRmc-Es38Fj6TQdFSCPegN/s1600/161474_orig.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-kUzpPWJLm72_oeG9XZmakCcCGajuSvoP4GDTrlfcJSfXsVJW9kuTLmBCCuoiqLYxZhPpfxJ8gpm1cB7ZFkJQcX-L7IfJ89NyZnODLQtbIOedwkl5BnwdMLIRmc-Es38Fj6TQdFSCPegN/s1600/161474_orig.png" height="105" width="320" /></a><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>One of the biggest programs MOAM offers is a fully funded mission trip to an orphanage in Africa.</b> Just as student managers are the future leaders of sport, the millions of orphans throughout Africa are the future leaders of their respective countries. This is why MOAM is committed to connecting the best servant leaders in sport, student managers, with this transformational opportunity the mission trip experience offers.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We also fund student manager led service projects throughout the United States and exclusive student manager scholarship programs. This past Fall MOAM was able to distribute 150 copies of “The Jersey Effect” to student managers throughout the country and look to build upon this with further scholarship programs. If interested please visit (<a href="http://www.managersonamission.org/moam-service-projects.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>managersonamission.org/moam-<wbr></wbr>service-projects.html</a>)</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJt6g0-isy-TERqLAgT6kI-GbgEAgMubQ2YsOi5P7Vq61t-3G7kHTE0oJGdmTw7YIIbGyJH8rII12CFSIKpSXlGuqKkjv4cDiBw4HMkvdMf1zNKNoc1DBYlH0RwmewTm6jfA6L-OZnES6v/s1600/8420382_orig.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJt6g0-isy-TERqLAgT6kI-GbgEAgMubQ2YsOi5P7Vq61t-3G7kHTE0oJGdmTw7YIIbGyJH8rII12CFSIKpSXlGuqKkjv4cDiBw4HMkvdMf1zNKNoc1DBYlH0RwmewTm6jfA6L-OZnES6v/s1600/8420382_orig.png" height="105" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;"><u><b>Our 100% volunteer driven nonprofit organization is able to accomplish our mission through donations of used/excess sports apparel from coaches, and support staff members of College Football and NFL teams throughout the country.</b></u> These donations typically come in 2 ways.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;">1. Through coaches/support staff cleaning out their lockers each year as the new season’s apparel is issued.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2. After coaches/support staff transition from one program to another, and are no longer in need of the previous team’s apparel. For example, see our generous donation from Tubby Smith after he was fired at MN HERE (<a href="http://www.managersonamission.org/news/coach-tubby-smith-makes-donation-to-managers-on-a-mission" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>managersonamission.org/news/<wbr></wbr>coach-tubby-smith-makes-<wbr></wbr>donation-to-managers-on-a-<wbr></wbr>mission</a>).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">These used items still contain unbelievable value that fund our programs as they are sold 100% for charity through our online eBay Giving Works store - </span><a href="http://www.ebay.com/usr/authenticathleticapparel" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-size: 15px;" target="_blank">http://www.ebay.com/usr/<wbr></wbr>authenticathleticapparel</a></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A 100% volunteer staff also allows MOAM to ensure all donations go directly to programs and scholarships. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Don't forget to follow MOAM on twitter (<a href="http://www.twtter.com/mngersonamission" target="_blank">MOAM Twitter</a>) if you enjoy my tweets each morning for #WakingWithPurpose! We at Managers On A Mission look forward to continued prayer as MOAM goes forward with our mission of serving God's Kingdom!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9utX84JBweWgDhyphenhyphenzR5n1LORypqTrlD-jMRL9jcOJ38gLm4QrjjAg-fthEOLPpxfpbhSqcvA0Tol9Ix2VvNd-YIVGgEov8CFyvxjEaC_r2nmfZhyphenhyphenc2KOIMkwHYsis7tvgS7as0G0ChizI/s1600/8199708.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9utX84JBweWgDhyphenhyphenzR5n1LORypqTrlD-jMRL9jcOJ38gLm4QrjjAg-fthEOLPpxfpbhSqcvA0Tol9Ix2VvNd-YIVGgEov8CFyvxjEaC_r2nmfZhyphenhyphenc2KOIMkwHYsis7tvgS7as0G0ChizI/s1600/8199708.png" /></a></div>
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(Drew Boe - President, Managers On A Mission)</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290738781654955343.post-83486964082282357572014-06-02T16:04:00.000-04:002014-06-02T16:04:21.571-04:00Monthly Challenge - JUNEOh man am I glad that May's monthly challenge is over!!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNf2yGyvpKjvRINJM8CENJlh1M5o5UeqUz3RoxJqUfsFiAlccJ5O1Wqf9u3NRTzH9FXWDjEzhRT3JvuuRCVJ8LUhDVDOaJQmECAy8zvuP-hIV_27gT8FvvFG-wZP8OSCCXevQfIMAi9WhN/s1600/bloggg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNf2yGyvpKjvRINJM8CENJlh1M5o5UeqUz3RoxJqUfsFiAlccJ5O1Wqf9u3NRTzH9FXWDjEzhRT3JvuuRCVJ8LUhDVDOaJQmECAy8zvuP-hIV_27gT8FvvFG-wZP8OSCCXevQfIMAi9WhN/s1600/bloggg.jpg" /></a>Just too put it bluntly - that wasn't fun at all!<br />
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No cereal for a whole month, out of the all the challenges for the year so far, this is the first one that I can say that there is no doubt in my mind that I will never try again!!! Ever!<br />
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First week was fine, but then after that you just get tired of making eggs, waffles, pancakes, etc<br />
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(First bowl or should I say 4 bowls were straight Golden Grahams)<br />
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Positives of this past month? Umm... (maybe that is why I won't ever do it again)<br />
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I guess the positive is I really have about 6 different ways I can make eggs now, I even know how to make 3 different types of scrambled eggs. I found out that the WalMart Blueberry waffles are actually better for you and cheaper than the Trader Joe's Blueberry Waffles, who would have thought?<br />
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So with that said, we will put that in the past an never really bring up the idea of a no cereal month again!<br />
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Now on to June, where instead of taking something away I am adding something...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFz6tLHK146c7iP_YvuXrf9gnVvDtLpbgSTT8KVgs9UltaeeQvWyWF3Qrc656Hs9nPk-zfaA5aC5mqj_6XfIqtognhY2C32w2m-wgNqoieX4uzCkBT3HkSKByn_R9hV1mWvIgx7A69pGSr/s1600/blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFz6tLHK146c7iP_YvuXrf9gnVvDtLpbgSTT8KVgs9UltaeeQvWyWF3Qrc656Hs9nPk-zfaA5aC5mqj_6XfIqtognhY2C32w2m-wgNqoieX4uzCkBT3HkSKByn_R9hV1mWvIgx7A69pGSr/s1600/blog.jpg" /></a>30 PULL UPS EVERYDAY<br />
(the key - it cannot be part of a workout)<br />
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I am horrible at pull-ups! I think some people's bodies are just made for Pull-Ups, well mine is not. I have never been good at pull-ups so I am looking forward to this. My goal by the end of the month is to be able to do 30 while only using no more than 3 different sets and possibly completing that under a 5 minute period, we will see!<br />
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Bring on the Total Gym!<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290738781654955343.post-77552771307685359282014-05-28T09:10:00.000-04:002014-05-28T09:10:00.504-04:00Subway (the old cut)When I first started working at Subway, summer of 2000! It was the "old Subway".<br />
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We had White or Wheat bread.<br />
We didn't have breakfast.<br />
We had stamps that could get you free sandwiches.<br />
We didn't have pizza.<br />
We didn't have a toaster oven.<br />
<b>And we definitely didn't cut our bread on only one side of the loaf!</b><br />
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By year 4 of me working at subway, all the above had changed!<br />
(even though I was still eating frozen cookie dough in the freezer)<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSNjDODgL-9-Z7VewVQvF-2AYpPJUjHiN1F1W9tFabC1CitnojSnb8hkKr4VrxUByoEXZnjszYSnxbENeIZGzBmfvX7J_W9Xp4scgduG_hSHwzdM-SDxKr3gtK0wbgC7g5y75dLt1Fy7kr/s1600/DSCN0161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSNjDODgL-9-Z7VewVQvF-2AYpPJUjHiN1F1W9tFabC1CitnojSnb8hkKr4VrxUByoEXZnjszYSnxbENeIZGzBmfvX7J_W9Xp4scgduG_hSHwzdM-SDxKr3gtK0wbgC7g5y75dLt1Fy7kr/s1600/DSCN0161.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
Subway was making it harder on the customer, more sandwich options that were paired with a variety of different kinds of bread. But no customer ever complained about any of the changes. My friends would complain about the no stamp movement just because this meant I wouldn't be rolling out 24 stamps for every six inch sub they bought. <br />
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But one change did happen that most customers would always still ask. <br />
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"Are you able to do the old cut"<br />
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It made me so proud to know that I could, that I had worked at this joint long enough that I could do "the old cut" Many of you may know what I am talking about. The perfect cut V all they way around so everything is placed in the middle and doesn't fall out, what all sandwich consumers crave to this day!<br />
When a "newer" employee would get hired, I use to love the question...<br />
"Hey Chris, can you come down here and give this person "the old cut".<br />
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<b>So I am using this post to announce, I STILL HAVE IT!</b><br />
Last week Morgann and I made steak and cheese sandwiches at home, and I didn't hold back.<br />
Old Cut it was! Good enough to even take a picture. Old cut to perfection!<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290738781654955343.post-43395047879683068792014-05-01T09:38:00.000-04:002014-05-01T09:38:19.511-04:00Monthly Challenge - May EditionMade it through April's challenge. I would say it was the most "challenging" so far. Yes the push up month and floss month wore me out but month of "NO" was rough sometimes.<br />
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To hit a little bit on each "NO" that happened during the month...<br />
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<b>NO TWITTER</b><br />
I am actually going to write a whole post about going no twitter for a month because there is more I would like to write about it, but in a quick gist. It was actually more difficult than I thought. I didn't know before the month how much I rely on Twitter for news, and updates, and links to things I am interested in. So from that aspect I definitely missed Twitter.<br />
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<b>NO YOUTUBE</b><br />
To rate the effect this had, I would have to go with medium. I use a Chrome Cast to watch TV shows through YouTube on my TV since I don't have cable and I thought this would be a challenge as I feel like I have been using it a lot in the prior months, but come to find out I guess I don't use it as much as I thought, or I guess don't "need" it as much as I thought. The hardest part for me was I had to take a break from watching football highlights of recruits and NFL draft prospects.<br />
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<b>NO INSTAGRAM</b><br />
I really don't know if I missed this or not. It isn't really something that I feel like I am missing vital information if I don't have it. So all in all, didn't really miss instagram. Don't get me wrong, I love looking at pics and what others are up to but definitely not a pressing thing.<br />
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<b>NO CELL PHONE USE AFTER 7 PM</b><br />
With the above three items being a no go, this didn't really effect me too much. I really don't look at my phone that much after 7 anyway since it takes me forever to text on my phone, I really just don't like my phone, so I am never really on it that much anyway.<br />
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<b>NO Ipad</b><br />
Wasn't too difficult. 1. Because I would just use our laptop if I needed to look at something. and 2. I think my only use for the Ipad is to watch a show or just look up something quickly online. So I guess really all in all the Ipad isn't needed in life and since it is a work item and I didn't pay for it, I know if I left my current job for some reason I wouldn't buy one.<br />
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<b>NO SWEETS AND CANDY</b><br />
