Chris Vonada's Blog, page 9

The Wellspring Of Life: The After The Book Is Published Party

My weekend wasn’t quite so dramatic… ;-)

If you’ve ever been to Mardi Gras in New Orleans you may know at midnight on Fat Tuesday the police come through on horses, commanding “Mardi Gras is over, clear the streets!” On my two visits to NOLA for the event many years ago my casual observation was that everybody listened. The police seemed pretty serious about this; even the businesses shut down. And so rang in Lent with Ash Wednesday, a time to repent and turn our focus intently toward God.

Writing a book seems more like going to the Oscars… once the book is published my first inclination is to head to the after party. However, for many writers to whom crafting their work comes naturally, selling books is where the real sweat equity resides.

Marketing a book must seem like a prideful activity to non-writers. We talk it up all about ourselves and our book. It must seem like Vanity Fair has engaged us to throw out tidbits of self-promotion at every turn like the boozy evening of celebrities that revel through Vanity’s Oscar party. Whether you hire a seasoned PR firm, are old hat at self-marketing, or just winging it, here’s the truth:

You are the single most valuable asset to market your work, and the real work of being a successful author has just begun.

This seems to be true whether you’re published by a major house or doing it on your own; for many, the fun is done; now it’s time to bust a move. Lent is sort of like the after party for newly published writers, a turning point for so many as we focus on Jesus and His journey to the cross.

I’m going to share with you just 2 Big To-Do’s for this after party (i.e., some helpful stuff on selling books):

Implement well. The adage goes something like 80% of our results are accomplished with just 20% of our effort. Identify the 20% and stick with that stuff. So I had a publishing guru send me this book with a bajillion good ideas on marketing a book. It remains the single best resource that I’ve found. “Guerrilla Marketing For Writers.” Here’s one essential morsel about “implement” – write a bad to the bone press release. Include it in a media kit package on your website. The ultimate compliment here is to have the press copy your release verbatim. Jubilation accompanied by 3-second handstands will be the reaction.


Engage. Your best customers are the ones who will tell their friends or social network about what you’ve written, or recommend your book. You want to identify with the people who think of you as one of their favorite authors. So the Vanity Fair party is a one-night event. Go to it. Have fun. Then, get to work getting to know and networking with the people who are going to help you promote your work. Do this the rest of your days. In many ways this is a natural fit for the expressive and nurturing “NF’s” – the visionary and magnetic personality type that fits most authors.

For me personally, I am excited about transitioning to marketing “The Wellspring Of Life.” I love being around people and interacting, it’s a natural part of my personality. Also, I am excited about writing my next book, a vade mecum of my spiritual journey. Yep, one of them, but with a different twist as you will see…

What good advice can you share about marketing a book?

The Big Picture Of Unity: Why The Deets Are Insignificant

Image courtesy of Collin Anderson on flickr.com

The more I learn about unity the more I realize it’s a big picture type of concept. The drive of unity focuses us on what we have in common as opposed to our differences, which tend to separate us. (Click To Tweet)

Abram and Lot shed the light of God on our idea back in the book of Genesis. The two men were herders of livestock and traveled together from Egypt to Negev and then Bethel in Chapter 13. Well, the land there couldn’t support them both. Quarrels broke out amongst their herdsmen. Yikes. Abram, being Lot’s uncle, could have just taken up and resolved the matter however he saw fit. However, he offered Lot first choice, saying “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go left, I’ll go right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.”

Abram, being a sound leader, took the initiative to resolve the conflict. He took the higher road for the sake of unity. This all took place in the midst of hostile neighbors. Even today believers allow the evil one to dwell in their midst when they gossip, point fingers and focus on differences instead of the amazing grace and the love that brings us together.

Unity demands we recognize that everyone will never agree on everything, and that we accept this. The  devil is in the details. According to usingenglish.com, the idiom means “When people say that the devil is in the detail, they mean that small things in plans and schemes that are often overlooked can cause serious problems later on.”

Details are to unity as gossip, rivalries and disagreements are tools of the devil – a mechanism to bad news.

Through the example of Abram and Lot, we find unity moves forward through the following initiatives:

- Having an attitude of goodwill, the spirit of cooperation and love, is the greatest unifying force. Abram put others first for the sake of unity.

- We’re able to unite for the sake of conquering common goals when we set our minor differences and personal agenda’s aside, and focus on the big picture.

- Jesus prayed for future believers in John 18: 20-21, “My prayer is not for them alone, I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message that all of them may be one.”

Though Abram and Lot had to part company, they did so remaining as one body of believers. We can rest assured that as believers in Jesus we can always unify as one.

