Tag Archives: Inspire

I’m Writing A Book

Yep. You read it correctly. I’m. Writing. A. Book.

If fact, I’m planning to write more than one book. For now though, we’ll focus on the first book.

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As most of you know, my life changed last year when I was let go from my job. The time off helped me realize I was limiting myself. I was solely focused on work. A deep down love of writing came to the surface during my brief time off from employment. I love to write. And now, I have something to say.

This first book has been pushing itself to the surface for months. I’ve tried to ignore it while sketching out a plan for a different book, but this book is quite pushy. It needs to be first. It needs to see the light of day before I go on to the next one (which was going to be first).

What is so very important it can’t wait to be published? Encouragement. Inspiration. Filling people up. Pouring myself into others in order to bless them and encourage them in their every day lives and in their Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAG)!

Here are a couple of topics I plan to cover:

Don’t pick the people to fill, simply work on emptying what I’ve been given.
How do I fill my own cup so I have more to pour out? i.e. Refilling my cup
Encouragement includes planting seeds you may not see grow to maturity.
Can you encourage, inspire, refresh, pour into others through social media? Twitter, FB, Pinterest, Blogging, etc.? Or, are these solely “in person” activities?

What are your thoughts on the topic? Opinions?

I look forward to hearing from you. I may even ask to use your thoughts in the book.
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Now for some accountability.

My target date for publishing this book is January 1, 2015. While I’m sure you all have an opinion on the time frame I’m presenting, I’m not looking for your opinion. But, I’d love to have your support. Some days I am freaked out by the lack of time with which I’ve presented myself. Other days, when the words are flowing freely, I believe it’ll be a breeze to finish up by New Year’s Day. I’d love your support to keep me accountable. I’m not sure how I’ll gather your encouragement. Maybe through email with a select few, maybe with a closed Facebook group, but I really do want to hear from you along the way.

Keep your eyes on this site, and if you’d like, leave a comment in this post telling me you’d be interested in a more personal involvement in seeing this project come to fruition.

Thanks for all your support so far! Here we go!!

I’m A Man – Society’s Opinion (part 2)

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After reading the post about Society’s Opinion of men (I’m A Man Society’s Opinion), a few people commented (online and offline) that the image of a man portrayed on T.V. sitcoms is horrible. I agree. Many sitcoms portray the dad in the show as a bumbling idiot.

Here are a few to consider:
Homer Simpson Al Bundy

Peter Griffin

Pick any show on Disney Channel (Seriously). Let’s use the show “Dog With A Blog” as the example. The dad on the show is Bennett James. Here’s the description of Mr. James from that ever popular site, Wikipedia.
Dog With a Blog – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

“Bennett James, played by Regan Burns, is Tyler and Chloe’s father and Avery’s step-father. He is a child psychologist(who basically has the mind of a child) who has his own book and tries to think of ways to get his kids to come together. He is also shown to be quite conceited. Sometimes, his wife thinks he got his psychology degree online, as his attempts at practicing psychology do not seem to go well. In the pilot, he introduces Stan to the blended family in hopes that the dog will help his children bond.”

Did you catch that? “Who basically has the mind of a child.”

How many times do we laugh at the dad on the show we are watching? What kind of impression do our children gain about the role of a dad from watching these shows?

Do I laugh at these shows? You bet. I’m part of the problem too. I’m also going to be part of the solution. What can we do? We can begin by setting a better example. Stop watching shows that tear people down. This applies to everything we watch. If you still have kids at home, of any age, do you watch shows with them that are inappropriate for their age? Some of you are saying, “Of course not. My spouse and I wait until they are in bed before we watch anything the kids shouldn’t see.” Hmm…That may be a place to begin the change in your home. It’s a place to begin in my own home.

I’ll admit to it. My wife and I were hooked on the ABC show Scandal for quite a while. We like shows that make us think. Twists and turns in the plot, and trying to determine who is doing what to who, are exciting and fun to try to unravel. But is the show appropriate? No. Flat out, no. I love the intrigue. The sex and violence are addictive though. And wrong. Would the show be as popular if the writers took out the sex and violence? Probably not.

So here is a challenge for you and me. Take a hard look at what images and stereotypes you are helping perpetuate when you turn on the box. I’m not advocating the extermination of the TV in your house. There is something beneficial with that action, but I don’t believe it is necessary to move forward and do better.

Let me know if you are taking up the challenge.

What actions will you take?

Share them in the comments below. Continue the conversation.

Music

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What is it about music that stirs and revives our souls?

If you read this post, your are required to click each link and listen to the music.

Dobie Gray – Drift Away (Original Official Video)
http://youtu.be/NIuyDWzctgY

Lyrics help express feelings. Many times they help us pull ideas and memories out from the deep recesses of our minds. Those memories of high school or childhood that come rushing back when you hear a certain song. It may happen in an elevator, or as the ice cream truck rolls past. (My wife and I told our boys the ice cream truck was the “music truck” when they were little.) You think to yourself “Wow. I wish I could go back to that moment.” Many of us feel our souls rising up to God through music. Alone and in a time of sorrow, but also during times of corporate worship. I love singing traditional hymns in the traditional way. Harmonies rise from different pews with the familiar tones of fellow church members of the last 40 years. I can distinctly hear my Dad when we sing many traditional songs in church. He has a unique tone. Sometimes it grinds on me, but mostly it brings me to a comfortable place of warmth and familiarity.

Music resonates deep in the human soul. It has a power to connect us with others and to open our hearts to new feelings. This experience is universal. How many of us have been in a different country and have been blessed to worship with a congregation in a very different language. When the music begins, even if you don’t have any idea of the words being spoken, the music joins you together.

I love these words shared with me by my friend Liz Clark as I was preparing to write this post.

“Music awakens something, changes the air inside my soul.”

This is so very true. No matter the music you prefer. Sacred or secular. Music does something to us. And it is wonderful. Many times we struggle to find words to express our true feelings, and then we turn to music. When you were young, did you share favorite songs with a young man or young woman you were pursuing? At your wedding did you select a specific, meaningful song? I did. And I sang it to my beautiful bride during our wedding. December 30, 1993. (Sing is a relative term here. I cried my way through it.)

Steven Curtis Chapman
“I Will Be Here”
http://youtu.be/qWzGmtro7cE

I have found over the years that I need to sing. My soul, my psyche, my emotions, they all need me to sing. They need to connect with music on a daily basis. I need to sing words, but music without words works well too. Orchestral pieces, marching bands, etc, work very well when the words are not enough. The beauty of a symphony can touch us deeply. Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait” brings deep meaning and a connectedness to the gravity of what our greatest president dealt with on a daily basis. Have you ever felt emotion while listening to Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture”? Yep. Thought so. How about the United States Marine Corps Hymn or the Navy Hymn? If you are an American and those don’t bring up emotions I don’t know what will.

Here’s one more to listen to. Again, tugging at the American sense of patriotism, what does this do to you?

National Anthem by The Tenors at Falcons vs. Seahawks game
http://youtu.be/sZoivVwaZpA

What songs/music moves you? Please share a link in the comments below.