Where Does the Bible Fit?

This is a great question and I’m glad you asked. The answer has two parts. The first part depends upon your worldview.  In another proverb I have written about worldview and I suggest you check that out. If you do not have a Christian worldview, the Bible, at best, is a book of literature, interesting stories, and moral standards. It likely has little or no impact upon your life.

For more on this, check out the short video below:

Going Somewhere?

There is a great scene in the movie Sister Act 2, where Sister Mary Clarence (Whoppi Goldbert) is teaching a class and trying to get them to understand the connection between the decisions they make now and the impact it can have on their lives. She does this first be repeating a mantra over and over. Finally, the students turn it into a song. It goes like this: “If you’re gonna’ be somebody, If you’re gonna’ go somewhere, you better wake up and pay attention.”

For more on this check out the short video below:

Does Your Stuff Own You?

I’ve just started distributing an expanded version of these Proverbs through my podcast Proverbs for Living a Fulling Life which can be found wherever you get your podcasts – enjoy!

This may be one of the more difficult proverbs for Americans. After all, the American dream is all partially about owning stuff. Let me be clear, there is nothing wrong with owning stuff. The problem comes when your stuff begins to own you; when it dictates how you spend your free time and your discretionary money; when that stuff takes the place of God in your life or detracts from your ability to worship Him with your time or money.

For more on this check out the short video below.

 

Bad Company Corrupts

I’ve just started distributing an expanded version of these Proverbs through my podcast Proverbs for Living a Fulling Life which can be found wherever you get your podcasts – enjoy!

Paul writes in the book of 1 Corinthians “Bad Company corrupts good character.” (15:33) Another saying goes, “one bad apple spoils the whole barrel.” Both of these sayings are experiential proverbs that point to the direct connection between who we associate with, and how they influence our behavior. To be more explicit: Your friends are going to have a powerful influence on your own character and behavior.

For more on this check out the short video below:

Urgency

What a great word… and what an overlooked emotion and tool. Rather, I should say an emotion/tool often misapplied in our lives, which creates stress but accomplishes little. We are busy, very busy, without an understanding of what urgency is really about. Urgency is all about achieving success, no matter the area of life.

For more on this check out the short video below:

 

Grace, Mercy & Accountability

Grace is unmerited favor or kindness, for instance, when you do something nice for someone for no reason at all you are being gracious. Mercy is unwarranted forgiveness, or at the very least, unwarranted forbearance. Accountability is the process whereby an individual is held responsible, to an expectation. Let’s face it, finding the right balance in showing grace and mercy, while holding people accountable can be challenging.

For more on this check out the short video below:

 

You’re Gonna Serve Somebody

Bob Dylan, a singer and musician, in one of his songs says” you’re gonna serve somebody, it maybe the Lord, it maybe the Devil, but you’re gonna serve somebody”. He is right on target: you are serving somebody whether you know it or not.  This is an unavoidable fact of life.  Joshua from the Old Testament said to the nation of Israel after they entered the promised land:

For more on this check out the short video below:

Research Reveals 3 Reasons Why Gratitude Is An Important Leadership Quality -repost

by Naz Beheshti (repost of an article found HERE)

We tend to think expressing gratitude is appropriate at the Thanksgiving dinner table, but not necessarily in the workplace. This notion may explain why, according to one survey, Americans are less likely to express gratitude at work than anywhere else. Such an attitude, however, ignores several research-backed reasons why gratitude can make leaders more effective and improve workplace culture and productivity.

READ MORE…

Self-Sabotage

Sabotage is setting into place forces, usually concealed, which lead to destruction. Self-sabotage is the setting into place forces, which lead to my own failure. Self-sabotage is almost always unconscious. It occurs when I behave in a way that undermines, or totally blocks, my ability to reach my goals.

Check out this short video for more on Self-Sabotage:

Set your Priorities: Putting First Things First

Putting first things first is likely one of the most important and most difficult challenges we face as adults. There are so many pressures and all of them come with the insistence that they are the MOST important. When everything is the MOST important, paralysis ensues and nothing gets done.

Earlier this week I was speaking with a student in the elevator about her day. She commented that it was a busy day, but that she was there to finish a degree she had delayed years earlier. She went on to explain that when she had her daughter, she stopped school to focus on her daughter with the intent of starting back when her daughter started Kindergarten. Her daughter started Kindergarten this fall and she started back on her degree, determined to get it finished. She obviously knows how to prioritize her life and understands how to put first things first. While her choices may not be the same for you, it is still up to you to make conscious choices about your priorities.

While you are in the season of getting your degree, don’t be easily pulled away. Jesus, in talking about the cost of discipleship in Luke 14:25ff, urges those listening to count the cost with the realization that following him will be costly, but will also be worth everything.

The same concept applies, although with obviously lesser consequences, regarding the pursuit of your academic goals. You have counted the cost and started your degree. Don’t treat this casually by missing nights unnecessarily, or coming late unless unavoidable, by not completing your homework, or plagiarizing your work. This is YOUR future; Put first things first.

Everything is not of equal importance, and the importance of different priorities changes over time. Keeping the first things first is the surest path to success. Take the time at least yearly, but preferably once a quarter to evaluate the different priorities in your life. You can always find an excuse to delay your goals and procrastinate, but the one who suffers when you do that, in the long-run, is you and potentially your family. Put first things first.