You're Not Going to Like This...

Some of you aren’t going to like this… which means it probably applies to you most.

God loves Nikolas Cruz.

Just as much as He loves you.

One of the biggest lies Satan has sold (successfully) is that our sins are ok while the REAL evil people deserve what they get. And it’s an effective lie because it feeds directly into what may be the most dangerous human attribute: our pride.

“If I’m not THAT bad, then I’m ok.” That mindset is destroying those who profess themselves as Christians. There is nothing further from Biblical truth than that mindset. It flies in the face of everything God tells us. It’s the perfect lie.

That comparison to the extreme is stripping away what should be a simple Biblical truth: For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

All.

I sin daily. You do too. And each single sin is enough to create an unpassable chasm to God. Which is where John 3:16 comes in.

For God so loved the world that he gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

The world. (That includes you, me, and Nikolas Cruz).

It’s easy to skim past certain words in that verse, because it’s turned cliché. The meaning of the verse gets lost in familiarity. It shouldn’t. It may be a simple truth, but it’s impact is deep, deep, deep.

We are no more deserving of God’s love than Cruz is. And our human minds struggle with that. Mine sure does. But, that nature is what separates God’s love from our own. It doesn’t make sense.

But, if God can love Nikolas Cruz enough to send Jesus for him (and I’ve outlined proof that He does), then that means He loves you too in your own imperfection.

You can’t out-sin God’s love or forgiveness. You just can’t. Because if you could, there would have been no reason to send His Son. Why would He send Jesus to live in this messed up world, suffer, and die if it wouldn’t be enough to account for all sin? Just from a logic perspective, that makes no sense. So, God loves and forgives sinners. That’s what He does. That’s who He is.

But, we like to create an additional layer in that simple, yet strange truth: Ourselves.

If you’re anything like me, forgiving myself is often harder than forgiving others. And forgiving others isn’t always easy.

“But you don’t know what I’ve done… who I’ve hurt.”

No, but God does and that’s EXACTLY why He sent Jesus. Exactly why.

If He sent Jesus for all the perfect people, He wouldn’t have in the first place. No one’s sin is better than yours. (Or worse). Don’t listen to anyone who tells you differently. Imperfection defines hypocrisy. Don’t be afraid to chase the Christian truth because you see nothing but sinful Christians. Of course you do! But, look to those who acknowledge their sin instead of rationalize it. Don’t reject Christian belief because you’re measuring it against imperfect people. Measure it against the one it’s built upon.

What you’ve done? God still loves you. You’re not bad enough to escape His love. You’re just not. If Nikolas Cruz isn’t, you sure aren’t.

The self-loathing we feel when we mess up (big or small)? God still loves us. We can hate ourselves and God is still standing there with open arms, wanting to embrace us.

It makes no sense. But it shouldn’t. That’s why He’s God and we aren’t.

If we can agree Billy Graham was a decent enough guy, just know he sinned too. He needed God just as much as you. Good people don’t get to Heaven. Forgiven people do. Once that truth hits, we can’t help BUT to love God back in appreciation.

If you are one to struggle with this truth, which is understandable, even Graham himself said, “I’ve never known a man who received Christ and ever regretted it.”

I guess the purpose of this rambling, preachy post is to remind Christians to act like it. And to let those interested in Christianity (but abhor most Christians) know you are forgivable. You are loved. You are accepted. Don’t let your loathing for yourself or imperfect Christians skew these truths.

If God can love Nikolas Cruz, He can love you too.

My 100% Guarantee... Change is Coming

So I had a small conversation with Val this morning about societal changes. It revolved around the Florida students in protest for stricter gun laws, but it opened up a much deeper point.

Regardless of what you think needs changing on an individual basis, it seems a lot of the same issues we’ve been battling over the last 20 years haven’t budged. I don’t have any research behind me, but just thinking things through and using what I know of human nature, I posit that in 20-30 years, this country (and world) will be nearly unrecognizable. That may be good. That may be bad.

But, the Baby Boomers have been running this country (and they obviously raised my Generation, Gen-X). They were of a specific mindset, which in turn obviously helped shape ours.

(I’m not interested in arguing if these mindsets are correct or not. And also… don’t take offense if I say something negative about your generation. It’s not personal. It’s VERY broad, on a macro-level. I’m not attacking anyone. Everything below is based on generality, so put down your pitchforks)

As society has shifted, the Boomers played a large role in that shift. They brought us Flower Power and peace and love and the sexual revolution. They upset a much more conservative society than most of us have ever experienced. They fought the civil rights movement with MLK. Their generation changed the world in a lot of good (and bad) ways. Translation… progress isn’t always good.

But, their time of youth certainly shifted the culture of America.