Really wasn't that difficult because I am not a huge sweets guy (loves some chips and salsa instead). But got through it and don't think this really effected my life too much.<br />
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All in all, TWITTER, definitely the hardest part of the April challenge!!!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">On to May... (what I think will be the hardest yet)</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><span style="color: red;">NO CEREAL</span></u></span></b> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwRpx6qy83zKsx0T75ANfsWdNUnDHOcKCNOapyyECifw1DHvxlffckJVW_hS1kMi6MSh2x3ZqH0p1vLH_7vKAvWPNVwQLbPpBoCj09fcrPIjfOU3toSd6Sn1JJeUmbWfgoF5k034Gl6DAs/s1600/blog+cereal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwRpx6qy83zKsx0T75ANfsWdNUnDHOcKCNOapyyECifw1DHvxlffckJVW_hS1kMi6MSh2x3ZqH0p1vLH_7vKAvWPNVwQLbPpBoCj09fcrPIjfOU3toSd6Sn1JJeUmbWfgoF5k034Gl6DAs/s1600/blog+cereal.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a><b><span style="font-size: large;">If you know me, you know how much I love cereal. I really don't know if there are many days in my whole life that I haven't eaten cereal. Public Speaking class in college I did a speech on how Cinnamon Toast Crunch is healthy for you (backed by tons of research obviously). When I go to an all you can eat breakfast buffet, I still get cereal. HUGE FAN HERE!</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">What will I do?</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Well, I plan on resorting to eggs, bacon, breakfast burritos, Eggo waffles, and fruit! (One Rule - It has to be made in my kitchen, no Bojangles or Chick Fil A!) This should be interesting... </span></b></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290738781654955343.post-80813490001256075842014-04-30T13:36:00.001-04:002014-04-30T13:36:50.790-04:00Super Center SAVIOR<div style="text-align: center;">
Review of Jeff Noble's book - Super Center Savior</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMejY2C4H4G45iSCwvUaYUf4M753GTVAzB4TjvUjCseboEjrzaVBpK2v2yBbAmeoxqHt216CHpJVCn_5w_eNGLrmvf_4ConTILgCDCeUBtHJ-covtMtYS-pcJZWvKbPqw7Vz5Dh-7IUuH/s1600/blog+super.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMejY2C4H4G45iSCwvUaYUf4M753GTVAzB4TjvUjCseboEjrzaVBpK2v2yBbAmeoxqHt216CHpJVCn_5w_eNGLrmvf_4ConTILgCDCeUBtHJ-covtMtYS-pcJZWvKbPqw7Vz5Dh-7IUuH/s1600/blog+super.jpg" height="320" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">"I will mail you a book, if you write a blog post review about it" </span></b></div>
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This was the tweet from author Jeff Noble. So obviously I hopped on this opportunity for several reasons.<br />
1) I have been wanting to read his book.<br />
2) I have a blog where I have the opportunity to write a book review if I wish.<br />
3) Last but not least, the obvious - a free book? Come on now!<br />
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So after several messages back and forth, Jeff was a man of his word. Received a copy of his book in the mail. Being in the middle of several books at the time I waited a month to pick it up, so being a man of my word. <br />
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My review of the book...<br />
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The book has an all around metaphor of comparing Wal-mart to the life of a Christian and the church itself. At first my mindset was a little prejudgmental on this comparison and how it could actually relate. But Jeff does a great job in the beginning and throughout explaining the concept. As he describes it late in the book as a "loose" analogy.<br />
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<b>"Now I realize that some of you are "green" behind the ears and suggesting that the Wal-Mart corporation should be held up as an analogy like this makes your internal Prius stall out. This book is not here to address the inequities of corporate growth or environmental concerns. If that's the only way you can view life, and it's your passion , you probably will want to either tear this book up then recycle it, or go read this book out in a pasture with a kitten"</b> <br />
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Jeff states in the beginning that he wants the reader and a usual church attender<b> "to move from the idea of simply being present in church on Sunday to discover the radical joy of reflecting His presence while living between Sundays"</b> after reading this book I believe that is what can truly happen as Jeff truly relates to "real life" situations of a believer.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When thinking and looking back over a book I just read I like to think about two things.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1) Where did I feel like the author was really talking to me?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">and</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2) What questions can I be asking myself to improve my life after reading this book?</span><br />
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To hit on #1<br />
He talks about church actually "sucking the life out of us". I believe Morgann (my wife) and I can relate to this so much, as members of a church sometimes it can be draining and we begin to just be going through the motions and not even thinking about relationships, we just begin to participate and go to activities "just because" we are members of the church and that is what it is "suppose to look like" when you are a member. <b> "investing in religious activity rather than authentic relationships"</b><br />
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<b>"The troubling reality is that the more involved in church we become, the more we want Wal-Church. We want our church to offer us everything. To meet all our needs. To cater to our ministry and personal preference. <u>BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT US. IT'S ABOUT HIM</u>."</b><br />
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To hit on #2<br />
One of the best things about this book is that Jeff will challenge you. (Challenges you in that it is a long, really difficult book to get through?...NO, not at all.) Challenge in the fact that I might see a topic that leads to a great question to continue to ask myself everyday!<br />
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- "What would it look like if Christians lived their lives in a way that made them as accessible, convenient and beneficial as Wal-Mart?"<br />
- "Are we prepared to be obedient?" (Titus 3:1)<br />
- Do you have time to love your neighbor or are you too caught up in "church activities"?<br />
- Are you being intentional to notice your surroundings? <br />
-<b> Why would people who aren't Christians come to our stuff if we never go to theirs?</b><br />
- When you hear the words of God, is this actually leading to ADJUSTMENTS in our lives, decisions, attitudes and relationships?<br />
- Are people a priority in your life over "things" and "experiences"?<br />
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Jeff does a great job of adding in scripture throughout the book, and it great to see where Jesus and his words speak through Jeff. <br />
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<b>Recommendation:</b><br />
I would absolutely recommend this book to all Christians. I think the concept will really hit home with everyone and if you liked what I mentioned above then you will thoroughly enjoy this book. It is a very quick read (small, 100 pages) and you can get it done in a weekend! <br />
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Hats off to Jeff for the great read and being an awesome guy to just send this my way down here in South Carolina! Hope I did the book justice in my post but at the same time didn't want to write too much so people wouldn't go read it themselves! <br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Super-Center-Savior-Between-Sundays/dp/1462723306/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398878855&sr=8-1&keywords=super+center+savior" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>CLICK HERE TO PROCEED TO AMAZON TO PURCHASE!</b></span></a><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290738781654955343.post-74462029864517441782014-04-25T14:54:00.001-04:002014-04-25T14:59:06.499-04:00Top 5 Smells (EVER)Something I have always thought about and love to ponder, in order...<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">1) New Shoe</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYY85NnVdqlp_ya-SF17cxajUKJqeChUK8yXlgB-HK-xX1WkFbU46u4jIga3rabRaeJermlyzVSbHZ7GDu9zglZxorUSwQaQkRKZrL4AQ_jDAM8TbnAIisPvEwPf4vZ84-fifKMuXEmcE/s1600/blog+shoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYY85NnVdqlp_ya-SF17cxajUKJqeChUK8yXlgB-HK-xX1WkFbU46u4jIga3rabRaeJermlyzVSbHZ7GDu9zglZxorUSwQaQkRKZrL4AQ_jDAM8TbnAIisPvEwPf4vZ84-fifKMuXEmcE/s1600/blog+shoes.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
No doubt my number one smell! I might go out on a limb and say that this may be a little associated with the fact that when I am getting to enjoy the amazingness of new shoe smell I have just purchased or received a brand new pair of shoes. But with that aside, nothing beats this smell, hands down.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">2) Mulch</span></b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6psz18TpAIvaoqD__gzWjVf6QPiDbWVlMlp8Xfr5dKcHc0lb277iC_XBmOALPd3CiRgZFW3TqlMx6hWXc6k9v2WWRgSd3YzCAdxY5DvOih4eR9bIkWszjBj00sCRUekAnrPG5tUKK9u1S/s1600/blog+mulch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6psz18TpAIvaoqD__gzWjVf6QPiDbWVlMlp8Xfr5dKcHc0lb277iC_XBmOALPd3CiRgZFW3TqlMx6hWXc6k9v2WWRgSd3YzCAdxY5DvOih4eR9bIkWszjBj00sCRUekAnrPG5tUKK9u1S/s1600/blog+mulch.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a>Once again, could possibly be associated with other factors, being Mulch = Spring has arrived and nice weather is here! The first time I ever remember coming to the realization that I loved the smell of mulch was the first I ever went to pick up mulch with my dad in a truck. I am standing there looking at all different kinds and I thought to myself, I could stand here all day and smell this. (Freshly Mowed grass - not in the top five because to associated with mulch but still feel like it should be mentioned in this category)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-N_ziVWlJ1mrrROQ4Pg5H3hhtoTN0jgMbjCQEBXzwkDY2zDrgh7DelCBitYIiaefY2flj7Pi7nreOxhAPqfUzoznmPtk8SsDc67FlwkMNpwIYnpnKz1OEeN50UlksmWcFTa9rnG-ut2Na/s1600/blog+yankee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-N_ziVWlJ1mrrROQ4Pg5H3hhtoTN0jgMbjCQEBXzwkDY2zDrgh7DelCBitYIiaefY2flj7Pi7nreOxhAPqfUzoznmPtk8SsDc67FlwkMNpwIYnpnKz1OEeN50UlksmWcFTa9rnG-ut2Na/s1600/blog+yankee.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>3) Christmas Cookie Yankee Candle</b></span><br />
Just something about it, by far my favorite candle smell. My mother-in-law buys me one every year for Christmas and it is one tradition that I love! It is the smell of cookie, sugar, home cooked baking, and Christmas all mixed into one, it really doesn't get much better than that. (Would also like to mention in this category that I do enjoy smelling most candles in a Yankee Candle store or a Cracker Barrel, but this one is by far the best around!)<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">4) College Football </span></b>(Particularly Lane Stadium)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXkreX-YaJoGPbjZnACkwHYIZRjrIeqEx3_BNc92OAeWH_5XkqTNoogrGZk81l1Oz3D6gio4Qe8UAsZrYU2R6ofXh3TxzN3f4siuiwniB_KTn0yPLq_CJ-D1WXxT4jfOy61D3g05kV-FRd/s1600/blog+college+football.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXkreX-YaJoGPbjZnACkwHYIZRjrIeqEx3_BNc92OAeWH_5XkqTNoogrGZk81l1Oz3D6gio4Qe8UAsZrYU2R6ofXh3TxzN3f4siuiwniB_KTn0yPLq_CJ-D1WXxT4jfOy61D3g05kV-FRd/s1600/blog+college+football.jpg" height="385" width="640" /></a></div>
If you love college football then you know what I mean by this. If you do not, you may be thinking, how can a sport have a smell. Well just so you know, it does, it is that smell of tailgating, fresh cut grass, grills cooking, sweat, turkey legs, and competition all rolled into one. I really just can't describe it any other way. But I love that smell. When walking into a college football stadium, I love just being able to stop at the top of a tunnel before going into your seat, looking around, taking a deep breath, and saying "now that smells like college football". <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">5) New Can of Tennis Balls</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamtZzGct1TzFxTGsK0DHYUCYMI6SpAiiTYZdd1DoiD3tuvrqj9mO8ODoNPq8d0bPuLm8ny-L_s_qz0oZsWcLFiyEN_p7s49Sf41ugDsE_gXo-hXLEsZVrN2z0bkGIhiUQA8E2ASIp8iys/s1600/blog+tennis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamtZzGct1TzFxTGsK0DHYUCYMI6SpAiiTYZdd1DoiD3tuvrqj9mO8ODoNPq8d0bPuLm8ny-L_s_qz0oZsWcLFiyEN_p7s49Sf41ugDsE_gXo-hXLEsZVrN2z0bkGIhiUQA8E2ASIp8iys/s1600/blog+tennis.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
