I took this picture today while driving Camden to school.   It actually turned out better than I thought it would given it was taken on my iPhone through my windshield.

This picture makes me think about the importance of being in the moment.  How often do we get caught up in our own worlds distracted by life?  Remember to take time to observe the world around you. Live in the moment.  This sunrise was mostly gone in about 1 minute.  I'm sure glad Camden and I were there to see it.

Unfortunately, I don't get out too often with just the guys.  For some reason, we never seem to take the time to plan something.  Tonight was different.  An idea last night turned into going to the late show of Avatar at Hamilton Town Center tonight.  After about 48 ounces of Mountain Dew, I'm still unwinding.

The original idea was to see it in IMAX 3D, but it was mostly sold out except for some single seats.  We even got to the theater about 25 minutes ahead of time.  Plan B had to kick in, so we opted for the 10pm showing on the normal screen in 3D.  I loved it.  I'll spare you my thoughts about the movie because there are plenty of great reviews out there.

Some of the night's highlights:

• Hanging out with good friends.
• Eating most of a big barrel of popcorn.
• Drinking way too much Mountain Dew.
• Great conversations before and after the movie.

The one downside?  Tonight made me feel old.  Not that I stayed up late, or that there were lots of high school kids at the theater.  No, it's nothing that valid.  It's the fact that I just popped a couple Tums, so I hopefully won't wake up in the morning with a sore gut from all the popcorn and Dew!

Good Night All!

[image by jetalone]

I love what kids say sometimes. Many times I leave a conversation with a little kid either scratching my head or laughing.  Seriously, I wonder how kids come up with the things they think about.

Recently, I was getting ready for the day and my 3 year old, Caleb, comes in and gets this really sad look on this face.  At first I wonder if he's getting ready to tell me that his brother hit him. Or, maybe he's setting me up to ask for some chocolate.   Turns out, I was able to use the conversation as a good teaching moment.

Here's how our conversation went:

Caleb:  "Dad, I don't want to go to kevin."

Me: "What?" <puzzled look on my face>

Caleb:  "I don't want to go to kevin."

Me: "What?" <again, I'm slow. I'm thinking "who's kevin?">

Caleb: "I don't want to go to kevin. I want to stay here."

Me: "You mean heaven?"

Caleb: "Yeah, I don't want to go to kevin."

Me: "It's heaven. h-h-h-h-heaven."

Caleb: "I don't want to go to h-h-h-kevin."

Me: "Why not buddy?"

Caleb: "I want to stay here at our house with you and mommy."

Me: "I don't want you to go to heaven right now either. But, someday you'll get to go to heaven."

Caleb: "But I don't want to go to heaven." <he got it right this time>

Me: "But God lives in heaven. Someday, you'll go to heaven to live with God forever because you love Jesus. But not right now. God has too many plans for your life and too many things He wants to do through you before He brings you to heaven.  We never know when God is going to want us to go to heaven, but we can live each day trying to help God in our world and telling others about God."

Caleb: "I like that daddy. I'm glad I don't have to go to kevin today!  Dad, can I watch a movie?"

Later that night, Holli says to me: "Guess what Caleb said to me today: 'Mommy, I don't want to go to kevin.'"  Here we go again...

Have you had a funny conversation with a little kid recently? Share your story and post a comment below.   

   

I don't know about you, but for me, life just seems so busy.   The pulls of work, family, ministry, passions and friends really keep a person jumping.   Not to mention the social media craze that we (yes, you know who you are) engage in on a daily basis.   That's enough to cause your brain to melt-down and send you into convulsive shocks.

But there is a way out.  Isn't there?   Please tell me you've found a way out.   How are you dealing with the constant stream of "stuff" that distracts your life?   How are you living your life with the most intention as possible?

For me, I intentionally slow down.  That was the whole purpose of the 30 Day Slow Down Challenge.  It was supposed to be a time to unplug a little and re-engage with people and God and the Bible.