Moving onto Gen-X, I think we largely perpetuated that model. We grew up looking for an identity that, ultimately, rooted itself in hard work and persistence. We grew up in a major technological shift in the world (internet). We just had no idea how deep that rabbit hole would go. Also, those who fought WW2 passed along a patriotism to the Boomers. They in turn, passed down much of that to us, while at the same time watching the country we’ve been taught to love turn into one to make us question why?

But, as Gen-Xers, we aren’t really at the age to do THAT much about it because we’re straddling what we were taught vs what we see this country becoming. And the ironic factor is it’s not politically based. Both liberals and conservatives (and even moderates) all think this country and its leaders are messed up. If everyone thinks everyone else has messed the country up, it’s clear we want to love our country but can’t agree on how or why.

The key factor here, though, is I think we’ve not handled that straddling very well. While we are patriotic, it’s by proxy and largely not through experience. We haven’t done a good job passing that down to the next generation because we grew up in a time where national pride centered around how great we are, not because we saved the world from the Nazis. (And we wonder why younger generations are entitled…. It’s because we’ve given them no perspective to be otherwise!) Our national accomplishment was rooted more in entertainment and athletics than worldwide saviorhood.

Fast forward and let time and ‘progress’ take root. We now have a nation with so many problems, it’s easier to count what’s right about American than what is wrong. Why would Millennials and younger be patriotic for a nation they deem to be so flawed? And those flaws were caused by the two generations prior. In their minds, the curtain has been rolled back and they don’t have the frame of reference to know why America is the best country in the world because they haven’t seen it.

They’ve seen a new round of racial tension. Old rich white guys ruining the economy out of greed. Gun violence. Hatred for all sorts of groups. Political embarrassment.  They’ve seen the creations of the Boomers and Gen-X ruin a country they are told to love. Boomers and Gen-Xers have covered the country in a film of sludge while telling them how beautiful it used to be. They’re starting to see through it.

This planet is at a precipice. The technological age has changed us and the world. It brought us together in ways never before, but only to give us the tools to tear each other apart in ways history never predicted. The internet age because the information age which has become the social media age. And it’s happened to fast, there is/was no way to let the change occurring trickle out. That water was flooding our lives faster than we can/could control it. This new age has given us lots but has taken away a lot too.

But in the midst of it all, Millennials and younger were given something no other generation really before had en masse: A voice.

When Boomers wanted something, it took time for their movements to take root. When they did, it was world changing, but it was slow. We as Gen-Xers created a solution, but didn’t quite know how to utilize it and honestly, had very little cause to find our voices. We created the tools and then wondered what to do with them.

But Millennials and younger have/are growing up with it. Even when no one wants to hear it, they have a voice… and they’re learning how to use it. Using their voice IS their culture.

All this is preamble to tell anyone asking if/when ‘x’ will change… Change is coming. Hard and fast. And honestly, I’m guessing the pendulum is going to swing waaaay too far. But, that’s actually a different topic around what needs to change and why.

But why do I 100% guarantee change is coming? I’m an AccidentalGenius, of course. ;)

Right now, the Boomers are beginning to leave the workforce/positions of power and Gen-X is taking the mantle. (Good or bad) It’s our turn to rule the world. And those in power don’t relinquish it willingly.

At any point in time, there are typically two ruling generations: Those 35-50 and those 50-70. As those two groups reluctantly relinquish ‘power’, the younger generation backfills.

In about 20-30 years, (assuming artificial intelligence hasn’t created our own version of Skynet/Terminator… and I’m only kind of joking) you’ll see a world driven by Millennials and the I-Gen. These guys want change. They know the change they want. They know how to use their voice. And when they get the opportunity, then, and only then, do I think you’ll see true change in this country.

Now, all this will be buttressed against those happy with the status quo. They won’t be able to hold back the tidal wave.

There’s a lot of depth I could go into as to what that could mean… but, I fear it. Not because I fear change, but because I fear the example we’ve set as Gen-Xers and Boomers is a poor one. We’ve not instilled the things we say are important to us. We’ve said what’s important, but we haven’t instilled it. Millennials may be the entitled generation and the I-Gen may be snacking on Tide Pods, but WE are the ones who raised them. We are the ones who taught them. They really are a reflection of us… and most of us don’t want to admit it.

Many of these Tide Pod-munchers are going to change this world, assuming they live long enough to. But we’ve created such a world in need of so much change, we haven’t taught them the right perspective on where to stop. We haven’t taught them balance or moderation. Or, apparently, common sense.

So when it becomes the Millennials and I-Gen power-years, change WILL happen. I 100% believe our country will be unrecognizable in 25-30 years because of it. The perfect storm is building and it’s going to slam hard.

Maybe this is the natural order of things. Maybe this dynamic has played out through history over and over. But, I think the perfect storm of voice, opportunity, and areas in need of change is on the horizon. Many things in need of change will actually change. But will they have the wisdom and discernment to know what and how much? THAT, my friends, is a prayer we all need to adopt and repeat over and over until we’re gone.