Thinking about this actually makes me want to play tennis. When you pop the top on a can of tennis balls, I get more excited than if I had just popped the can of a pringles tin. I actually don't even know but smelling this smell could possibly be bad for you, because sometimes as soon as i pop the can I immediately hold it up to smell and it almost feels like sometimes it is so good that their could be some kind of chemicals involved. (New Camp T-Shirt - Fresh out of the box, a new camp t-shirt definitely needs to be mentioned here, you just can't beat the smell of new Beefy-T two sizes to big draped over you unwashed, classic good smell)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290738781654955343.post-81801632173910013202014-04-15T11:42:00.000-04:002014-04-22T11:43:53.909-04:00Books Read in March 2014Books Read in March 2014...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LpTC-myyDNfC3MRoe7le1SpQEZcaajE1u5T0Bi-tSTlgpAkY0kbiqrpxs8ymU15jnC43uHMYQMIUiLsXs683CKhNTCeJj7kvDIQgz81AdshNbe4swZWmtIRqfkTMU4yOqPriWgJq4IjA/s1600/blog+pics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LpTC-myyDNfC3MRoe7le1SpQEZcaajE1u5T0Bi-tSTlgpAkY0kbiqrpxs8ymU15jnC43uHMYQMIUiLsXs683CKhNTCeJj7kvDIQgz81AdshNbe4swZWmtIRqfkTMU4yOqPriWgJq4IjA/s1600/blog+pics.jpg" height="200" width="131" /></a>Digital Photography FAQ<br />
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Actually had been reading this one for several months but just so happened to finish it in the month of March so this where it falls! One of the most random photography books I have read to date. One page you read about how take night pictures with a high ISO setting and then on the very next page it will tell you what kind of lens to buy. Very random but actually helpful. Not a buy kind of book but a great get at the library to skim through to learn more about photography.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMTBl3XNj2nAZG8R7qsDcwKp5odhvUyfIk8cexiJ_E0BZs5FlateVVKhApKcUmAF1lf9KJeVoEpGIAZvI7O_S1QbvvfDLzVvd9rkQ-422o-T2ZMIpv20iHABMQhyPOaYn6t4pHF5Ga-yMt/s1600/blog+emotions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMTBl3XNj2nAZG8R7qsDcwKp5odhvUyfIk8cexiJ_E0BZs5FlateVVKhApKcUmAF1lf9KJeVoEpGIAZvI7O_S1QbvvfDLzVvd9rkQ-422o-T2ZMIpv20iHABMQhyPOaYn6t4pHF5Ga-yMt/s1600/blog+emotions.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a><br />
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Emotions <br />
By Charles Stanley<br />
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I had actually never read a book by Charles Stanley and really have no idea why I decided to make this one the first of the many he has written. But it was GREAT! Would really just recommend it to everyone. At first I was thinking, why am I reading this I feel like I have a pretty good grasp on my emotions and knowing how to deal with them. But the more I read I realized it is about so much more than that...what you ask? Pick It up and check it out!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMDjqTedMQMMJh1DIBqB44AG7yGHCrfuPVdnKC7ts4KE3QJiEFY8fAsSXs0v-zLYR6UOTd8Eub-E4Szj5ZHRuuIFRVm6kk6djesZJJreRvS35kZlwBmODJ4JS_4lMhe2pq2l_6S5PdOIr/s1600/blog+habit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMDjqTedMQMMJh1DIBqB44AG7yGHCrfuPVdnKC7ts4KE3QJiEFY8fAsSXs0v-zLYR6UOTd8Eub-E4Szj5ZHRuuIFRVm6kk6djesZJJreRvS35kZlwBmODJ4JS_4lMhe2pq2l_6S5PdOIr/s1600/blog+habit.jpg" height="200" width="132" /></a><br />
The Power of Habit<br />
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By Charles Duhigg<br />
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One of my top three Psychology based reads I have read. (the others being anything by Malcolm Gladwell, and Quiet By Susan Cain) This book really hits how we can actually succeed in certain areas of our life when we know what are usual patterns are and how to change them in a positive direction. Some of my favorite topics in his book are; starting with habits in the brain and he tells a story about a man with severe dementia but goes on walks every day and can make it back home but doesn't how, and how companies and retailers manipulate our habits to make us buy more, example; putting fruits and vegetables at the front of the grocery store knowing if you pick those things up first you are more likely to buy more "junk" food later in your shopping because you have bought the "healthy" stuff first. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqTi705RJUX7V5t-xixeSQKXLgdo5jkwYc179EDfwUzyQpuTHCc_elCSCFBSLhP6icoBD0utq9yVF2ep_dVnbTiCK9hU1vB1dPUFEQijhhcdTXMZypJtZpgRHma5tRgAFap1nFuIFhuJCE/s1600/blog+coach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqTi705RJUX7V5t-xixeSQKXLgdo5jkwYc179EDfwUzyQpuTHCc_elCSCFBSLhP6icoBD0utq9yVF2ep_dVnbTiCK9hU1vB1dPUFEQijhhcdTXMZypJtZpgRHma5tRgAFap1nFuIFhuJCE/s1600/blog+coach.jpg" height="200" width="130" /></a><br />
Coaching Confidential<br />
<br />
By Gary Myers<br />
<br />
I probably wouldn't recommend this book but it is a quick read if you enjoy hearing some insights into NFL coaching. How certain coaches decided to step down or what they do when they get fired. If you are interested in the stories of the coaching careers of Bill Parcells, Jimmy Jones, Sean Payton, or Joe Gibbs then this would be a great read for you. If you aren't I would not consider it. But a fun quick read if you have extra time on your hands and you love reading about the football coaching profession.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5LbR6A5sPVoDNs2ESM9oinvjynqXrxfmQsNy-jGfA7tOmMlMxppUuA5pWXrhnQWBvcL7JQh3ORhzYUDmcUrY9tFc16qAxR4b0SJtcRqH2qFo5xqcXUS8WGVP0AisjFdyh1S5RkrKndB1/s1600/blog+cc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5LbR6A5sPVoDNs2ESM9oinvjynqXrxfmQsNy-jGfA7tOmMlMxppUuA5pWXrhnQWBvcL7JQh3ORhzYUDmcUrY9tFc16qAxR4b0SJtcRqH2qFo5xqcXUS8WGVP0AisjFdyh1S5RkrKndB1/s1600/blog+cc.jpg" height="200" width="132" /></a><br />
Going Deep<br />
<br />
By Cris Carter<br />
<br />
Being a Vikings fan I sorta felt like this book was a must read. Well, I really wouldn't even suggest this book if you are vikings fan. Chris really just talks this whole book about how the wide reciever in the NFL is the best position there is and all WR's don't get enough credit. The confidence/cockyness that Chris Carter has always had/portrays definitely shines in this book. So if you love Chris Carter then I would read this but if you really have no interest in reading his opinion on every wide receiver that has ever been good in the NFL then I suggest that you do not every consider picking this book up.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvPWYMDzHo6tnStkbxCbTlNEAxLrcC6DynV8tNax8fclWUGnCMQ0gMRw4z-ZbSEuG8QiJWPBYpQxHvSKKC0OfFKTrMP-t4wxCbd44SLmm9EAvAU3XibFarioFS9F7S4kO7u964BsCIbcg/s1600/blog+proof.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvPWYMDzHo6tnStkbxCbTlNEAxLrcC6DynV8tNax8fclWUGnCMQ0gMRw4z-ZbSEuG8QiJWPBYpQxHvSKKC0OfFKTrMP-t4wxCbd44SLmm9EAvAU3XibFarioFS9F7S4kO7u964BsCIbcg/s1600/blog+proof.jpg" height="200" width="130" /></a><br />
<br />
Proof Of Heaven<br />
<br />
By Eben Alexander<br />
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Saw this as a top seller on the shelf at Target so I figured I would get my hands on it first chance I got at the library. About a neurosurgeon who goes through a dramatic near death experience. I have read books in the past that talk about people seeing heaven in near death experiences but it was great to read from the aspect of a neurosurgeon who gives great detail to what is actually happening in the brain during his and others experience. A short book, so really not a bad read for a weekend.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYig_-VJjS0wGzOdGGh_dHH3NeWVHJ7425aZjgyLgzF0U3LieAZ7TXJJ-bAGzYp8mkD5c-lcFvjJrqFgNFLrGNVffhhrMhF8yU7oLL9Ybuo6ZZf5yKyY_uMVrF-9xWjDkrPCQ2bZSz3oI-/s1600/blog+reily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYig_-VJjS0wGzOdGGh_dHH3NeWVHJ7425aZjgyLgzF0U3LieAZ7TXJJ-bAGzYp8mkD5c-lcFvjJrqFgNFLrGNVffhhrMhF8yU7oLL9Ybuo6ZZf5yKyY_uMVrF-9xWjDkrPCQ2bZSz3oI-/s1600/blog+reily.jpg" height="200" width="131" /></a><br />
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Sports from Hell<br />
<br />
By Rick Reilly<br />
<br />
Honestly the only reason I read this book is so that I could have some laughs. I started to get in a little reading rut that everything I picked up was so serious that I really wanted to sit and laugh. Rick Reilly tells the stories of 10 sports that he goes and tries around the world that are actual sports. He has rules that he explains that the beginning of how he picked these. Honestly thought the first one was hilarious (world sauna championships) but then after that it just sorta went down hill. But not a bad read as Rick Reilly is a good writer. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290738781654955343.post-55334650468412446832014-04-04T09:15:00.001-04:002014-04-04T09:15:04.677-04:002014 Monthly Challenge - March Complete<span style="font-size: large;">Monthly Challenge for the year update...</span><br />
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<b>January - Floss Every Day (check...flossed once since then)</b><br />
<b>February - Pray on Knees Every Day (check...need to continue this more)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>March - 200 Push Ups Every Day!</b><br />
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I would say out of all the monthly challenges so far.. this was the most "fun". (Well obviously since I started out the year with flossing)<br />
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The fun part was just the challenge itself in how I would divide it up each day.<br />
Sometimes doing them at home. While cooking, during timeouts of basketball games, losing to Morgann in UNO. Whatever it may be.<br />
Sometimes doing them at work. (20 between each meeting, etc)<br />
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All in all, this is a challenge I look forward to doing again! Nothing but beneficial and would love for anyone else to do it as well!!! I do feel like my form improved as well.<br />
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On to April - 4 days in already...<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>This month is <u>JUST SAY NO</u> month.</b></span><br />
Where I <span style="color: red;">just say NO</span> to things...<br />
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<b>Examples:</b><br />
No Social Media - Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube (I don't think writing this blog counts?)<br />
No looking at my cell phone after 7 pm at night.<br />
No getting on the iPad/Internet at home. (Which will be difficult since we don't have cable in the first place)<br />
No sweets/candy.<br />