So God made an intricate design in each of us. His design is for us to fit together, perfectly, and complimentary. Like a puzzle, each piece fits together in just the right place. Together, they make a beautiful picture of unity in our world today.

When It Rains It Pours (Gettin’ Good And Salty With Gracedrops!)

Remember when it rains… there will be gracedrops.

“When it rains it pours.” Know it? Yep, the Morton Salt weather idiom that says when things go wrong, it seems a lot of things go wrong at the same time. Yuk how it works out that way sometimes.

Here’s my positive silver lining spin for today on getting drenched:

Jesus said, “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.” Mark 9:50

Believers are thought of as the salt of the earth, the covenant leaders who help advance God’s kingdom here. Why salt? Well, it’s symbolic of the presence of God in our lives because salt penetrates and preserves. It’s also a healing agent. That’s what He did with His awesome showers of gracedrops.

Gracedrops, what’s that all about?

So you know I wrote a book about the water. It’s “The Wellspring Of Life,” set to be released on March 15th. Super soaked and stoked about it! Gracedrops are flavor that I tossed out while writing The Wellspring, they’re the cleansing shower of love that God provides. Gracedrops are in the chapter with kerplunk and pitter patter. There are scientific formulas that go along with my theories on the heart… here’s a very brief excerpt:

Flavor + Favor + Gracedrops = The Perfect Storm!

Remember, what goes up must come down – what are you sending up and out of your heart? Look around and see what you’re receiving in return…

Did you know that…

kerplunk + pitter-patter = ker-thump?

Confused? Please don’t be.

Just remember…

- Showers are a good thing because they bless us with puddles of gracedrops.

- When it rains it pours… salt that is.

- One can never get too drippy juicy wet.

- March 15th is the day to pick up “The Wellspring Of Life”

When it rains it pours.

Gettin’ good and salty with gracedrops.

Thankful.

Image courtesy of nitsrik on flickr.com

Paul If By Land. Jacques If By Sea.

Meet me at the end of the dock?

Our church has spent the past year and a half wading through the Book of Acts. Verse by verse, our pastors have taken us through the story of the birth, growth and expansion of the Christian church. Luke penned the story as a sequel to his Gospel. It follows Peter’s establishment of the church, and the journey of Paul and others out to the ends of the earth with one mission: spread the Gospel. Solid as a rock.

Enter the co-inventor of the Aqua Lung. I guess if the apostle Paul was the ambassador to all men throughout the land, Jacques Cousteau was the pioneer that brought us the sea. I grew up watching documentaries by Jacques Cousteau on TV. They were fascinating. Cousteau was a filmmaker and self-taught oceanographer who is by far the most well-known undersea explorer of all time.

“Sometimes we are lucky enough to know our lives have been changed, to discard the old and embrace the new and run headlong down an immutable course. It happened to me… on that summer’s day when my eyes were opened to the sea.” Jacques Cousteau

When I read that quote, it makes me think of Jesus. You know, he who has eyes let him see. I understand that may not be what Jacques was thinking about when he wrote it. Remember, Paul’s eyes were opened to the love of Jesus on the day his Maker showed up. Paul already knew the Bible, being a well-educated man and Pharisee who thought “The Way,” or Christian movement, was bad news for Judaism. Paul was blinded for 3 days when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. Then, Ananias placed his hands on Paul, and his eyes were opened again, he was baptized and received the Holy Spirit, and Paul became the chosen instrument to spread the Good Word.

“When one man, for whatever reason, has the opportunity to lead an extraordinary life, he has no right to keep it to himself.” Jacques

Jacques calling was inherent in his nature to share his story, one that opened our eyes to see a whole new world under the sea. Cousteau was a remarkable man with specific gifts that unveiled a new world for us in a way that no one else ever has. For that, I’m very thankful.

The truth be told we each have an opportunity to lead an extraordinary life. Likewise, part of that quest is our calling to share:

Jesus told His apostles, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

Witnessing is sharing what God has done for us. Paul waited for God to cut him loose in Acts before heading out on his missionary journeys. Jacques probably could have made a great movie before his eyes were opened to the sea, but with what result? Only when he had the eyes to see was he able to accomplish the extraordinary feats of his calling, and only then was Cousteau christened to share his remarkable story.

Paul if by land. Jacques if by sea. The fishers of men.

Meet me at the dock?

Photo by tonydude919 on flickr.com

How To Reach The Calling Of Your Rock Star Life

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The 1964 US World’s Fair.
The theme was “Peace Through Understanding”

So you know I’m a huge fan of Brene Brown. She writes this message about vulnerability, and how it’s ok. She’s spent a career focused on figuring out how this one word, vulnerability, will fix humanity. She found her calling and poured her heart out in a TED video. It went viral, and so did her popularity. So she’s a rock star in my book.

