Junior Seau Number 55

It was excruciatingly sad watching Junior Seau's mom address the media; she was devastated by the news that her son had just committed suicide. Where does one find peace at a time like that?

The news here in San Diego about the tragedy reached both near and far, affecting those close to him, as well as those who barely knew him. I still remember being in Europe at the time of the Chargers Super Bowl season and having to stop and get a USA Today each week, just so I could read up on how the Charger season was going.  I'm only a casual observer, so compared to one who played the game and played it extremely well, maybe the best at his position, it must have been a hard thing transitioning out of football the past two years.  Football was everything to him.

Yes, Junior has his Foundation, and philanthropic venues that outlive him and his legacy, but he will always be remembered for his Thor-like, lighting fist pounding, after a great play.

May we all pray for his family, friends and everyone he has, and has yet to touch through his life...and death.

Closed on Sunday

To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all entrusted to us.  To have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.

That is the mission statement for Chick-fil-A .  Always closed on Sunday's; Truett Cathy the owner has always honored God by having all his employees off to enjoy Faith, Family and Friends.  He wouldn't ask his employees to do anything he wouldn't do himself, and since he teaches Sunday School on Sundays for the past 50 years, he is determined to never be open Sundays.

He believes one of the reasons his chain is so successful is that since 1946 he has put God first willingly knowing that he is missing out on about a 20% business loss.  Truett says "I believe God gives life recommendations not to make life harder but to make it better...This is the formula God has given us to succeed rather than to work seven days a week and miss the blessing."

"We have to ask ourselves what's really important, I've seen people very successful in business be a total flop in relationships with their families and marriages and other important things in life."

We work hard, we sacrifice as we expend energy trying to become financially successful; along the way we are anxious to give our kids material things we never had, while failing to give them what's really important, right?  At some point we refocus our efforts  on significance; giving our experience, time, talent, and energy toward making a difference, and finally, in leaving a legacy.

7 minutes of Glory and A Sloppy Wet Kiss

As the sun was coming up over the distant hills behind me, I was listening to my ipod, specificaly some worship songs when I came across these songs.  I wanted to see if there were any corresponding videos...hope you have some headphones handy...and maybe some kleenex.

Here it is; enjoy the next 7 minutes...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOY0mjjmx8Y

And then if you have just a couple more minutes; check out this one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDDImDqR9uA&feature=related

Pocketful of Acorns

When the kids were little, we went up to the local mountains so they could play in the recent snow.  amongst the towering oaks and pines, were little squirrels gathering up as many acorns as they could possibly fit in their little cheeks.  I picked up a pocketful of acorns and stuffed them in my jacket pocket.  I wanted to plant them on the property when we got home.

Out of a pocketful, only one ever grew; now, 10 years later, it is just now looking like a tree that birds can hang out in.  They all got water, soil, and sunshine.  Maybe some did start to grow, but got choked with weeds, or eaten by critters, don't really know.

Bing Crosby used to visit the hotel I worked at decades ago.  Every time I saw him, I was constantly reminded of his song in "Rudolph" where the abominable snowman would start to "Put one foot in front of the other, and soon you'll be walking out the door."

Isn't our Christian life like that?  We're not really expected to run a marathon at age 2,  The giant oaks don't grow to be massive over night.  Each takes time.  The strongest oaks are the ones that have seen fire, and flood, intense wind, times of drought, while for a moment, the times are tough, those roots grow strong.

We all grow at different paces, all experience drought, all have to fight off the storms of life, the weeds that can entangle and choke us of what God intends. I like what Dr Flores says "There aren't good Christians and bad ones, only growing at different paces still with poopy pants...compared to my wife, she's like Mother Teresa...only Hotter!"

Peace Please

Ever take notice to how easy it is to take God for granted?  Way too many things interrupt awareness of Him.  We are all about the senses; we live in a world of sight and sound that stimulate and overwhelm the senses.  The key then, is to tune in to what's happening around us.  He says to seek Him first, meditate on Him, His ways, and His Word.

Without forethought to what happens around us, unexpected events tend to throw us off course right?  I bet He loves nothing more than to hear from us through anything and everything that competes for our attention.  This allows Him to share in new found joys, and sad sorrows allowing Him to work through us while sharing the peace only He can give.

Life as a Fantasy

I almost drafted "T.O" in Fantasy Football last year.  After 12 rounds, he was still there. Surely some team would take a flyer and pick him up after having a pretty good year.  Nope.  No takers.  When reading reasons why from Football GM's, many of the responses were of the same ilk...."He's ego-centric, not a team player."  "He's a cancer to the locker room."  "While he may make some great plays, not worth the risk for team damage control."

David Robinson, former NBA star said this "NBA Championship teams have this in common: They play on the same team with one goal in mind.  Each player contributes his own gifts and efforts so that the greater goal- winning- can be reached.  But players who seek there own glory tend to drive the team away from success.  The goal is not for our own glory.  In fact, trying to make life all about us pushes happiness out of reach"

It's the me first, or me-centric thinking that can take a toll on our families, businesses and marriages.  For some, life's troubles, trials and tribulations, can be magnified when the belief becomes rampant that life is all about them.

In Marriage we're on the same team.  Expectations can run high, so can emotions when expectations aren't met. A house divided against itself cannot stand; so together, work towards the goal with the end in mind.

Perspective

Eleanor Roosevelt once said "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

Whenever you get in a rut, or you feel like things aren't going your way, or you just feel like complaining, sometimes all we need is a little perspective...

She also said "Life has got to be lived-that's all there is to it!"

Check out this vid'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DxlJWJ_WfA&feature=youtu.be