Johnny Shelton Website Post

I was asked by Johnny Shelton, (Virginia Tech Football Team Chaplain), to write a message about him and his ministry at Virginia Tech on his website.  I believe Johnny to be a great influence in my walk with Christ, so it was true honor to be asked to write on his website for him.  

So this blog post is what I wrote on his webiste (below).  But please check out his website and see what some other players and coaches had to say under the section "players and coaches".  Also just check out the website and see what Johnny Shelton really is doing for the Virginia Tech Athletic Department.  It is AWESOME how God is leading him and his ministry!

Here is the link to the website:  www.vtchaplain.com

What I wrote for the website:

I met Johnny Shelton while I was a Graduate Assistant for the Virginia Tech Football Team. Johnny not only had and continues to have a major impact on my life, but it has been a blessing to see the impact he has on the Virginia Tech players, coaches, and athletic department as a whole.
Johnny Shelton is a man with a powerful heart and passion for the Lord. He truly knows how to allow God to lead his heart, to pour out love, and to bless his ministry to Virginia Tech Athletics. As a Graduate Assistant for the football team, I wasn’t a player, or even a coach, but Johnny still reached out to me and helped guide me and my life with Christ. He shows Christ’s love to everyone. Whether you are a freshmen equipment manager or the star running back, Johnny will love you and help guide you with his heart.

One of the best memories I have with Johnny while working for the team was a game day in 2008, playing on the road in Miami and I had gone outside by the pool at 6 a.m. for morning devotions. Johnny came out there and it really was the first time I feel we connected. Our relationship grew as I began to tell him about my life with Christ, and he would share with me the importance of taking the initiative to put Christ in every aspect of my life. Our relationship continued to grow, and Johnny would marry my wife, Morgann, and I two years later. These are the type of relationships Johnny is building, not only on the football team but with the entire Virginia Tech Athletic Department- relationships through Christ that will not only last while a player or coach is at Virginia Tech, but even when they leave.

I have been blessed to have Johnny Shelton as a part of my walk with Christ. He leads, listens, understands, and truly lives out God’s purpose for his life every day. It was not only a great pleasure getting to be around Johnny Shelton when I was at Virginia Tech, but it is with greater pleasure that I can say it is an honor to have Johnny Shelton as a true brother in Christ.

“Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus” – Philippians 3:12

LEAD...for God'Sake! (Book Review)

WOW!
That is how I am going to start this review.  With my 3rd book down of the year 2013.  All I can say is WOW.  This book was a weekend read, not just because I had the time this weekend, but more so because I couldn't put it down.  Recomended highly and given to me by Johnny Shelton (@VTFB_Chaplain) on Friday. 

LEAD...for God'Sake! - By Todd Gogwer

I'm not going to spend a ton of time describing this book or telling you specific quotes from the book.  1)Because I really want everyone to just get a copy and read it and 2)That would be way too much reading as I have highlighted a great deal of the book.

Lead...for God'Sake is written in parable format.(my favorite way to learn)  So it is a story, and heart felt one at that, about a basketball coach in Kentucky who builds an amazing relationship with the school janitor.  Which in turn, leads him to changing his heart and purpose for living.  But the substance is so much more than that, it caused me to pause and Re-read many parts of the book because I needed more time to marinate on the words, analogies, and memorable quotes.

I honestly can't remember the last time I cried while reading a book, well this greatly told story till the end, made that happen for me twice.  (well one of those times I just got a lump in my throat because I was holding it back)  I truly suggest everyone to read this book this year, you will not be disappointed.

A Positive Year!!!

Don't think you can't start TODAY or February 1st!!!

I saw these and I had to share.  If I had created a top 20 list of ways to keep yourself with an uplifting and positive JOY to be SUCCESSFUL throughout the year of 2013, I feel like my list would look very similar to what Jon Gordon has written.  If the below looks like a lot of reading to you and you are not a reader, then I have highlighted my favorite ones to keep in mind this year.  I plan on taking my favorites and then adding my own to complete my list for the year.  It is not too late (ever) to start a list, so do it!!!
(Keep in mind the list below was written by Jon Gordon, not myself.  So in no way am I trying to take credit for anything written below.  But with that said, if you have not read a Jon Gordon book I suggest picking up The Energy Bus!!!)