The coolest thing about Dr. Brene Brown and her vulnerability message is how liberating it is to just be yourself. I think of it as a rock star’s message for leading a rock star life. So I’ve been reading more and more about how the up and comers are different. Did they already figure out the secret sauce to being rock star? Maybe we can learn from them too. Iron sharpens iron. This is all quite fascinating to me.

The Barna Group says that:

- 75% of U.S. adults say they are looking for ways to lead a more meaningful life.

- 48% of Christian Millennials say God is calling them to different work, yet they haven’t made the transition.

- Only 40% of practicing Christians say that they have a clear sense of God’s calling for their lives.

So our church’s disciple groups are going through the Compass program for managing finances God’s way. What’s this got to do with being a rock star? Well, blending faith, work and finding my calling are all a big part of just being me. That’s what the Lord is calling each of us to do, to blend. That defines your rock start life.

This idea of calling – I’ve discovered that it usually has something to do with two factors:

- What are our spiritual gifts? These become evident some time after we believe and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. For me, it took several years after the act of acceptance, and only when I finally turned it all over to Him before I figured it out, and only then with the help of some other believers. Pretty cool how that works!

- How can we best apply our experiences. Again, mine are a unique blend of my education and life experiences, both good and bad, that have led me to the calling of including the theme of “Peace, Love and Unity” here in my community. Can you put your arms around applying yours?

This all boils down to how much we can accomplish with the time we have available.

When God made each of us with unique gifts and talents He didn’t anticipate that we would all end up working at the church. We’re called to ministry every day, just where we are. He needs our presence to be seen everywhere, and on every day of the week.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24

Just thinking out loud, these trends and desires are leading to a bit of a dilemma between the stage that has been set by our culture and society, and what our future is shaping up to look like.

The landscape has changed, from a traditional career path that once included a narrow, well-defined profession working for a handful of employers over a lifetime, to a freelance trail that may include multiple part-time gigs at the same time. The quest for meaning still remains the same – we’re all appointed to do it with the purpose of serving each other, and serving the Lord. Enter Generation Y.

Who are the Generation Y’ers? Interestingly, there was another generation not too long ago that resembles them in many ways. Check out this writeup.

Both the Millennials and the youth of the 60′s twerked off establishment. So did Elvis. Come to think of it I guess Jesus did in many ways, too. These newbies are rebellious hipsters. Neon beatnicks. The cause? The 60′s Rock Stars were called to end segregation, their modern-day equivalents are called to end homophobia. Jesus was called to unchain us from the shackles of living up to an unachievable standard. And Elvis, well, I’m guessing he was called to just shake, rattle and roll. Oh My… Emos.

The calling of your rock star life – it’s like a 60′s come as you are party… whatever it is that you may look like at the moment, don’t be embarrassed, just show up! Indeed, and in the olden days we couldn’t even journey to the grocery store without applying a thin veneer of makeup! Never smoked pot, or drove a Lamborghini? That’s OK, drag in the streets is still a crime in most states, Mr. Bieber. btw, I’m guessing that Mr. B’s success as a rock star maybe lead him down the wrong path. Sometimes success can do that to us. That’s Ok too, there’s still hope. We’re working on rapper Jay Z, right?

Why DO I relate to the Millennials? I think because my personality matches up with the creative freelance style, and it seems they also have a strong sense of community.

So, what to do with the freebirds? Accept these Millennials just as they are. So the cool similarity of the Y’ers and hippies is that both are comfortable in their own skin. Remember what Brene Brown is selling:

“You can’t get to courage without walking through vulnerability” BB

Liberating Rock Star that we can all reach our calling just being our selfies.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

Organizing Big Rocks And Variables

Time is the limiting factor for all of us at some point in determining how much we have the capacity to accomplish. I have a couple of sparky ideas that I’m tossing around in my head about big rocks and variables.

Big rocks. Yep, those things we are declaring to be our top priorities.We have to set time aside for these activities to ensure that we have hit the mark when it’s all said and done. Steven Covey made this idea stick with the popular analogy shared in this short video…

Can't see the video in your RSS reader or email? Click Here!

So Covey thought in the realm of 7′s. He wrote one of my all-time favorite books, “The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People.” He even has 7 big rocks in the video! The whole idea of the 7 rocks centers on figuring out what is most important to you and focusing on those things. When we choose to fill our time attending to the things that don’t really matter we leave little time for the things that do matter. All the rest is minutiae… or is it? I’m adding a corollary today: the significance of variables.