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So here we go!!! I think it will be done and I will report what I like and dislike about it when May hits... I can already tell 4 days in I really enjoy the no phone after 7 but the no Twitter so far is a struggle. So maybe a wake up call in my life. But the last time I went no Facebook for a month I never got back on and that was 7 years ago. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290738781654955343.post-86186852679856029652014-03-29T11:20:00.000-04:002014-03-30T16:50:28.434-04:00Comparison/Values<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am beginning to research topics that I am going to be talking about in the class I am teaching this summer and the fall, one of the big topics I am going to hit on is "COMPARING". </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How we all compare ourselves to others so much, but what truly matters is what WE VALUE.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hopefully in my class I will be able to get the point across that you will always have less than someone and you will always have more than someone, <b><span style="font-size: large;">but the key is to focus on <u>what you are doing with what you have been given/blessed with</u>, and <u>not</u> what <u>others</u> are doing with what they have been given.</span> </b>(it is the reminder that I need everyday and definitely one when I started college so hopefully I can get the point across with my students) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So in doing so I came across a story that hit home so much that I thought it would be perfect to share on my blog. (the author is unknown) So I am going to tell it in my own words the best I can...</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There is a man who is a fisherman in a small coastal village in the Gulf of Mexico.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One morning when returning to the port he notices an American tourist standing there watching his boat come in as he has several large fin tuna in his boat.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The American complimented the fisherman on his catch of the day and asked him how long it took to catch them.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The fisherman replied "Only a little while"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The American then asked "Why didn't you stay out longer and catch more fish" </span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The fisherman replied "with this catch I have more than enough to support all of my families needs"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The American then asked "What do you do with the rest of your time"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The fisherman replied "I usually sleep as late as I want, fish a little, I play with my kids, take a siesta with my wife in the afternoon, then we stroll into the village in the evening to sip wine, and play guitar with my amigos, I live a very full life"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The American then scoffed at this, "I have a Harvard MBA and could really help you! You should spend way more time fishing, with the proceeds of your catches you can buy a bigger boat, with the proceeds of the bigger boat you will be able to buy several boats. Eventually you can grow and have an entire fleet of fishing boats and instead of selling your catch everyday to a middle man you can sell it straight to the processor. Eventually even opening your own cannery. You would get to control the product, processing, and distribution. You would then need to leave this small coastal village and move to Mexico City, then L.A., then NYC where you will run your ever expanding enterprise."</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The fisherman then looked at the American rather excited and said "how long will all this take"?</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To which the American replied "15 to 20 years"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"OK, but what will happen after I have accomplished that?" The fisherman replied.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The American laughed "That is the best part! When the time is right you will announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and you would become very rich, we are talking millions!"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Millions... then what?" The fisherman replied.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The American said... "Then you would get to retire, you can move back to a small coastal village, where you can sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, stroll into town at night for some wine and play guitar with your amigos"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>With that said...</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>What a great time to ask yourself...</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>What do you value most?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Time to start being DRIVEN by what you have been GIVEN! (not comparing yourself to others)</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290738781654955343.post-22139191539691178432014-03-25T14:57:00.004-04:002014-03-25T14:57:43.912-04:00Laughter during Frustration (A Story)I love the times when you are frustrated and then a week, a month, sometime later you realize how "dumb" it was to be frustrated in that moment and you just have to laugh about it. <br />
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Well, on Saturday I had one of those moments.. the difference was the laughter didn't come a week later, or a month. During the frustration Morgann (my wife) is laughing at me while I am frustrated. Did it help?<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The situation:</span></b><br />
<br />
Morgann and I have been researching to buy her a new car for well, ultimately you could say this research started a year and half ago when we decided instead of buying a car and making payments, lets just save up so we won't have to make payments when we buy one.<br />
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Well, Saturday was the day. We found the car we both wanted and the perfect fit for Morgann. The car with the best deal just so happen to be in the middle of nowhere in Georgia. A 5 1/2 hour drive from our home. So we are 5 hours in and on a random back road when the road we are on gets detoured, come to find out gets detoured in the complete opposite direction we need to go. (40 miles in the wrong direction)<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">So my words at the peak of frustration:</span></b><br />
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(Also would like to add to this situation so you can picture it - Morgann is driving since I have had a headache for the past 2 hours of the trip so I am trying to sleep it off. Not happening.)<br />
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So I say... (in a non Library type of voice is the best way to put it)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"There are three things that are really really upsetting me right now..."</i></span> (this is where I really begin to heat up)<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">"<b>Number one</b>.</span></i> (I really did say the numbers) <i><span style="font-size: large;">We are on a back road in the middle of nowhere with no signal and now on curvier roads than they have in Virginia"</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>"Number two</b>. I feel like there is someone sitting in my forehead doing a french braid with the back of my eye socket"</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">"and <b>Number three</b>. I feel like I am about to throw up" </span></i>(As you can imagine, with each number my voice began to get louder)<br />
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Morgann has allowed me to get through all numbers without saying a word. When I finish I look over at her hoping she will be in complete agreement with me...well instead I find her looking out the window away from me trying to hold in laughter. I can tell on her face she wants to laugh so bad. So I just cover my face with a pillow and go back to dealing with the person doing braids to rear part of my eye socket.<br />
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At dinner that night, on our way home I got to laugh all about what I had actually said in the heat of the moment. But made me realize how awesome it is to have a wife that would be willing to just laugh at me in that moment! So thank you Morgann for your laughter, patience, and lesson to me in this situation!<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">LAUGHTER REALLY IS AWESOME EVEN IN THE MIDDLE OF A FRUSTRATING TIME!</span></b></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290738781654955343.post-20715061927782369012014-03-19T10:46:00.000-04:002014-03-19T10:46:30.598-04:00Setting the Tone<br />
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This morning it hit me, well I lie, I have been thinking this over the past several weeks. Every morning of every day I set the tone for that day! I wake up, and... SET THE TONE! <br />
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What ever attitude that is, it usually stays with me through the day!<br />
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All throughout high school I always had coaches that would say before we began a game... "set the tone"<br />
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I left off something important from that... it always ended with "early"<b> SET THE TONE EARLY</b><br />
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Setting the tone, by definition to me: Going out and trying to show the other opponent or ourselves that we are here and ready, prepared, and are planning on dominating, it is our way or the highway type of mentality.<br />
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Why don't we live with a "set the tone" mentality? Wanting to dominate the day that we have been blessed with?<br />
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So now more than ever I think it is so important in our everyday lives to wake up and "set the tone"!<br />
I think everyone can look back to the days that we are pretty groggy all day, where you feel like you were just going through the motions? No doubt the tone we started with that morning of that day was not as positive as other early morning starts we have had.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">So this post is more so of a challenge - tomorrow when you wake up and every morning after that </span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: #e06666; font-size: large;">SET THE TONE FOR THE DAY! DOMINATE THE DAY!</span></b><br />
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With that said I will end this with a writing from Charles Swindoll that is awesome to wake up to - to help you "set the tone early" everyday!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"<i>The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstance, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company...a home...or ruin (one's) spirituality. </i></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude...</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>I am conviced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you...we are in charge of Attitudes</i>!" - Charles Swindoll</span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290738781654955343.post-61030378648618916342014-03-04T04:00:00.000-05:002014-03-04T04:00:00.698-05:00February 2014 Book Review<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;"><b>February 2014 Book Review</b></span><br />
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Some good books this month, but it may have been more quantity over quality? See which ones I actually recommend...<br />
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<b>The Circle Maker - Mark Batterson</b><br />
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This one highly recommended by several people. The book starts out strong, with great insights into prayer life! With my monthly challenge this month to be praying on my knees I don't think I could have started with a better book. The best thought from the book for me was that "<u>God starts with IMPOSSIBLE"</u>. As I left church listening to Christine Caine speak (<a href="http://www.seacoast.org/resources/christine-caine1/" target="_blank">Seacoast Church - Christine Caine</a>) on this same subject it was awesome to open this book on that Sunday afternoon and see Mark speaking on the same topic. As the book went on I felt it became a little redundant but have rated it 3 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.com. <br />
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<b>David and Goliath - Malcolm Gladwell</b><br />
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If you have ever read any Malcolm Gladwell books in the past you will find this one just as enjoyable. Just like his books in the past some of the chapters I would say are Awesome, and some the topic just didn't interest me. But overall if you enjoy the psychological aspect of things you would love this. My favorite topics in the book are when he talks about using a full court press in little league basketball, classroom size, and admissions into college. Once again I love reading Malcolm and rated this book 4 of 5 stars on Goodreads.com. Would recommend this book! (also tells the story of David and Goliath in the Bible in a way I have never heard so that was AWESOME)<br />
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<b><b>The Advantage - Patrick Lencioni</b></b><br />
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This is the second book I have read of his. (the first being The Five Dysfunctions of a Team) I would put this book in the same category as that one, many items I can relate it to my life and job but if I were in a business leader position I would find it even more beneficial. I actually enjoyed this one more than the first book I read of his and found it to be very insightful on building a GREAT leadership team. At this time I am not building a great leadership team, but will definitely use the notes from this book if I am ever in that position. Rated this 3 of 5 stars on Goodreads.com and would highly recommend this to any business leader, church/youth pastor, or entrepreneur. <br />
