Well, it's that time again. It's time to update the ole blog page and write down what's on my mind for the entire world to read. Well, I could only hope the world would want to read it. So far I've only got two followers. That says a lot for my writing skills. Either I'm a terrible blogger or my family members are just having pity on me...LOL. Either way I'm having a blast doing this.
Well, what are my thoughts this week? I'm glad you asked. We recently went on a vacation to Dallas, Texas for a few days and had a blast while we were there. We were able to go to a Rangers game with some great friends, see the "Bodies" exhibit and just walk around in the "West End" for a while. We visited the location of JFK's assassination and went into an old church that's now a museum. We had a really good time. However, the highlight of the vacation wasn't the exhibit, it wasn't the West end and it definitely wasn't the JFK assassination location. The best part of the vacation, at least for me, was the Rangers game.
A baseball game, you ask? Yes, a baseball game. Okay, I have to set this up. We get to the stadium, get our tickets, go into the stadium and find our seats. Me and Collin, my youngest, go down to the dugout and just hang out hoping that one or more of the players will come out and sign a baseball Collin brought. No, players showed. We were a little disappointed, but not giving up on having fun. However, by now it's almost time for the game to start. Donna had come down to take a few pictures of me and the boys and the security guard tells us that the players will not be signing autographs. Oh well, we're there for the game and to make some memories and believe me we made some.
It's about the 4th or 5th inning and by now I've seen several pop ups caught by players tossed into the crowd. I'm thinking, wouldn't it be great to catch one of those? That would be sooo cool. Well, then I hear someone say that if you stand up and yell at the player making he catch and you get his attention, he may throw the ball to you. I'm thinking that it can't hurt to try, right? I mean, if they will throw it to a person three or four rows into the stands they'll surely throw one 36 rows into the stands. So I tried it.
It's the bottom of the sixth inning. The Rangers are in the field and they have one out left. The Angle's, that's who the Rangers are playing the night we went, have a player at bat and he hits a high pop up to the short stop, Elvis Andrus. Elvis makes the catch! And as he is running to the dug out I stand up, throw my hands in the air as if I'm reaching for a pair of beads from a crew member on a Mardi Gras float and I yell "HEY" as loud as I can.
Now you have to picture this. I'm sitting in a section directly behind the dug out. I'm 36 rows back and there are hundreds of people sitting ahead of me. But when Andrus caught that ball and started running toward the dugout, it felt like I was the only one standing. There didn't appear to be anyone reaching out asking for the ball and I felt as if I was alone in a crowd of people....LOL! But as luck would have it I got his attention and he THROWS ME THE BALL! Yes! I got the attention of a Major League Baseball player and he is throwing me an MLB baseball that was used in a televised game seen by millions of people. Oh what a joy it was going to be to tell the story of catching such a great prize. What fun it would be to tell all my friends that "I" caught a baseball thrown to me from Elvis Andrus at a game. I would be able to give the ball to my boys and they would be able to share the story of a lifetime with their friends at school, at church and family gatherings and explain to them how great their Dad was to give them such a wonderful gift.
But they won't be able to tell that story. They won't be able to say how great their Dad was because Dad didn't catch the ball. It was a perfect throw! No one standing in front of me, no one waving their hands in my face, it was a "perfect opportunity" and I missed it. The ball hit my right hand just below the pinkie finger. I was so upset with myself. I couldn't believe it. I missed a ball thrown right to me! I missed a great chance to be a hero. I missed an opportunity to be great in the eyes of my kids. I missed what I thought was a "once in a lifetime" opportunity.
Isn't that like life though? Hasn't there been times in our lives that we thought we had everything right and for what ever reason things just didn't go the way they were suppose to? It would appear that everything was perfect in whatever setting we happen to be in and then out of no where something happens and it's no longer a perfect situation or setting, but a ruined event.