1. Stay Positive. You can listen to the cynics and doubters and believe that success is impossible or you can trust that with faith and an optimistic attitude all things are possible.
2. Take a morning walk of gratitude. I call it a “Thank You Walk.” It will create a fertile mind ready for success.
3. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
4. Zoom Focus. Each day when you wake up in the morning ask: “What are the three most important things I need to do today that will help me create the success I desire?” Then tune out all the distractions and focus on these actions.
5. Instead of being disappointed about where you are, think optimistically about where you are going.
6. Remember that adversity is not a dead-end but a detour to a better outcome.
7. Don’t chase success. Instead decide to make a difference and success will find you.
8. Get more sleep. You can’t replace sleep with a double latte.
9. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
10. Mentor someone and be mentored by someone.
11. Live with the 3 E’s. Energy, Enthusiasm, Empathy.
12. Remember there’s no substitute for hard work.
13. Believe that everything happens for a reason and expect good things to come out of challenging experiences.
14. Implement the No Complaining Rule. Remember that complaining is like vomiting. Afterwards you feel better but everyone around you feels sick.
15. Read more books than you did in 2012.
16. Don’t seek happiness. Instead decide to live with passion and purpose and happiness will find you.
17. Focus on “Get to” vs “Have to.” Each day focus on what you get to do, not what you have to do. Life is a gift not an obligation.
18. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements:
I am thankful for __________.
Today I accomplished____________.
19. Smile and laugh more. They are natural anti-depressants.
20. Enjoy the ride. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy it.
-Jon Gordon

Jerry Rice: Go Long!

So, second book of the year complete.  My first autobiography of the year (I love autobiographies if you didn't know)  This will not be the last one of the year!

One of the main things I want to read this year are books of people that have been successful.  I want to find out what truly inspired them to reach the goals they had set and what set them apart from others in their field.

I chose this book for several reasons; I wanted to know the heart, experiences, and drive that lead Jerry Rice's life, since I didn't know much detail about what made Jerry Rice, Jerry Rice, in my opinion, one of the best wide receivers to ever play the game of football.  I also saw the book at the library and knew I wouldn't have to pay for it.  (frugal man)

So all in all, I did learn most of the above.  Jerry was pushed by himself (drive from the inside), grew up in a large family, married early, and really just worked his tail off. One of my favorite quotes from the book is:

"Taking a risk means you are putting something on the line-your security or comfort zone, your reputation, your life-but it also means you have something wonderful to gain."

Would I suggest this book to others?  Umm... only if you want to learn a little more depth of the number one receiver to ever play the game.  But from a motivational standpoint, it didn't really stand out too much of a must have.

Have you ever added the milk before pouring the cereal?

When making a bowl of cereal have you ever poured the milk into your bowl before you poured the cereal? 

This is something that hit me one morning last week.  I realized that more often than not I always end up with the perfect amount of milk left over when eating my bowl of cereal each morning.  But I started to wonder, if I started pouring my milk first would I get the same result?  The answer is definitely no,  I tried it,  turns out to be not enough milk, and the biggest part of all, the cereal on top is so dry that you have to come back and pour milk again.  That is a huge advantage to pouring the milk second when it comes to making my perfect bowl of cereal.  Not having to repeat a step.

But my point is not to talk about the directions of pouring cereal.  My point is to show that if the bowl represents our life, and if we are the milk, if we keep trying to put ourself first, before we try to put in the necessary pieces of life (the cereal) then we will always have to back track and repeat a step.

My wife (Morgann) and I have a tradition/ritual/habit, that before work every day we pray together.  This is something we have been doing for around two years now.  It is something that we added to our life and I don't believe we will ever stop.  We love it, it connects us to God, and helps to remind us that we are not first, that God is first in our lives and throughout the day we need to put Him there, letting Him guide us.  There has been about three days in the last two years that we haven't prayed in the morning together, for one reason or the other.  But on those days I can really tell that I started my day by pouring my milk first.  I now know, and have learned through doing this, that the prayer with Morgann before heading to work is a cereal piece that I can't put into my bowl if the milk is already their. 

Most of us will, excuse me, let me rephrase that, all of us will put ourselves first majority of every day.  But keep in mind when we do, when we start putting that milk in first, don't ever forget to add the cereal.  Don't forget to add to your bowl the pieces that are most important to you!

What are your cereal pieces?  Do you have pieces of your life that need to start being first? Is it time to start putting yourself second in the bowl of life?

In the writing of this blog I actually found a Facebook fanpage titled -

"I hate when people poor milk before cereal"

Paul: His Story

Last night I finished my first book of the year 2013.
Paul: His Story
By Jerome Murphy-O'Connor

Being the first book of the year, half way through I asked myself why in the world did I start my year with such serious theology from a professor at Oxford. But the more and more I read I am glad I did.  I learned more by reading this than I definitely ever knew about Paul.

I learned more about the life of Timothy, and what effect he had on Paul.  And the lives of Priscilla and Aquila.  I can honestly admit I did not know the effect that these three people had on the life of Paul.  I also didn't realize the background that 2nd Corinthians truly holds, and learning that was very intriguing.