First the big rocks…

For me, I have to be a person of action. I have to be intentional about this stuff because I want to make a difference. I’m most productive in the morning, so I jump right on the big rocks. I take a thinking break, either exercise or possibly even a nap, sometime during the day. Before you get too excited realize my day typically starts hours before most people ever tip the coffee pot at the office. Late afternoon I typically tackle another big rock. Evening as well.

What are your big rocks? Even if you’re familiar with this concept, have you ever thought through or made a list? You may be a little surprised by the next part…

Here are a few ideas of what the big rocks might look like:

- Faith. Starting the day off with a devotional helps set the tone for me. I also try to walk all day with the Lord by my side. Serving, growing in my relationship with Him, fellowship with other believers, and making disciples. This qualifies as my biggest rock. Ha, Jesus is THE ROCK!!

- Family. I’m extremely blessed with a very close family. I love hanging with the little tikes so I make family a very important big rock. Aside from the joy of being around my grandchildren, helping them learn and grow is an investment well worthwhile to me.

- Exercise. I can get a little overboard on this one, but the bare minimum recommended daily dose of exercise doesn’t really mean all that much to my get up and go. I have found through the ages that my body needs more than the base necessities in this arena. Maybe you do too?

- Personal Growth. A big rock that deserves much more time and attention than we generally give it. Do you have a plan? It starts with a personal mission statement.

Wait… what about work? Heavens yes, work is a big rock. Maybe you thought this post was going to be about the big rocks we tackle at work? Well, I have  a system for them, too! This is a boxy guy concept, but it works to block out time in my schedule for the big work rocks. Whether we punch a time clock, write a book or bill a client by the hour, our big rock work process is similar – we can expect to produce income when we add value.

We’re not going to pay too much attention to the little rocks – you know, that stuff that is simply a distraction to what you are trying to achieve. We’re simply not going to give the little rocks much notoriety, aside from recognizing them for what they are and being diligent to make sure they don’t creepy creep into our lives.

Wagons ho to the variables!

Think of everything other than the big rocks as a variable.

There are two types of variables:

Dependent vs. Independent Variables.

From Wikipedia: “The “dependent variable” represents the output or effect, or is tested to see if it is the effect. The “independent variables” represent the inputs or causes, or are tested to see if they are the cause. Other variables may also be observed for various reasons.”

So variables are either causes or effects.

The environment that I work in is an important variable to me. Interestingly, sometimes my environment is a cause while other times it’s an effect. For instance, if I’m writing in my sweet spot, a comfortable place where I can focus, my environment has the effect of making my time much more productive in comparison to working in a coffee shop filled with distractions. Conversely, going to the coffee shop to meet a friend for a cup and convo will often spark new ideas for me. In this scenario, my environment is a cause, or independent variable. Pretty cool, right?

I think of music, cooking, reading, friends and adventure as variables too. They are so very important to me, like my description of “environment” above. They can all be dependent or independent variables.

So you may think some of my big rocks look like variables. Good, I’m glad you picked up on this discrepancy. Here’s why:

Some of the most important things in life are often NOT the things we consider to be productive.

Ok, yea I said it! It’s OK to consider your faith, family, fitness and personal growth ahead of work. Remember the old saying about the guy getting ready to kick the bucket, and how he never says “I wish I had spent more time at work.” Truth.

So who really is the wise one? Jesus. Yep, quit His job as a carpenter at the ripe old age of 30 to wander around teaching and healing people. Then, just 3 short years later, was removed from the face of the earth (for now anyways). Why? Ha, because it was important. Boom. Maybe it didn’t seem particularly important at the time, but the next time you look to see who’s signing the paychecks, maybe look again and realize it’s Him. Then regroup on your big rocks. I  can assure you that you will never regret it!

What do your big rocks look like?

How Sound Feedback Connects Anonymity And Accountability

This neighborhood suggestion box has both public and private slots!

If you’ve ever read through the contents of a suggestion box you often find that frank and open feedback you may be looking for as a business owner or manager. They’re popular at restaurants and in retail for that very reason. Suggestions may be collected via a call-in number or website query printed on a receipt instead of a physical box at the front door, but it’s the same sort of thing – one can provide their thoughts and comments on service, products, atmosphere, and even employees. This is valuable information for all sorts of businesses.

Why should we care what other people think?

Ha! Silly question… or extremely relevant?

Jesus didn’t give a hoot what other people thought when he lived here in the flesh. When asked by the really smart people why He was associating with sinners, Jesus replied:

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:17

The self-righteous scoffed at Jesus’ stance to their feedback. He loved them just the same as the rest of the sinners. He didn’t care about being popular or what people thought. From that perspective, should we either? Indeed, Jesus told us as followers to prepare for being persecuted for we will be different from most people on earth. Therein lies perspective, or a decision that we have to make:

Jesus came because He cares, but when it came down to living out His purpose, He didn’t compromise to please anyone. (ClickToTweet)

Just think about it: did Chick-Fil-A compromise on their principles when faced with controversy? Not really. Maybe manipulated by the media a bit to distract from the true message: Love your neighbor as yourself. That was it. And I for one remain a Chick-Fil-Anthropist and have gay friends too!