But all isn't lost. Yes, we have blunders in our lives and we have missed opportunities but we can't let a missed opportunity or a blunder be the reason we quit trying. So we "dropped the ball". We've all done it. But just because we "drop a ball" doesn't mean we won't go back to the stadium. Just because something goes wrong doesn't give us the right to just quit. We must learn from it. Learn from the mistake, learn from the blunder, learn from the missed opportunity then go back and try again.....You must keep trying! We'll never be successful in achieving our goals if we quit every time something that isn't planned or expected takes place.
What did I learn from missing that ball? What did I learned from an unplanned or unexpected issue that interfered with my achieving such a great prized possession in what would appear to be a perfect setting at an MLB ball game?
Next time I'll carry a glove!
Just a thought....C-Ya!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Getting past the "one times"
Today I had an opportunity to attend a mens conference in Mt. Pleasant Tx. Unfortunately, I don't know the name of the host church or the Pastor, but I do know the speakers. Rev Carl McLaughlin and Rev Charles Chargois.
Both did an outstanding job. But of course, I must pay tribute to my Pastor, Rev Charles Chargois. He did an outstanding job ministering "Morality is a Mindset". He does an outstanding job of challenging me which is why I'm posting this tonight.
I'm trying to make changes to be and do better. I'm trying to be a better father to my boys, a more compassionate, understanding, loving, listening husband to my wife, and a better employee for my employer. Not that I haven't been good in these areas, but I'm striving to be better. However, I'm finding that making those changes is sometimes difficult...seriously!
I realize that change is something we all want to do. Some want to change their looks by loosing weight, cutting or dying their hair, growing a beard or even getting a tat. Some want to change jobs, change where they live, change churchs, change cars, or change their name. Foot, some times folks just want to change to change. Look at whatever it is your wanting to change in your life and ask yourself these questions. Am I really ready for what it's going to take? Am I ready to except the challenges and consequences of that change? Am I willing to committ? If the answer is yes to all of the above mentioned questions, then as Michael Jackson would say, "make that change". (lyrics taken from the song "Man in the Mirror")
The last couple of weeks I've tried to make a change in my character. I've tried really hard to focus on NOT letting myself get to a point of over reacting to quickly, by listening to what is being said and thinking before I respond, holding my tongue and keeping my opinions and comments to myself. But wouldn't you know it, the last couple of days I've had everything under the sun try my patience. I've had every idiot in the world push every button I have and I've managed to keep my cool...well, except for one time.
When we are trying to make changes in our life or to ourselves isn't that all it takes for us to question the change we are trying to make, messing up one time? You mess up one time and you step back and think "I can't do this". You mess up one time and you tell yourself that "it's just not worth the fight". You give in one time to your old way of life and think "I'll be this way forever". But that's not true. How many times did you fight the urg to give in and won? How many times did you walk away from the temptation of really letting someone have it and yet you kept your mouth shut? How often did you stop your self from going places or doing things you said you weren't going to go or do? ONE TIME?! REALLY!? You did AWESOME!
I think we are too hard on ourselves. I know I am. I beat myself up so much that sometimes I feel like I have two black eyes and a busted rib or two. To often people hang their head after a screw up and they tell themselves, "I'm worthless". But that's what we do. We beat ourselves up over and over and over again. We focus on the negative things we've done and not the positives. We look at the "wrongs" we've taken part in instead of looking at the "rights" we've accomplished. Get over the negatives and focus on the positive things you've accomplished. Move on from the "one times" and pick yourselves up and keep going.
Micah 7:8 tells us "Rejoice not against me, o mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise, when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me". It's taken me all this time to say this. You're gonna mess up! You're gonna fall! You're not perfect! You're gonna have dark days! But the positive to this revelation is this. GOD IS WITH YOU! You just have to get up. You can't stay down. To paraphase Ephesians 6:13-14"when you've done all to stand, stand therefore". Sometimes you just have to stop and stand. And believe me, standing ain't a bad thing. When you're standing you're not down, right?
Again....just thoughts on a page.
C ya!
Both did an outstanding job. But of course, I must pay tribute to my Pastor, Rev Charles Chargois. He did an outstanding job ministering "Morality is a Mindset". He does an outstanding job of challenging me which is why I'm posting this tonight.