How did you end up doing on your 30 Day Challenge?  Did you make it?   Did you stop part of the way through?   If you made it, congratulations!   Personally, it was a very difficult thing for me to do.  It took a lot of discipline to write and rest.    If you didn't take the challenge or stopped part of the way through, why not start today?   Pick up where you left off, or just start over.   The truths and principles found in Proverbs are timeless.  You could read them every day and get new insight each day.

Thanks for joining me on this 30 Day journey.   Let's take another one together sometime soon!

[image by EAWB]

Welcome to Day 30 of the 30 Day Slow Down Challenge.  Congratulations on making it a full 30 days!   How has this journey impacted your life?   Did you take it seriously?  Was it hard for you to stick to it?  Honestly, for me it's been a tough challenge.   I found myself drifting at times and had to intentionally re-focus to get back in the groove.  I think that's just life.  Things are always vying for our attention and keeping focused is a key point in exactly why we're doing this slow down challenge.

Task for today:  

1. Take some time and think about what this slow down challenge has meant to you.   Spend some time journaling your thoughts, so you'll be able to return later and read about the things that are making an impact on your life.  
2. Read Proverbs 30. Think about what stands out to you.  Think about what you can apply to your life.  What verses speak to you?
3. Blog, journal or comment about what you're thinking.

My Takeaway

Many people are wandering around these days without a clear purpose or direction.  They are seeking a better life, but they don't know how to find it.  A leader's job is to point people in the right direction.   The first place we need to point lost people to is God.

I really like what Proverbs 30:1-4 say:

This man declared to Ithiel,
to Ithiel and to Ucal:

“I am the most ignorant of men;
I do not have a man's understanding.

I have not learned wisdom,
nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.

Who has gone up to heaven and come down?
Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands?
Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and the name of his son?
Tell me if you know!

This gives me a picture of a man, lost and wandering throughout his life with no real purpose.   He doesn't have a clear direction.  Yet, I think he gets it.  He understands that he's lost and he begins to call out.  He's seeking.   He's asking to be told how to find wisdom and understanding.

Do you know someone like this?  TELL THEM.   I believe many people are secretly lost in this world.  They may not have the foresight to seek out wisdom and to call out for it, but you know they're lost.

Like I've said in earlier posts, I believe everyone is leading somebody.   As a leader, it's your job to lead them in the right direction.   There could be no better place to start than to lead them first to God.

After reading Proverbs 30, what stands out to you?  What thoughts are you having?   Post a comment with your thoughts.  If you blogged about Proverbs 30, post a link to your blog post.

Read about the 30 Day Slow Down Challenge here. 

[image by thoughtquotient]  

Welcome to Day 29 of the 30 Day Slow Down Challenge.  You're almost done with this journey.  What thoughts are you having?  How are you feeling?  Today we're going to look at how your leadership affects others.

Task for today:  

1. Take a few minutes and think about the people in your life.  How is your character and leadership affecting them?  
2. Read Proverbs 29. Think about what stands out to you.  Think about what you can apply to your life.  What verses speak to you?
3. Blog, journal or comment about what you're thinking.

My Takeaway

Everything that we do as a leader is observed and taught to those people that are following us.   Some may say that nobody is following them.  If that's you, I'd caution you to examine your life better and think about all of the people that you rub shoulders with.   Sure, you may not be in a true leadership position at work or church or wherever you may be planted, but there are always people around you that you can influence.

A favorite saying of mine is "As the leader goes, so go the followers."

Verse 12 says:

If a ruler listens to lies,
all his officials become wicked.

Leadership trickles Down.  It is a fact.   One of the best ways to affect those around you is to change yourself.   That's partly the point of this challenge you're taking.  It's all about slowing down your life to re-examine how you're living.

After reading Proverbs 29, what stands out to you?  What thoughts are you having?   Post a comment with your thoughts.  If you blogged about Proverbs 29, post a link to your blog post.

Read about the 30 Day Slow Down Challenge here. 