“The greatest ability in business is to get along with others and to influence their actions.” John Hancock

Good advice: stand by your convictions, morals and values whatever the feedback you receive, and when defining your agenda. Sound leadership is on fire like the burning bush or the bleeding volcano, known for a calling that comes from the path to eternal life. Stay true to your path. When Jesus gave feedback to many religious people they didn’t appreciate it because they weren’t looking to be accountable. Indeed, they had their own agenda. They were cold as a tombstone for Jesus’ message, showing up like a grumble or with an anonymous mask on Happy Monday with the masses in dread-locked traffic.

Like your coffee lukewarm? Jesus had words for the lukewarm or indifferent ones too…

“So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:16

I think Jesus was saying lukewarm is distasteful. Yuk!

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; . . . who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.” —Theodore Roosevelt

Our culture, at times, seems to accept campaigns of negative odor and even promote the sharing of feedback in a negative light. If you read some online news outlets they even allow anonymous comments. Why? Not sure, really. Maybe they consider it adds entertainment value. The comments are typically brash, more often than not. Freedom of speech, you say? Well, that may be a right in our county, but I’m not so sure that God wants us throwing around opinion (or would that be ridicule?) quite so much. I think it often leads to dissension and disrupts harmony, and thus the mass exodus of distaste for grumbling on social media and for some of our institutions.

So I heard a pastor sharing his thoughts on this, that anonymous complaints typically aren’t worth reading. They typically say more about the sender than the recipient, and often attempt to evoke shame. Some may say, well, that’s just the world we live in.

Jesus was followed by huge crowds in his day but He had to often find solitude to pray. He also moved across the grain, choosing to leave the crowd behind to go to new areas to preach and heal people. Still, the crowd found Him and it would rebuild. One of the many lessons we can learn from Jesus is how sound feedback connects anonymity and accountability.

Ok, so we’re not perfect like Jesus… whether you’re caught up in the drama of being thirtysomething or ready to be martyred as a prophet, we live in the surroundings of The Big Chill of reality in a fallen world (btw, if I just lost you by showing my age, just think Duck Dynasty and A&E – i.e., the prophetic thespians, you get the picture now?). I understand the opiate for the masses (football season) is over, and since this is an election year, we should buckle in for a rocky rant of a ride, or we could simply tune it out. Praise the Lord we do have the Olympics to buffer the near-term mixed weather forecast!

So I had a Facebook friend who was bashing an author (whom he didn’t name) for having a typo in the book he was reading. Several others jumped on the bandwagon. I added a simple comment about how the author would probably value hearing from the reader and that he should share his input and suggestions. I added that if there was any doubt, the reader should pray about it and God may give him the right words to share in the spirit of love and helpfulness. Well, my comment didn’t fit in with the ensuing rant. From there, the social media train wreck of pessimism and complaining about seemingly insignificance seemed to calm the duck down a bit. This, like many more, wasn’t a sincere effort to help a brother out. So why does it happen?

Sound feedback connects anonymity and accountability. The spirit of how to share our opinions tends to hover on two fundamentals:

1. Do we really know Him?

FEEDBACK TENDS TO BECOME LESS CONSTRUCTIVE WHEN WE HAVE ANONYMITY

People feel free to say and at times do things that we wouldn’t do with identity.

“Character is who you are when nobody is looking.” (ClickToTweet)

So our true character is defined by our accountability when we’re acting anonymously. The FB diatribe wasn’t providing valuable feedback in the spirit of loving kindness, more an attempt to attract attention for who knows what reason. Negative feedback is sometimes the most valuable information you will ever receive from a true friend. Our most meaningful relationships are filled with vulnerability and trust (there’s a good book on all that!).

Witnesses add to accountability, and at the same time they unmask anonymity. Try giving more anonymous feedback as if your identity is attached to it. That will help keep the information in check with the loving kindness that Jesus asks of us.

2. What is the end result that WE are looking for?

LOVE (CHARITY) COMES LESS FREQUENT WITH ANONYMITY

Why? Usually because in all of our humanity we like credit for making other people feel good. Try giving more love WITHOUT your identity attached to it. This, to me anyway, speaks of having a servant attitude. And unconditional love.