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<b>The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, Minnesota Vikings - Steve Silverman</b><br />
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This book was given to me by a friend Tommy Rapier when I worked at Virginia Tech. I had skimmed it before and never really set down to read it. Well, very glad I did, as a long time Vikings fan it was definitely time for me to really sit down and read the history of "my team". Definitely learned things of the past I wasn't aware of so a great read of the super bowl less Minnesota Vikings and would recommend to any Vikings fan. Rated it 3 of 5 stars on Goodreads.com. <br />
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<b>Should We Fire God? - Jim Pace</b><br />
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This book intrigued me for three different reasons, the title, I use to attend the writers church in Blacksburg, VA while in college, and he wrote this based off of the events of the April 16th shootings at Virginia Tech. First I would say there are some good insights in the book, but at the same time I find Jim all over the place, sorta jumping around. I would enjoy one section and the next I would be asking myself what is he talking about right now. All in all I probably wouldn't recommend this book but a book to read if you are intrigued by the three things I listed that intrigued me. Rated it 2 of 5 stars on Goodreads.com. <br />
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To check out my Goodreads.com page please go to - <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/18300525-chris" target="_blank">Chris King's Goodreads Homepage</a> (Sign up for your own account, it is awesome!)<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290738781654955343.post-35365680690812969862014-03-03T09:01:00.000-05:002014-03-03T09:01:58.416-05:002014 Monthly Challenge - February Complete<b><span style="font-size: large;">2014 Monthly Challenge</span></b><br />
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As you all know I am doing a monthly challenge for every month throughout the year! January was flossing everyday, you can read about that post here - <a href="http://www.cking1224.blogspot.com/2014/01/month-challenge-every-month-2014.html" target="_blank">January Challenge - Flossing!</a><br />
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Did flossing continue into February, or shall I ask does the rule of habit actually work in the scenario? (habits are created after 21 days of consecutively doing an activity?) <span style="background-color: yellow;"> I flossed every day in the month of January, in February I flossed once.</span> I was so tired of it after January I wore myself out of it. So at this point I would say the "habit" theory didn't work for me. But the monthly challenge isn't to continue doing the challenge so really no foul done!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQc0-AfNETOiTQvC9qN-uTyL88E50eDuEYqZfV9kBxIqWPxBytIJOJGjCXbGz5AwOjEd_T4iHa79QFvhWJE0Mox7QzkwY2y4RztoYOhfuzQVPAw96IBMzQwVgoPQEetr2dgqmd7fv1Wh-/s1600/blog+prayer+on+knees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQc0-AfNETOiTQvC9qN-uTyL88E50eDuEYqZfV9kBxIqWPxBytIJOJGjCXbGz5AwOjEd_T4iHa79QFvhWJE0Mox7QzkwY2y4RztoYOhfuzQVPAw96IBMzQwVgoPQEetr2dgqmd7fv1Wh-/s1600/blog+prayer+on+knees.jpg" /></a>February's challenge was to begin praying on my knees. As I stated last month, I really hadn't done this at all since I was a kid beside my bed. <br />
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So how did the month go? Awesome!!! Sometimes my heart was in it and sometimes I felt like I was just doing it to complete the task of the month and I really could tell in my conversation through prayer which one was which! So yes, I would highly recommend to do this challenge to everyone, it is a true growing experience that I will continue to do when my heart is open for it at the time!<br />
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On to the challenge of March...<br />
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100 hundred push-ups every day! <br />
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So let me say this, I started this challenge on Saturday, so three days in now. After doing it for two days I am actually upping the challenge to 200 push-ups a day. The reason, well, doing 100 just seemed like I could just bust it out and be done with it to easily every day during the month... and well, that really isn't a "challenge" in my book. So I am upping it to 200 every day! Maybe by the end of the month I will have upped even more, I don't know, but we will see!<br />
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(Morgann wanted me to add stretching every day to this month, but I might have to wait on that if I am upping the push-up count?)<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290738781654955343.post-63226250619249457732014-02-13T13:37:00.001-05:002014-02-13T13:38:28.881-05:00The Bible Part 2 - Reading the Bible Last year at the end of November I had post about the Bible, you can read that here - <a href="http://www.cking1224.blogspot.com/2013/11/is-bible-still-relevant-today-part-1-of.html" target="_blank">Bible Blog Part 1</a><br />
So today, the second Part -<br />
<b>Reading the Bible</b><br />
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No matter what the Bible might have meant to you in the past, it is always helpful to take a step back and look at the the Bible actually is about and means to us. Have you ever thought about what "the word of God" actually means? <br />
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Why does this concept not blow your mind - <b style="background-color: yellow;">God decided to write to us!</b> <br />
An all powerful and all knowing God decided to speak to us through word - if you heard God speaking directly to us, <b>should we not look at the Bible with the same reverence?</b><br />
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For a Christian nothing should be more natural than reading the Bible. If you don't really love the Bible, it is time to start praying that you would. <br />
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If we really believe the Bible is the word of God it should be much more than just a book we are familiar with, it ought to shape every aspect of our existence and guide every decision we make in life. If God is the designer and creator of this world, if He made us and placed us on this earth, and if He has taken the time to tell us who He is, who we are, and how this world operates, then what could be more important to us than the Bible?<br />
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<i>"the Bible isn't merely an inanimate object that we study and pull information from. It has a life of its own. It acts. It reads us; it pierces to the deepest part of the being and discerns our motivations. Since our God is a living God, His Word is alive, and he works through His Word to actively transform every part of our being."</i> - Franscis Chan<br />
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But as a Christian, what approach do you take when reading the Bible, why are you studying it in the first place? In Francis Chan's book Multiply he explores three motivations that we use most of the time to study the Bible, and what we need to do to move beyond them. <br />
<b>Guilt</b> - As Christians we know we "should" be reading the Bible - no one would want to admit to this, but guilt can be a powerful motivator. (But I will admit in this blog, I have absolutely used this as a motivator to read my Bible!!!)<br />
<b>Status</b> - God is pleased when we treasure his Word, but do we really think is pleased with your desire to appear intelligent?<br />
<b>Teaching Materia</b>l - It's not wrong to use the Bible in preparation to teach others, it is necessary. The problem arises when we begin to approach the Bible <i>only </i>as a source for teaching material. <br />
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Just like the mirror, the Bible has the ability to reveal to you the truth of your condition. </div>
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<b>What is the value of Truth if it doesn't change us?</b></div>
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I would say that Bible study is incomplete and illegitimate until it turns into obedience and transforms us. There have been times in my reading of the Bible where I have fallen into all the the poor motivators from above. So this year I have decided to focus on several of these essentials below a bit more when opening the word and would hope you may consider them as well.<br />
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<b>Essentials to reading the Bible:</b><br />
Prayer - we can't understand the Bible without the help of the Holy Spirit and listening to God.<br />
Know the difference in Application and Interpretation (Refer to Below)<br />
Consider the Context (Refer to Below)<br />
Let Go Of the Past - "Our experiences have an impact on our desires, which in turn affect our interpretations"<br />
Taking yourself back to English Class - <br />
- Find the Subject (What action is taking place)<br />
- Find the Verb (What action is the actor performing)<br />
- Find the Adjectives and Adverbs (How are the actor and action described)<br />
- Find the Direct or Indirect Objects (Who or What is being acted upon)<br />
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<b>Knowing the difference in application and interpretation when reading the Bible. </b><br />
The "what it means to me" vs what it actually means. Application depends on specific life situation you may be going through at the time and a verse could mean something to you when you read it at the age of 22 and mean something totally different when you read it at the age of 35. Interpretation, on the other hand, is all about discovering what God has actually said and what He intended to communicate. I will be the first to admit when being in a Bible study group it is very easy to fall under the "lets all go around and say what we "think" this passage means to all of us" which often leads to us assuming that the Bible has a personalized meaning for each and every Christian. I am not saying it has been a bad thing in the past to "go around the room with what we get out of the passage" but <u>I think it is always a great reminder to keep in mind the importance of actually understanding what God intended for each and every passage to mean.</u><br />
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<b>Considering Context </b><br />
(Multiply - Francis Chan)<br />
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"Consider the simple word ship. We all know what the word means (even if we didn't, we could easily find its definition in a dictionary). But ship means different things in different contexts. How do you decide whether ship is referring to a large boat or to the process of sending something? You look at the context. This isn't a complicated process, but it is absolutely essential in determining the meaning of the word. We don't usually think about this because reading words in their context is second nature to us - it probably hasn't even occurred to you that you're thinking in terms of context right now, as you read these sentences. As you read, you are deciding what these words mean based on the words around them. When you run into an ambiguous word (like the word "read" in the last two sentences, which could be taken as past or present tense, depending on the context), you automatically choose the appropriate definition or tense based on the context.<br />
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The point of using these simple examples is to highlight an essential aspect of studying the Bible: in order to understand a particular word, verse, chapter, or book , we need to consider it in light of its context. Too often, verses are read and quoted in isolation. While this is not necessarily wrong, it greatly increases the chances of misinterpretation.<br />
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Here's a helpful way to get the point across: when studying Scripture, think apple rather than orange. Typically, when eat an orange, you break it into isolated pieces and then eat the pieces individually. Whenever we read a verse, we should be mindful that we are taking a thought (a "bite) from a larger story. Always keep in mind that every verse is connected to a chapter, a book, and the entire Bible." <span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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(Reference: Multiply, Francis Chan, 2012)<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290738781654955343.post-13562226024328586752014-02-01T10:00:00.000-05:002014-02-01T10:00:06.902-05:00January 2014 Book ReviewThis years book goal - read at least 40 books, we will see. But I have definitely started out on good track!<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">January 2014 Book Review</span></b></div>