[image by gregtimm]

Welcome to Day 28 of the 30 Day Slow Down Challenge.  Today we're going to look at who you're getting advice from.   Leaders make plans and work their plans to achieve goals, but leaders also have trusted advisors to help guide them.

Task for today:  

1. Take 10 minutes and think about this journey you're on.   Are you drawing nearer to God?  
2. Read Proverbs 28. Think about what stands out to you.  Think about what you can apply to your life.  What verses speak to you?
3. Blog, journal or comment about what you're thinking.

My Takeaway

We must learn to go to God first with everything in our life.  As a leader, you will face adversity, triumphs, trials, tribulations and success.  In all things, pursue God first.  Trust Him.  Learn to listen for God.  

Verse 14 says:

Blessed is the man who always fears the Lord,
but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.

All throughout Proverbs we see verses about trusting God and how that leads to wisdom and understanding.   

Verse 26 says: 

He who trusts in himself is a fool,
but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.

Trusting solely in yourself and your own abilities is a trap.   We need to make God our first advisor and apply His wisdom in our lives.

After reading Proverbs 28, what stands out to you?  What thoughts are you having?   Post a comment with your thoughts.  If you blogged about Proverbs 28, post a link to your blog post.

Read about the 30 Day Slow Down Challenge here. 

[image by shoebappa]

Welcome to Day 27 of the 30 Day Slow Down Challenge.  What type of person are you?  How serious do you take yourself?   Finding the right balance in your life is an important thing to do. 

Task for today:  

1. Think about the last time you did some spontaneous.  How did it make you feel?
2. Read Proverbs 27. Think about what stands out to you.  Think about what you can apply to your life.  What verses speak to you?
3. Blog, journal or comment about what you're thinking.

My Takeaway

While I believe that we need to plan and pursue our goals, I also believe that we need to learn how to live in the moment too.   For some people being spontaneous might be a difficult thing to do.   For me, I actually think it's harder now than it used to be.  Seems like when I was younger being spontaneous was easier for me.  I guess now with a family, business and responsibilities being spontaneous just takes more work and intention. 

Proverbs 27:1 

Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

We never know what tomorrow will bring.  This verse makes me think about how fragile life can be.  It makes me think about how living more intentional is required to live to the fullest.  We owe it to our families, kids, spouses and friends.

The next time you're feeling the urge to be spontaneous, act on it!   Take a chance to do something out of the ordinary and see how it makes you feel.  What's one thing you could do today to live in the moment?

After reading Proverbs 27, what stands out to you?  What thoughts are you having?   Post a comment with your thoughts.  If you blogged about Proverbs 27, post a link to your blog post.

Read about the 30 Day Slow Down Challenge here. 

[image by nailest]

Welcome to Day 26 of the 30 Day Slow Down Challenge.  A leader is a person that can overcome adversity in their life.   A leader is able to remain focused on their plan and continue to execute on the plan.   Leaders remain diligent.

Task for today:  

1. Think about any area of your life that you may be getting lazy and not remaining diligent to a plan.
2. Read Proverbs 26. Think about what stands out to you.  Think about what you can apply to your life.  What verses speak to you?
3. Blog, journal or comment about what you're thinking.

My Takeaway

I believe the reason that certain leaders are more successful than others is that they have the discipline to remain diligent to their plan.  

Diligent:  constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken; persistent exertion of body or mind.

Proverbs 26:13-16 encourage us to not be lazy.   In my mind, this speaks directly to remaining diligent. 

The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road,
a fierce lion roaming the streets!”

As a door turns on its hinges,
so a sluggard turns on his bed.

The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
than seven men who answer discreetly.

Make a list today of anything that you feel you're not remaining diligent towards.

After reading Proverbs 26, what stands out to you?  What thoughts are you having?   Post a comment with your thoughts.  If you blogged about Proverbs 26, post a link to your blog post.

Read about the 30 Day Slow Down Challenge here. 

[image by mostafa]