After spending my entire 2012 in the books of the New Testament, I can say overall, I enjoyed and am glad I started the year 2013 with this book.  I will admit after ending my year by reading the autobiography of Michael Vick and then picking up this book to begin my year, I had to get use to a different style of writing of a scholar from Oxford.

One of the best quotes/takeaways I have from this book is:
"What Paul appreciated above responsibility of internalizing Christianity, of working out how to give the following of Christ practical expression in their daily lives.  NO FEAR OF MAKING A MISTAKE DAMPENED THIER ENTHUSIASM.  IN FACT THIER SELF-CONFIDENCE RULLED OUT ERROR AS IMPOSSIBLE."

So the real question is would I recommend this book to anyone.  Honestly, probably not, unless you are really wanting to dive into the journey of Paul.  I found it interesting but I assume their may be better text about the life of Paul that could be a little more manageable to understand.

Christmas Eve/1224

Why the 1224?  My twitter name, my email.

What a perfect day to explain why my name always ends with 1224.

There are really 3 reasons:

1.  Because of this day.  The date of this post.  Christmas eve.  When I was growing up Christmas Eve was the day.  The day full of excitement, tradition, and the many questions of what tomorrow could bring.   The one night during the year where I would go to bed at night and just lay there with my eyes wide open in anticipation of the morning.  The one night as a kid where I woke up every hour of the night wondering if it was time to get up yet?  And now, I want to have that 1224 to my name for the reminder.  The reminder that I want to live all my nights when I go to bed as if it is 12/24.   The reminder that God has blessed me with that next day, that next morning, and I should be super excited that I get the chance to take full advantage of it.  Excited to wake up and live with a PURPOSE.  Excited to wake up to a beautiful, loving wife.  Excited to wake up and be in a warm house. Excited to have the ability to have a job.  Excited and blessed to have the relationships I have around me.

2.  The street I grew up on.  1224 Lynn St.  It is my roots.  It is my home.  It is where I come from.  1224 will always be my home.  Even if my parents were to move out of that address.  1224 would still be my home, and where I was raised.  So I grew up with 1224 being a part of me and I want to keep it that way.

3.  It is great when you sign up for something online because on most websites the chances of their being another cking1224 as a sign in name is highly unlikely.  So that is a huge plus for me.

I hope everyone has a blessed Christmas Eve, a 1224, as we look forward to celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ tomorrow!

"The virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name Him Immanuel." Matthew1:23

Can Dreams really become a reality?

You may have all heard the phrase "make your dreams become a reality".  Do you believe this is possible?  Do you believe you have what it takes?  Do you really even want your dreams to become a reality?  Are dreams just that, a dream, and they should stay there?

When I focus on the phrase "make your dreams become a reality".  The first thing that pops in my head is, well, the dreams I actually have while I'm sleeping.

Do I really want these dreams to become a reality???
Sometimes I dream of building a go-cart with my bare hands in one day.  Sometimes I dream of doing bodybuilding poses next to Arnold Schwarzenegger on Venice Beach.  I once dreamed of leading at least 200 people waving both their hands and arms high in the air to  Hip Hop Hooray by Naughty by Nature  In 2008, as the best man of my brothers wedding, giving the best man speech I was able to make this dream become a reality.  Was it fulfilling, absolutely, but I don't believe those are the types of dreams that give our life purpose, or the truth behind "make your dreams become a reality".

When Martin Luther King Jr. announced "I have a dream..." I can promise you he wasn't talking about or going to follow that sentence up with "...to build a go-cart with my bare hands in one day" type of dream.  He was talking about a mind set change, a change in what the future was for our whole country, a challenge to himself and others, AN ULTIMATE GOAL.

That is what it truly means to have the want/desire to make a dream become real.  Setting a goal that may or may not be able to be accomplished, but we are going to challenge our self to the best of our ability to make it happen.  An ultimate goal/dream, can't be accomplished by tomorrow, but by changing how we act/react to the day of tomorrow will ultimately affect the reality of our ultimate goal/dream being accomplished in the end.

We all have goals, whether we sit and write them down (highly advised by me) or we just know in our head what we want to accomplish on any given day, month, or year.  It is a goal.  But if we set goals that we know are achievable then is it really a goal at all or more of a to do list?  You don't have to change anything about your life to attain a goal that you know you can achieve.  But you will have to change to be able to accomplish a dream.  When your motivation changes, your mind set will change.

When you focus on your dreams, you will find your purpose, and when you find your purpose you will have the drive to make those dreams become your reality.

What are your DREAMS?  

You will have to change your mind set to make them become a reality!  So start TODAY!

"You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world.  BUT IT TAKES PEOPLE to make the dream a reality." - Walt Disney