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Meat Market - By Bruce Feldman</div>
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Great inside knowledge on the ins and outs of college football recruiting. Was great to read nearing signing day (Feb. 5th) for 2014. His focus is on Ole Miss, during the reighn of Ed Ogeron. Book could have almost been a biography of Coach O, as a couple of chapters are devoted just to him and his story. It was interesting to here names of players and coaches that you hear about now. For example when they were recruiting Stephen Garcia out of Florida and they were afraid he might be going to South Carolina. Good quick read for most college football fans. </div>
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Jesus > Religion - By Jefferson Bethke</div>
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What made me want to read this book and if you haven't seen it yet is the poem by Jefferson Bethke - "Why I Hate Religion but Love Jesus". Here is the link to the poem, the video and the lyrics - <a href="http://www.revivallifestyle.com/religion-vs-jesus/" target="_blank">Bethke Video of Poem and actual Lyrics</a> I enjoyed his honesty in the poem and also enjoyed it in the book. This would have been a great read for me freshmen to junior year of college when Christ was definitely not at the center of it. (and highly recommend for a college athlete as he was on a sports team in college and talks about that influence) One line from his poem that intrigues me the most is - "if Jesus was here today would your church let him in"? Go read the poem and it may intrigue you to pick up this book.</div>
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Live Your Dreams - By Les Brown</div>
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I have actually been wanting to read this for awhile, my dad actually introduced me to Les Brown back in the day but didn't think anything of it. But I started watching his motivational speeches on YouTube and that is what made me want to pick this up. This book is good and motivational, if you need a pick me up then this would be a good one to go get, I would say your heart has to be open to it though. By that I mean it would be easy to read and say "well, of course, duh you have to do that". But if you are needing some motivation in life then not a bad read. </div>
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The Giver - By Lois Lowry</div>
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Morgann had actually got this from the library and I told her not to return it because I wanted to read it. Pretty much the only reason why was this - this was a required reading back in grade school, and I don't say "grade school" to sound old but I say that because I don't really remember what grade. But one the one thing I do remember is that I didn't read, I definitely acted like I read it, read some cliff notes, and thought it would be ridiculous to read. Looking back now I can see how immature I was, as this book took hardly anytime to read. Not that I loved it or anything or would even recommend anyone to read it, but it is a pretty short book if you want to check it out. But about the book - well written, pretty good story, you know I am a non-fiction guy so really all in all this didn't do it for me. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290738781654955343.post-79732226919739632602014-01-31T17:00:00.000-05:002014-01-31T17:00:01.585-05:00Month Challenge - Every Month 2014I have goals written down for the year...<br />
Faith Goals<br />
Personal Goals<br />
Family Goals<br />
Financial Goals<br />
Being able to dunk Goals<br />
You name it I am pretty sure my goals covered it!<br />
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I have these written down and ready to go just like I have been doing for the last 3 years! Morgann and I have even posted "our" goals in our bathroom so we can see them every single day!<br />
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But apart from these goals a couple years ago I started this "activity/challenges" for each month that I would do everyday during that month. Which lead to me doing pushups everyday for a month, or not eating anything that has sugar in it for a month, or not eating "out" for an entire month. I did most of these on a whim, just on the first of the month thinking to myself "what am I going to do this month".<br />
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Well, the year 2014 I decided to actually put some thought in to these monthly challenges. These are separate from my other "goals". This year I actually have a plan and know what I am already doing for every month and have already written them all down.<br />
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So I am taking this blog post to announce what this past month of January's challenge was and if I completed it.<br />
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<b><span style="background-color: cyan; font-size: large;">January Challenge - FLOSSING</span></b></div>
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I challenged myself to floss every single day. For some of you this may come as, well that is just too easy, who doesn't do that? Well, I will tell you this, I didn't grow up flossing, never have liked flossing, and always thought it to be a waste of time. <br />
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So to me - this was a challenge! <br />
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I figured I would start this at the beginning of the year and make it month one just in case it became a habit then I could continue to do it throughout the year... for fun?<br />
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So just to let you know - I did it!!! I have gone every single day and flossed between every tooth! Pretty pumped about it! (Well I obviously didn't floss in between my two front tooth as that is where my Michael Strahan gap is)<br />
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Will I floss tomorrow? More than likely not because that is going to be my day of celebration of not flossing!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">February's Challenge - Praying on my knees everyday!</span></b><br />
I haven't done this since I was a child, and to be child like (which I love) I figured this would help grow my relationship with the man up above. So here we go... bring it on February!<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290738781654955343.post-34491221655989320782014-01-26T13:44:00.000-05:002014-01-26T13:44:21.599-05:00Perseverance -> Confidence -> FaithThings I have learned from my wife Morgann over the last 6 to 7 months:<br />
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During Morgann's three years of teaching she would always wonder/ask herself if that really is her purpose? Is that really what God wanted her to be doing? Asking these questions to herself everyday for three years. Then God decided to send Morgann and I on a new journey. One in which I would be accepting another job and we would be moving, which lead to Morgann saying "I am going to try something new, I don't know what it is but I am going to put my Faith in God to find out what that is for me"<br />
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So over the last 6 months, Morgann has been searching, digging, and ultimately giving her life to finding out what God may want to her to do to work for Him. <br />
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<b>It has been hard.</b> <br />
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But these three things are in Morgann's heart and I had the pleasure of witnessing these over the last 6 months. <br />
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Each one lead to the other!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Perseverance</span></b> - "<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 15.600000381469727px;">steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success"</span><br />
This isn't something I believe everyone has in them. The will/drive inside them to make it through the bad days, knowing in the back of your head you could just take the easy way out. Knowing she could just go teach and didn't. Knowing she needed to take a part time job at a grocery store to help us make ends meet.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Confidence </b></span>- "<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 15.600000381469727px;">the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something; firm trust"</span><br />
She knew that it was all going to work out. She would even begin to not talk to friends because of not wanting to tell them she still wasn't able to find a job. So, Yes, some days were harder than others, but deep down with confidence she pushed through this, knowing God was on her side with a plan.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Faith</span></b> - "<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 15.600000381469727px;">complete trust in something or someone"</span><br />
That is what she had. True Faith. Trust. Knowing that God was going to work it out. Knowing that if she put her confidence in Him. Knowing if she persevered that He would work it out for the better. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">During this time we lived by this scripture verse:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">... we will walk by FAITH, and NOT by SIGHT... 2 Corinthians 5:7</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: yellow;">Morgann turned down 3 jobs during this 6 month span</span>, jobs in which we needed the money. But we gave this opportunity to God as a teaching lesson for us, knowing that His plan would ultimately succeed in the end. <span style="background-color: yellow;">Walking by Faith in Him and not by what looks good in the moment for "us".</span><br />
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<b>Last week Morgann started her first day for "Blackbaud", a company that is helping over 17,000 non-profit organizations excel in fundraising. We are super pumped!!!</b><br />
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Do we know if it is a great fit? Do we know if it will be where she works for more than 3 years? Do we know if the people will be great to work with? Do we know if she will enjoy most days?<br />
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No!<br />
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But what I do know is that during this process of looking for a job, God helped Morgann:<br />
- Build more Trust in Him<br />
- Gain confidence to know she can do immeasurably more (Ephesians 3:20)<br />
- Persevere through a hard time in life and not lose sight of our real purpose here on earth, to live for His glory<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And to show me what REAL FAITH looks like!!!</span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290738781654955343.post-38890071882741626852014-01-01T04:00:00.000-05:002014-01-01T04:00:01.336-05:002014 Goals - Happy New YearI was planning on posting my 2014 goals on here to give myself a little more accountability, but God had some different plans. Yesterday during my devotion time I was lead to end my year by reading Philippians, which I realized had every single goal for the year that I truly need to keep in my heart all year so I figured I would share what they were/are to help you out with any goals you might be setting. <br />
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Top 10 Goals for the year from Paul in Philippians:<br />
1) Live your life in a manner <u>worthy</u> of the gospel of Christ (1:27)<br />
2) Do nothing out of conceit, <u>but in humility</u> <span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>consider others as more important than yourself.</b></span><span style="color: yellow;"> </span> (2:3)<br />
3) Make your <u>ATTITUDE</u> that of Christ Jesus (2:5)<br />
4) Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is <u>God who is working in you</u>. (2:13)<br />
5) Do <b>EVERYTHING</b> <u>without</u> grumbling and argument (2:14)<br />
6) Rejoice and <span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>SHARE YOUR JOY</b></span> (2:18)<br />