I'm trying to make changes to be and do better. I'm trying to be a better father to my boys, a more compassionate, understanding, loving, listening husband to my wife, and a better employee for my employer. Not that I haven't been good in these areas, but I'm striving to be better. However, I'm finding that making those changes is sometimes difficult...seriously!
I realize that change is something we all want to do. Some want to change their looks by loosing weight, cutting or dying their hair, growing a beard or even getting a tat. Some want to change jobs, change where they live, change churchs, change cars, or change their name. Foot, some times folks just want to change to change. Look at whatever it is your wanting to change in your life and ask yourself these questions. Am I really ready for what it's going to take? Am I ready to except the challenges and consequences of that change? Am I willing to committ? If the answer is yes to all of the above mentioned questions, then as Michael Jackson would say, "make that change". (lyrics taken from the song "Man in the Mirror")
The last couple of weeks I've tried to make a change in my character. I've tried really hard to focus on NOT letting myself get to a point of over reacting to quickly, by listening to what is being said and thinking before I respond, holding my tongue and keeping my opinions and comments to myself. But wouldn't you know it, the last couple of days I've had everything under the sun try my patience. I've had every idiot in the world push every button I have and I've managed to keep my cool...well, except for one time.
When we are trying to make changes in our life or to ourselves isn't that all it takes for us to question the change we are trying to make, messing up one time? You mess up one time and you step back and think "I can't do this". You mess up one time and you tell yourself that "it's just not worth the fight". You give in one time to your old way of life and think "I'll be this way forever". But that's not true. How many times did you fight the urg to give in and won? How many times did you walk away from the temptation of really letting someone have it and yet you kept your mouth shut? How often did you stop your self from going places or doing things you said you weren't going to go or do? ONE TIME?! REALLY!? You did AWESOME!
I think we are too hard on ourselves. I know I am. I beat myself up so much that sometimes I feel like I have two black eyes and a busted rib or two. To often people hang their head after a screw up and they tell themselves, "I'm worthless". But that's what we do. We beat ourselves up over and over and over again. We focus on the negative things we've done and not the positives. We look at the "wrongs" we've taken part in instead of looking at the "rights" we've accomplished. Get over the negatives and focus on the positive things you've accomplished. Move on from the "one times" and pick yourselves up and keep going.
Micah 7:8 tells us "Rejoice not against me, o mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise, when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me". It's taken me all this time to say this. You're gonna mess up! You're gonna fall! You're not perfect! You're gonna have dark days! But the positive to this revelation is this. GOD IS WITH YOU! You just have to get up. You can't stay down. To paraphase Ephesians 6:13-14"when you've done all to stand, stand therefore". Sometimes you just have to stop and stand. And believe me, standing ain't a bad thing. When you're standing you're not down, right?
Again....just thoughts on a page.
C ya!
Monday, July 12, 2010
You can change
Wow! That's really all I can say about the powerful service I was in last night at Calvary. And as I sat there all I could think about was how was I going to leave? How do you experience the grace and mercy of God and not leave different? How do you experience His love and compassion and not leave changed? How have I let myself, after so many years, not give in to what He has for me? Those answers are coming.
All day today I've basked in His presence and I've thought about what I've done with my life. What I haven't done with my life and how I could have been more effective or affective with my time? I've asked my self "why" and "how" so many times today it isn't funny....Why did you do this or that? Why did you let this happen or that happen? How did this get by me? How did that happen? How could I have been a different? How could I have changed?
I'm just thinking, but I bet there are a lot of people out there who have asked those same questions. The problem is, they keep asking the questions but they never stop to answer. Maybe they don't know how to answer. Today I had the questions answered. Here it is.....You change by releasing.