I had another recent experience with a father not too much younger than me shared that he had decided to be open and authentic (in certain circles) and told us about a heartbreaking situation going on in his home with his teenage children. The group of maybe 10 people were initially silent in response to the news that was shared. Within a few seconds, the love of Jesus through the Holy Spirit came alive in that group! The spirit of togetherness quickly became contagious and overwhelmed us all. Nearly everyone in the room felt more comfortable and trusting, opening up about what was really on their heart.

After the meeting the father summed it all up, telling a couple of us about a decision he had made personally to stop worrying so much about being vulnerable, particularly in close groups like this one. Behind his leadership everyone felt more comfortable and shared, receiving valuable feedback and support, a beautiful sign of caring and accountability. We all had something more that we were feeling inside, something more than would have been put on the table otherwise. Who would have known? The outcome was clear: this group was no clique of ambiguity and false pretense. It was about to get sticky with Jesus. And real.

On the recipient end of feedback come both adversity and praise. If you query evaluation, you can expect to get both. How to handle them?

Here’s my final thought for today: Leading With Anonymity

Praise can stroke our ego more than a double-eagle on a par 5 (that would be sinking it in two). Did you know that most golfers falter on the hole right after achieving a big win? Why? Well, you didn’t just become the next Tiger Woods when you made a birdie. However, doing so tends to stroke our ego and puff us up. How to overcome? Try to keep it in perspective. The same is true when we falter or receive negative feedback – don’t let it drag you down. You can always find a way to put some sort of positive spin on any feedback you receive. Fully embrace the reality of every situation. That’s a win.

Be faithful in the little things and He will give you more than you can imagine.

I know there is nothing better for people than to be happy and do good while they live. Ecclesiastes 3:12

What will you contribution look like this week … year … lifetime?

Image courtesy of sethoscope on flickr.com

Why We Should Be Excited To Carry Each Other’s Burdens

Pack mules can be very stubborn about carrying the burden.

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2

Just reading that verse doesn’t sound like too much fun. It sounds like the pure physics of work combined with getting lost in the ink cloud of a squid. To bear? Like in carry, tote, lug or support. Yowie! It almost sounds like someone is going to try to pull the wool over our eyes until you put it into its proper perspective. To carry each other’s burdens brings us great joy and other fruity feelings. Let me show you how…

Paul wrote Galatians to the early churches of Galatia. Paul recognized the need for this letter as it offers inspiration to help correct the notion that we have to follow the Jewish law, an insurmountable burden that will drag us down, and reassures our freedom in Christ. Galatians is particularly interesting as it contrasts freedom with burdens. Here’s a key verse:

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (verse 5:1)

Slavery? Yes. To that Jewish law that we can never fulfill. So Galatians is our charter for freedom, it assures us where our right standing with God comes from, for it is in our heart that we believe and are justified, and with our mouth that we confess and are saved. (Romans 10:10)

Paul made a big deal about freedom here, and if we think from Paul’s perspective he knew true freedom. He set the stage for understanding this as he stood in worldly prisons in shackles and at the same time preached and wrote about feelings of joy, and freedom in Christ.

Paul was the epitome of a pure free man, whether here on earth preaching the Gospel, or in heaven, spending eternity with Jesus, Paul’s spirit of peace transcended all understanding for many people whom he encountered. They beat him up and he was happy, threw him in jail, happy again, and didn’t even mind the thought of being killed as the pain would be temporary, and then he would have freedom in the presence of Christ. He was a man on a mission in every circumstance and opportunity.

Galatians Chapter 6 goes on to say we reap what we sow, and it tells us not to become weary in doing good as we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. We are to do good to all people. This sounds just like the endeavor for peace.

Our self-worth is grounded in the identity of Christ. What is my value to others? My most valuable attribute within the body of believers is to utilize my spiritual gifts.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

So I may be writing this today, while another believer is contributing to the needs of others in a completely different way. Carrying each others burdens… that may fulfill a need, connect me with other believers and add value, all good things. PTL! However, this “one another” directly references a focus on someone else and their burdens. We’re called through obedience to do this with gratitude for others.

The freedom we experience through following Jesus should be liberating…

Liberty – the idea that says we as individuals have control over our own actions. It’s our free will.

Here’s the key to putting this all together: Our freedom through Christ means we are all free to love one another and to serve one another. (Click To Tweet) The fruit of the Spirit liberates us with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. It is liberating because the Bible says against such things there is no law. This fruity feeling is a spontaneous action of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. When we imitate Him, as in carrying each others burdens, we fill the intended purpose of the law, to love God and to love our neighbors. And that’s what he meant by “the law of Christ.” So think of carrying each others burdens as a gift and opportunity. Doing so with a cheerful heart will show up as the fruit of the spirit in your life.