7) <u>BOAST</u> in Christ Jesus, do not put confidence in flesh/man (3:3)<br />
8) <span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>FORGET WHAT IS BEHIND AND REACH FORWARD TO WHAT IS AHEAD</b></span> (3:13)<br />
9) <b>Don't worry about ANYTHING</b>, but in everything through prayer and petition <b><u>with thanksgiving</u></b>, let your request be known to God. (4:6)<br />
10) Do <b>ALL</b> things through Him, He will give you the strength to do so. (4:13)<br />
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Happy New Year!!! Lets make 2014 AWESOME!!!</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290738781654955343.post-73812983431645519302013-12-31T19:49:00.000-05:002013-12-31T19:49:24.770-05:00Sunday Blast 300 Workout<b>Need a new work out for 2014?</b><br />
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I have sent this workout to many many friends as some have stepped up to the plate and challenged with their times. Figured with the first of the year starting tomorrow and people beginning their New Year's workout goals it would be a good time to post this workout and let anyone who is interested to give it go and let me know your times!!!<br />
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Here are the details of the workout and then a video showing you all exercises at the bottom.<br />
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Everything is set up in "30's" - so it totals 300 at the end!</div>
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1) Burpees (30) - push up and jump knees to chest </div>
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2) Side Lunge (15 each side/leg touching the ground) - in the video I use 25 lb. dumbbell but you could use any weight</div>
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3) 1/4 Squat to Curl to Press (30) - 40 lb. dumbbells in the video</div>
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4) Full ab stand ups (30) - using weight 20 to 25 lbs.</div>
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5) Plank (1:30 regular and then .45 seconds on each side (add on time if you rest during this)</div>
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6) Jump Lunges (30 each leg - 60 jumps total)</div>
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7) Goblet Squat (30 - 40 lb. dumbbell)</div>
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8) Ski Jumps (3 jumps = 1, do 30)</div>
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9) T Push Up (15 Each side, 30 total) </div>
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10) Tricep Straight Leg Ab Raises (30)</div>
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(I would print this out or right it down as I still have to look at mine each time I do it)</div>
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1, 4, 6, 8 - those are the ones that you can get better speed at each time! As I try to beat you time each go,</div>
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All the others have to be pretty technical sound if you know what I mean. Like obviously I could do the Side Lunges a lot quicker than I show in the video but with those it is more about doing them right, same with curl to press, Goblet squats, t push ups and tricep abs. And obviously the plank is a timed full 3 minutes so no cheating with that anyway gotta do it for a full 3 minutes.</div>
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Video of all exercises!!! Have fun and let me know your times! I will post the best times on here mid 2014!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290738781654955343.post-80146366355695393142013-12-20T09:32:00.000-05:002013-12-20T09:32:38.282-05:00Top 8 Books I Read In 2013<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>It is officially that time of year, the time to announce my top read books of the year 2013. I have officially finished reading 32 books, the ones I am reading right now will have to go on next years list. </b></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;">(The list of all 32 books will be at the bottom) </span><div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Top 8 Book List (in no particular order):</span></b></div>
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I have also provided Goodreads link to all of these so you may go read about them there. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (And join Goodreads, even if you only read two books a year, it is awesome and great to see what other people are reading!!!)</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">1) The Shack - By Paul Young</span></b> - <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1812457.The_Shack?from_search=true" target="_blank">Goodreads Review Link for The Shack</a></div>
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I read this at the end of last year and ran it into this year so it definitely counts on this list! I will go ahead and say it, this is my top Fiction book of all time. (not that I have read a lot of Fiction but this one rocked) At first it took me awhile to get into it, a little slow story line at the beginning but after page 100 I fell in love. A must have for pretty much anyone!!!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">2) Quiet - By Susan Cain</span></b> - <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8520610-quiet?from_search=true" target="_blank">Goodreads Review Link for Quiet</a></div>
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Powerful book for anyone, it is a definite must read and must have if you love psychology and learning about how people work in the world today!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>3) Lead...for God's Sake - By Todd Gongwe</b></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">r</span></b> - <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13114303-lead-for-god-s-sake?from_search=true" target="_blank">Goodreads Review Link for Lead...For God's Sake</a></div>
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If you are a believer in any type of leadership role, in the field of business, or coaching, I would definitely recommend this book! Book is told as a story and get ready to highlight! All about a PURPOSE driven life!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>4) Life Together - By Dietrich Bonhoeffer </b></span>- <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/174845.Life_Together?from_search=true" target="_blank">Goodreads Review Link for Life Together</a></div>
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Read this book as part of a small group Bible Study. Great study that I feel really blessed our Bible Study at the time, a vital lesson on building community!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>5) UnBroken - By Laura Hillenbrand</b></span> - <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8664353-unbroken?from_search=true" target="_blank">Goodreads Review Link for UnBroken</a></div>
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Wow! Awesome book! It honestly took me about 80 pages to really get into this, but after that this book jumped up into one of my top 5 books of all time, not just this year! A great read for EVERYONE, just one awesome story!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>6) InsideOut Coaching - By Joe Ehrmann</b></span> - <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11868594-insideout-coaching?ac=1" target="_blank">Goodreads Review Link for InsideOut Coaching</a></div>
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A definite MUST read for any coach. Also anyone that may be a in leadership role, or works with young people. I first read about Joe and his coaching style in The Season of Life - By Jeffery Marx, another awesome read.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>7) The Hunger Games - By Suzanne Collins</b></span> - <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2767052-the-hunger-games?from_search=true" target="_blank">Goodreads Review Link for The Hunger Games</a></div>
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Yes, I finally did it. Actually read The Hunger Games and Catching Fire. Honestly did it because I did enjoy the first movie and knew the second one was coming so figured I would go ahead and read them. Honestly, The Hunger Games was a really fast, good read, each chapter leaves you wanting more so that is what I did enjoy about it. Wish this was a required reading in high school, I might have actually read it...maybe.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>8) The Calvary Road - By Roy Hession</b></span> - <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/164251.The_Calvary_Road?from_search=true" target="_blank">Goodreads Review Link for The Calvary Road</a></div>
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A book that was given to me by my mentor Johnny Shelton several years ago. I don't know why I didn't read it sooner, but definitely know it was a God thing for the timing that I read it now. It is a book that I will definitely pick up and read every single year the rest of my life, I don't think a single page went flipped without something being highlighted!</div>
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<b>Two Alternates: Multiply - By Francis Chan & Case for Christ - By Lee Strobel</b></div>
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Multiply, on the alternate list because Section 3 of the book is great, but I just felt like the first two sections were lacking so that is why it makes the alternate list.</div>
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Case for Christ, on the alternate list because I had already read it before, but a great book!</div>
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<span style="color: red;">List of every book I read in 2013:</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">The Shack - Paul Young</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Go Long - Jerry Rice</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Paul: His Story - Jerome O'Connor</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Lead... for God's Sake - Todd Gongwer</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Good to Great - Jim Collins</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Quitter - Jon Acuff</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">InsideOut Coaching - Joe Ehrman</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Life Together - Dietrich Bonhoeffer</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">The Big Miss - Hank Haney on Tiger Woods</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Five Dysfunctions of a Team - Patrick Lencioni</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">UnBroken - Laura Hillabrand</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">7:Experiment Against Excess - Jen Hatmaker</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">One Heartbeat - Mack Brown</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Top of the Morning - Brian Stelter</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Experiencing God - Henry Blackaby</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Quiet - Susan Cain</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">What is the What - Dave Eggers</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Toughness - Jay Bilas</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">One Thousand Gifts - Ann Voskamp</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Case for Christ - Lee Strobel</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Heart and the Fist - Eric Grietens</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">The Calvary Road - Roy Hession</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Multiply - Francis Chan</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Happy Happy Happy - Phil Robertson</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Dad is Fat - Jim Gaffigan</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Commander Family - Willie Robertson</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">24 Hour Bible - Chuck Missler</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Cross Roads - Paul Young</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Si-cology - Si Robertson</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">The Story - The Bible as one continuing story (NIV)</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290738781654955343.post-71214457526226331082013-12-10T15:05:00.000-05:002013-12-10T15:07:08.276-05:00Red FacedIt isn't too often in my life that I really feel embarrassed. Thinking back post high school... I would have to say the time I wiped out on my skateboard in front of the main dining hall at East Carolina University may top the list, at the same time I would say it is the biggest applause I may have ever received for anything in my life though. The next time would have happened at ECU as well, when I decided to go to an Alpha Phi Alpha kickball game by myself freshmen year, just thought it would be fun to make some friends. Well, come to find out and definitely didn't know before going is that Alpha Phi Alpha is a 99% African American fraternity, lets just say I was a bit of outkast on the kickball field. Other than those two times at ECU I would say that all other times have fell on my birthday. I just don't know what it is, but I just don't like a big deal made out of my birthday. <br />