In order for you to be different your going to have to let go of some things. You have to let go of your past, let go of your pains, let go of the hurts, let go of the bitterness you've held onto for 10 years......just let go. And one of the biggest things you have to let go of is your "self". Last night I did just that, I let go, and you know it really feels great. There is a scripture that says He must increase, but I must decrease. That's exactly what I had to do. I had to let Him increase and let my "self" decrease. Was it easy? No...but when you realize that the road your traveling isn't going to bring you to the place you thought it would, you have to change roads.
I started this blog to express and share some of my inner feelings and some personal opinions as an effort to help someone through a crisis or a tough situation they may be going through. I hope that by sharing this short piece tonight that the next time someone is in a powerful presence of God and He shares his grace, mercy, love and shows compassion they let go of what ever it is their holding onto and leave changed.
Just thinking......
C - Ya!
Tim
All day today I've basked in His presence and I've thought about what I've done with my life. What I haven't done with my life and how I could have been more effective or affective with my time? I've asked my self "why" and "how" so many times today it isn't funny....Why did you do this or that? Why did you let this happen or that happen? How did this get by me? How did that happen? How could I have been a different? How could I have changed?
I'm just thinking, but I bet there are a lot of people out there who have asked those same questions. The problem is, they keep asking the questions but they never stop to answer. Maybe they don't know how to answer. Today I had the questions answered. Here it is.....You change by releasing.
In order for you to be different your going to have to let go of some things. You have to let go of your past, let go of your pains, let go of the hurts, let go of the bitterness you've held onto for 10 years......just let go. And one of the biggest things you have to let go of is your "self". Last night I did just that, I let go, and you know it really feels great. There is a scripture that says He must increase, but I must decrease. That's exactly what I had to do. I had to let Him increase and let my "self" decrease. Was it easy? No...but when you realize that the road your traveling isn't going to bring you to the place you thought it would, you have to change roads.
I started this blog to express and share some of my inner feelings and some personal opinions as an effort to help someone through a crisis or a tough situation they may be going through. I hope that by sharing this short piece tonight that the next time someone is in a powerful presence of God and He shares his grace, mercy, love and shows compassion they let go of what ever it is their holding onto and leave changed.
Just thinking......
C - Ya!
Tim
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
The start of something NEW.
Okay, I've never started a blog before and this is definitely new to me. I don't normally have a problem sharing my feeling, thoughts or opinions with people. But to actually put them on a page where everyone can see them. Well, that's a little different for me.
The problem with writing a blog is I don't actually know what to write, how often I need to write and who I'm writing too. I don't really know my audiance but I guess if your taking the time to read this your interested in what I have to say. Will a blog offend anyone? Wow, I sure hope not. I think a blog is a place a person can go to share what's on their mind and let off a little steam now and again. But again, that's my opinion. So, will I offend someone. Let's just get that question answered and out of the way now. "Yes" I probably will.
My hope and my goal of this blog is to write something that will help someone, encourage someone, lift someones spirits, brighten one's day, make someone look at a situation a little different and over all make someone smile. I want to make someone laugh, think, look at life in a whole new way. I want people to understand that life isn't always fair, but there is a place you can go to help take the edge of....and it's not a bottle.
So, let's see how successful this blog will be. If you like what I have to say, let me know. If not, keep it to yourself. Cause I'm blogging either way....LOL.
C Ya!
The problem with writing a blog is I don't actually know what to write, how often I need to write and who I'm writing too. I don't really know my audiance but I guess if your taking the time to read this your interested in what I have to say. Will a blog offend anyone? Wow, I sure hope not. I think a blog is a place a person can go to share what's on their mind and let off a little steam now and again. But again, that's my opinion. So, will I offend someone. Let's just get that question answered and out of the way now. "Yes" I probably will.
My hope and my goal of this blog is to write something that will help someone, encourage someone, lift someones spirits, brighten one's day, make someone look at a situation a little different and over all make someone smile. I want to make someone laugh, think, look at life in a whole new way. I want people to understand that life isn't always fair, but there is a place you can go to help take the edge of....and it's not a bottle.
So, let's see how successful this blog will be. If you like what I have to say, let me know. If not, keep it to yourself. Cause I'm blogging either way....LOL.
C Ya!
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