My author friend Carol Peterson points out a similar person who is an intercessor – someone who identifies with the burdens of another, “with the same commitment, passion and determination as if it were her own.” This is all done by faith knowing that God will answer our prayers and fulfill our needs. We are assured through our faith in Him that carrying each others burdens is a joy that we should readily accept and fulfill with compassion. With the right spirit these “burdens” aren’t heavy at all, they’re something to be excited about and look forward to.

No foolin’. Gotta like that!!

Do you ever feel bound by slavery by trying to fulfill a long list of rules that we as humans will never be able to perfect? I would love to hear your thoughts on this!

Image courtesy of M Hedin on flickr.com

How To Win In The Endeavor For Peace?

Praise the Lord for Dr. King!

Since I’ve been writing this category, “Peace, Love and Unity,” in my community, Jacksonville, Florida, to God’s glory, I’m happy to say that I can see transformation and life change. That really inspires me, and speaks to the courage and strength of humanity.

Peace is an active pursuit, one that we’re called to as followers of Jesus.

It’s a part of that love your neighbor thing that Jesus was always talking about and lived out. Jesus came to earth and lived the perfect, sinless life as a man for one reason – so that we could each have an eternal and personal relationship with God. I’m so grateful for that. Interestingly, the Prince of Peace (that would be Jesus) wasn’t well received by many religious people. They didn’t understand Him and wanted something other than what He was offering. And so, they had Him removed from the face of the earth. It just so happens that this all played out in concert with God’s perfect plan. Since then, others have come to share the Gospel, and the theme of peace, love and unity. Paul was a follower of Jesus who was heavily persecuted in the same way. They used the same words in response to Paul’s teaching, “remove him from the face of the earth,” for Paul’s sharing the same message.

“Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions,” Prov.18:2

Our day of remembrance for Martin Luther King, Jr. always brings me back to the peace, love and unity thing. It warms my heart to know that this message is getting sticky, and that lives are being transformed.

The cool thing about peace is that it is just like success, it’s all about ambition. Pulling from my blog post just last week, we talked about how God defines and measures success – it begs us to answer the question, are we faithful to God’s ways? It’s based on ambition, not necessarily results. Peace is most definitely not just a lack of conflict, though that is a part of it. So you’re at odds with someone, and you want to do the right thing. Praise the Lord!

“Success if not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” Winston Churchill

If there is one thing we can do as a society, one thing we can do to better our planet we should listen to the words of Jesus on this day… and build upon peace, love and unity.

Praise the Lord for those hearts that were brave enough to stand up for what was right 50 years ago. These are and have been many transformations of the hearts within people who didn’t want to hear the message, but repented and turned toward God anyway. Granted, my community is one that sits in the stinky armpit of disparity in the history of civil rights. Just read the history of it and you’ll see the same thing. Mr. King, Andy Young and many like them were beaten up here, and in the next town down, St. Augustine. Amongst the disparity to justice is inequality that I shutter to think of let alone recount what I have personally witnessed firsthand. The truth be told, it’s not one that only transcends racial boundaries. Anger and hatred remain the scourge to our communities.

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Dr. King

I had the privilege to brush shoulders with Andrew Young, early in my career and during my brief stint as a big-company guy, organizing a leadership roundtable on environmental justice. Mr. Young was a consultant for our firm, based in Atlanta, and came to town occasionally as requested to help out. Barnett Banks was one of my big win clients and I shared a close relationship with their environmental manager and counsel. It just kind of dropped in my lap, so to speak, as others early in their careers were cutting teeth on the long road to becoming an executive. This was an early impression for me on the power, relevance and beauty of the Gospel, and how peace might work.

For me personally, I found my calling in the Lord and long ago bypassed the pomp and circumstance of marching to and across the stage of life for a prestigious title and the worldly rewards that may come along with all of that. It’s all relevant in sharing how I came to know the Lord, found peace and experience joy in the crazy world we live in today.

I’ve written about Martin Luther King, Jr. and Andy Young several times before. One of my favorite posts is focused on MLK Jr. and religious freedom. You can read it by clicking this link. Would you agree that Dr. King was successful in his pursuit of peace? I think so, and will try to explain how it’s done biblically.

How did we arrive at trying to find a peaceful perspective? Not just in where we are today, or right now. Thinking back to the time of Jesus and right behind him, Paul; and the time of MLK, Jr., 2,000 years later; and finally, in comparison to where we are today, there are still many parallels to biblical times. I guess in part it is all about human nature. However, in the spirit of peace, it means we come together, side by side, with people we don’t see eye to eye on every issue. We don’t ask or dispute, we just love. Please don’t take that for granted as it really is not the norm. People are not born racist, and we’re only born with one entitlement, the choice of eternal life in heaven, or the gnashing of teeth.