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But I have never really had pictures of an embarrassing moment until now. Last month on my birthday, Morgann sets it up for my brother to fly down for a birthday weekend. We meet him in the airport, we walk over to baggage claim. (waiting for a bag that he checked for a two night trip? obviously that doesn't hit me as a little strange) Jon says he needs to go to the bathroom, so he goes and while standing there I am not really thinking much of it except for the fact that he took his other bag with him to the bathroom.<br />
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About four minutes later I see my brother come out of the bathroom wearing a cow costume that has utters in the front of it shouting. "EVERYONE, EVERYONE CAN I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION, IT IS MY BROTHERS BIRTHDAY SO I WAS THINKING WE COULD ALL SING HIM THE HAPPY BIRTHDAY SONG" and begins to lead the entire airport baggage claim section at the Charleston airport in the Happy Birthday song. <br />
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First: I am surprised he didn't get tackled as he was shouting in an airport with a cow costume on.<br />
Second: Something I will never forget, embarrassing moments may only last for a second, but is something you can always talk about later. And for that, thank you embarrassing moments for being AWESOME!<br />
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Before walking to baggage claim!<br />
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During (Red Faced)<br />
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After (still wearing the cow)<br />
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Side Note: Jon had no bags to pick up from baggage claim.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290738781654955343.post-20213429926132022272013-11-26T16:39:00.002-05:002013-11-26T16:39:46.425-05:00Is the Bible still RELEVANT Today? (Part 1 of 2)<b style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The beginning of a two part post:</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Part 1 - Is the Bible still relevant today? </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Part 2 - As a Christian how should I look at/use the Bible? </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">"What do you think about the Bible?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">It's a question I have asked several people in the last couple years, in which the 99% response rate is usually this..."I just don't really think <u>it is relevant</u> to today and the world we live in now" (Something my wife Morgann would definitely admit to saying to me when we began dating eight years ago)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I will admit I struggled trying to find the answer to make the Bible seem relevant in a blog post. However after doing tons of research to answer this question, I finally found it. I didn't find it on the internet or in a book, but I found it my heart, so I am just going to give you "my" response to the question. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I think the first thing that comes to everyone's mind is technology, it is changing/has changed this world so much so why shouldn't that be a reason why the Bible is irrelevant to today? But if I were to dig into deeper issues other than technology I begin to find out that the world of now and then really aren't too far apart. Murders, Affairs, Drug Abuse, Wars... All in the Bible! Isn't all that relevant to today? The Bible can show direction and help decisions we face in every day/every year of the world we live in now.. What job should I take? Where should I live? What girl/guy should I or should I not date? How do I deal with death of a loved one? How do I handle family and friend relationships? ... and many more questions that we all deal with on a day to day basis... <u><b>it was all dealt with in the Bible!</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Chances are very high you can find whatever situation you are dealing with right now, also happened in the Bible! The diversity in the Bible can be seen for every person in any stage of life, no matter your age or situation. In the Bible we can find every emotion, confession, conversation of philosophical debate, and Jesus confronting ALL of these issues, of life, and death, and showing us the eternity that is ahead for all of us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">A person that may say the Bible is not relevant to the world we live in today... is that just an excuse? That is what I really wonder. If the Bible has never been a part of a persons life how can the Bible start to be now? Not when they have been living without it for so many years. I wonder if they may be scared about what reading the Bible could change about their life?... enjoying the drinking, enjoying the gambling, enjoying the excessive shopping for material items, enjoying lust... it is fun, brings instant happiness and gratification... "If I actually start reading the Bible won't I have to stop all of that and what will everyone that I hang out with now think of me then?" The humbling experience, the thought of telling a friend that you may not have the same values anymore and you might need to go your separate ways... does that thought haunt those that don't read the Bible? Is... "it is not relevant to today" an excuse to not have to go through that humbling experience really worth it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">For some I am sure it is time... time to find the PURPOSE in your life that the Bible can give. As terrifying as it might be, how it would eat you up inside to open a Bible. It might be time to deal with it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">One great thing is the Bible will NOT leave you there sitting in your own regret! The Bible can take you from filling convicted to changing your heart, your ultimate goals in life, and giving you PURPOSE! <u>Now opening the Bible doesn't mean that God is just going to stand there and smile at you saying I haven't seen anything that has been going on in your life and now everything is going to be all good and happy in your life with all answers about life complete. Definitely NOT! </u> In fact, what Jesus is really going to do is show how He has already stood up for you by taking your SIN upon HIMSELF, He took that pain we deserve. He literally hung on a cross FOR YOU! And then he rose from the grave on the third day to show you how powerful God really is! I say that to say... as a Christian... <u>I find that RELEVANT to my life TODAY!</u> As a Christian, I have PURPOSE, my journey is not empty at all, and from opening the Bible I can find and read about how I can pursue a purpose that is greater than me and my selfish ways - (if you noticed above when I listed all the "decisions" we face everyday - they all had one word in all the statements ..."I"...) Opening the Bible has done that for me, helped me face my day's in this life knowing this isn't about ME, it is about a PURPOSE <b>MUCH GREATER</b> than ME!</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> It gets me pumped knowing that we ALL can find OUR role in God's design of His kingdom, and how OUR life has meaning by opening this book.</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">If we can fathom thinking about the end of our days here on earth, thinking about our death in the future, whether you are laying in a hospital bed or where ever we may be, what questions will you ask at that point in your life? Where will you turn for the answers to your why questions.. why me, why now? Will you wonder if there is a God or if the Bible is true/relevant at that point?</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">When you are about to actually die will the question of how relevant the Bible actually is fade away? Will the comfort and hope embodied in the Bible suddenly become totally... </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><u>RELEVANT</u>?</span></b></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290738781654955343.post-43776393062889530522013-11-05T14:55:00.000-05:002013-11-06T11:28:00.008-05:00Mission Possible - Your J O B<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazis8Ytyy5XeUZIy_9Wd5Z0iylSwbLmKdPp7BBQZ7rPd1842tdi_tUU8_vTTfrAajpqLtwv8jfYpsVYbZ-o25UvNIWIh-s0DThqtsMcKD4AoCCxwOSGaztqkk1Vb2UFfv9vNyjUz0Uekz/s1600/mission+possible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazis8Ytyy5XeUZIy_9Wd5Z0iylSwbLmKdPp7BBQZ7rPd1842tdi_tUU8_vTTfrAajpqLtwv8jfYpsVYbZ-o25UvNIWIh-s0DThqtsMcKD4AoCCxwOSGaztqkk1Vb2UFfv9vNyjUz0Uekz/s200/mission+possible.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When Morgann and I moved and were searching for a new church to attend we both were looking for one that was very "missions" based, and after many weekends of seeing where God may lead us as far as a church we definitely feel like God has found that right spot for us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With that said...about a month ago Morgann and I were asked by friends at church to start praying about going on a mission trip with several people from church. We have had the desire to do this since we got married, so we said we would pray about it and then let them know if we felt that this was the trip God was wanting us to go on. Well, after praying over it we both felt that God wasn't pulling us to this particular trip at this time. (but will continue to pray for God to lead us to the right one)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I say all of that to talk about the word "mission". A lot like the word PURPOSE! Definitely through this time of thinking about this trip God put it on my mind to focus on the word "mission" and what that <u>means to me right now</u> and <u>how I can live every day through my Purpose</u> with a particular "mission."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Mission - a particular assignment carried out for a specific purpose!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I came to the realization that as Christians we can really be on a "MISSION" every day if we are really living for a PURPOSE. I have begun this week to take that a little farther to look at my job as a mission from God. Sometimes our job that we do everyday can take control us - in a positive or negative way. I feel like it is so easy to look at our job every day as something we feel like we have to go do whether we like or not or something we love to go do! I have always been a person that looks at my job and says "that is <b>not </b>the most important thing in my life and I will make sure that it never is". But then this week it hit me... (or I should say God hit me with)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What if my job is the exact "MISSION" that God wants me to be on? </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What I mean by that... What if God wants my job to be my "Mission Trip" that I take every day? I had never looked at my job as a mission from God before this week, it was looked at from the standpoint of God gave me this ability and this opportunity but I will not make it first priority in my life over my faith, family, and friends. But what if the one thing that I do every day, five days a week, is the very thing that God is calling me to be on a "Mission" for?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So this week on my ride to work I have started saying to myself - "I am heading on a <b>"Mission Trip"</b> today!!! So far it has changed my heart a little, and my attitude, and I think that is exactly what God wanted to happen. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Corbel, Verdana, sans-serif;">And he said “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation." Mark 16:15</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Corbel, Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0