Peace should be a movement of intent focus for all people.

As someone who makes peace, we have to be guided and driven by our identity in Jesus Christ. God provides us with the tools to utilize in our quest for peace. Through the power of choice, we can turn from conflict, conform to the likeness of Jesus, and be an ambassador of reconciliation.

So from now on, we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come. All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:16-19

Remember, the apostle Paul was christened the ambassador and appointed the servant to the Lord. At his darkest moment, Jesus appeared to Paul and turned him around on a dime. Paul’s hardened heart was changed, he went from the greatest persecutor and assassin of Christians to the dude who wrote the majority of the New Testament. He shared the Gospel to the ends of the earth, becoming the instrument God used to create radical change in the name of love, and peace.

Bear in mind many times all we need is love, and possibly a little time to overcome conflict. Reasonable people respond. If you find that isn’t the case, God’s word, our only offensive weapon in the armor outlined in Ephesians, is all we need to combat evil and conflict.

Start a list of “it is written’s” – write them on the tablet of your heart so that you may have them and be able to use them for your own benefit, and to help you in times of struggling for the right words to speak for the sake of peace.

Here’s one of my It Is Written’s: We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

Be quick to listen. Seek Godly counsel, and keep doing what is right. Breathe grace. Gently restore, if necessary, by speaking the truth in love. Choose the right time and place, and speak only as a brother in love. Remember, the ultimate weapon is deliberate, focused love. Discern the deepest needs of those you are seeking to restore to peace, and fulfill their needs; if they’re thirsty, give them something to drink. This approach is one of great strength, courage and discipline.

Indeed, at that point it would be up to the antagonist to repent and fall in line, but that’s the choice they can make. Recognizing our limits, we can feel good about our actions and efforts, knowing that we’ve done all we can, and simply lay the matter in God’s hands. Boom, you just found peace.

This one short verse sums it all up:

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

Love rules, just like the song goes, “He rules the world with truth and grace.” As far as you are in control of, live at peace by loving everyone.

Peace is a legacy of hope, and one that matters.

How Does God Define And Measure Success?

Let us begin…

At the first of the year we often focus on changes for the better, we call them resolutions. It’s interesting how we establish milestones and goals in relation to our idea of success, or in hitting the mark – do you find yourself measuring success in a worldly way, or as God does? Did you even realize there is a difference? Interesting question that I found myself marinating in the past couple of days. The answers for me became an enlightenment that I can apply every day, not just with resolutions and what not. We can apply the biblical definition of success in pursuing peace, attaining goals or resolutions, getting fit, or in any other aspect of life.

The world defines success in terms of what a person possesses, controls or accomplishes. Some dictionaries even list achieving fame or prosperity as facets of being successful. At the center of our desire to define our success in the world today is comparison to other people – where we live, vacation, shop, dine and the like. Don’t take me wrong, I like my stuff and have been to some pretty incredible places, but wisdom and perspective tells me that none of that really defines me, or my success.

God defines success in terms of faithful obedience to His will. Success in a biblical perspective doesn’t focus on possessions, or attaining higher social status. God’s measure is in answering the question, “Were you faithful to my ways?” How do we know His ways, His will, or His calling for us individually? (Click the links if you’re looking for more info on that part)

A biblical sense of success is accomplished through controlling ambition. This may be most difficult in our world today as we tend to measure our own success in comparison to others. We’re all unique, with different gifts and talents and should only compare ourselves to Jesus.

King David is an excellent example of someone from the Bible who knew success. One of my favorite people from the Bible, David struggled personally with sin and wrongdoing, just like we do. He became very successful and famous as the leader of Israel.

“David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.” 2 Samuel 5:12

Why was David chosen by God? Because God knew his heart. David was ambitions AND followed God’s will. He kept a close relationship with God, knowing that God alone established him as a leader. He respected that what he had and who he had become came from the Lord.

Success can also tend to give us pride, and the thought that we don’t need God and can achieve all on our own. Unfortunately, that leads to separation from God and to our own demise in the long run.

One of my favorite acronyms related to goals at work or in life is defining them as SMART – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Can God goals be SMART? Absolutely, I don’t think there is an issue there. It comes down to how we measure and define success, recognition and attributing that it all comes from our Heavenly Father, and that it is accomplished with humility and integrity.

True success doesn’t compromise integrity, it defines our character, in effect, who we are when no one is looking, and righteousness.(Click To Tweet)

Something to think about as we move into the new year…

The Q: What comes to mind when you think of success?

Image courtesy of faceless econe on flickr.com