Change is coming.

I just fear it’ll go too far. If there’s one thing humanity, regardless of generation, has shown, it’s we don’t know when to stop until it’s too late. And we’ve created a world for them void of much Godly direction.

Pray.

Word up!

So…

I stopped being a resolution guy a few years back when I kept looking at back at my lists year over year and seeing the same things over and over.

Either I wanted to keep accomplishing the same things… or I wasn’t accomplishing anything at all. So, my lists turned into regretful good intentions with no follow-through.

If success breeds more success… then I was succeeding at failing. And that cycle got (gets) old. And apparently my tolerance of it had a huge reservoir.

 Last year, instead of goals or resolutions, I shifted to a ‘word’ for the year. It’s largely semantics, I guess, but the ‘word’ serves a much larger, broader concept. It’s not about a list of checked off items as much as an overriding directive for the year. A focus. A driving theme.

Last year, my word was ACTION. It was about not lying around and expecting life to come to me. Go out and DO. Get off my butt and do more than just exist. Now, I had specific areas where I wanted this ACTION to revolve and take me. Looking back on 2017, while I certainly wasn’t perfect, I DID try to put that word to good use.

Some major things didn’t happen, partially because of fear (lack of faith), some because of missed opportunity (my fault) and some because of laziness (go figure). But, you don’t hit 100% of the balls you don’t swing at and I hit a few.

I wanted to get involved in a men’s Bible study and in July, I found one with a great group of guys. I’m looking forward to it starting back up in 2018. I also began serving in the youth again at my church. There’s still a very long, hard story there that may get written some time, but I finally pushed through and decided to ACT on that calling.

There were other, more minor victories. But hey, any victory for me is a defeat for the opposition of inactivity, so I’ll take what I can get.

But, as I looked back, I noticed a disturbing trend. One I should have planned for, but hey, experience is the best teacher, right? I definitely tried to ACT on more things, but I discovered I left lots of things unfinished. I’d start something but wouldn’t finish. And in some circumstances, it cost me money, opportunity, accomplishment, and even direction and progress.

I realized I became King of Unfinished Business. I’m not putting that on my resume.

I had all these good intentions and started many things… but completed so few. It actually reminded me of a situation in my job a couple years ago where I had a ton of projects working. It felts like I was working hard but accomplishing nothing. I was spread so thin, I would push each forward incrementally, but they took forever to complete. Some were my fault. Others were reliant on other people… but the parallel fits. A lot of work getting done with little to show by way of results.

All this made it pretty easy to pick my word for 2018: FINISH (as opposed to FINNISH for you crazy folks from Finland).

There’s a certain amount of discipline it takes to start a new venture or process. Foremost, it takes planning. Without a plan, it’s just aimless wandering. And aimless wandering rarely leads you to your destination.  It’s an interesting analogy because so often this year I even used the words in my own head ‘I feel lost’. That’s a heavy statement with many tendrils, but the core of it is I was wandering aimlessly… thinking if I started something, I was good. My focus was only half right.

Finish.

Nothing gets accomplished if you don’t see it through. I take that back. What gets accomplished is maybe worse than not starting something at all. By not finishing, you chip away at confidence because you haven’t proved to yourself you can see things through. Anyone can start something. I can START a marathon… but I sure as heck ain’t finishing one right now. They key is to know where you can push yourself and where you can’t. So, self-awareness is paramount.

If something is worth starting in 2018, it’s worth finishing. Whether that’s a project to work on the back yard, a class I’m taking, a health-related goal or even just a book. The ‘what’ doesn’t matter. WHATever it is… Finish.

Now, the danger to a word like this is really examining yourself to ensure you don’t start something you have no real intention of finishing, so it can lead to inactivity. So, the two words work in conjunction with each other: ACTION and FINISH.

Newsflash: I’m not the most disciplined person. I’m hoping a word like FINISH will help keep me focused to finish things even when I don’t want to. If ACTION is the jumpstart, FINISH is the fuel to drive me forward to conclusion.

I’d appreciate your prayers this year. If you think of me, just say a quick prayer for me. Be as generic or specific as you want. I’ll do the same for you.

A tangible reflection of that is wishing every friend I have on FB a happy birthday. It’s simple. It’s easy. But it also forces me to think of you all and say a prayer for you. I may miss you by a day, but if you don’t hear from me, call me out. I’m cool with it. It’s something I’m going to start…

And I won’t stop until I finish.

I cannot believe I'm writing this... or that it's even an issue

Ok…

I’ve been quiet on FB regarding the idiocracy in this crazy country, world, planet, solar system. I don’t like to be quiet about such things, but I decided a while back to lay a bit low on some of this stuff. There is just way too much anger, hatred, negativity and ugliness (and way too many Oxford commas ;)) out there to contribute to it. I’ve contributed my fair share, but this pot stirs itself quite well without my help.

 

So it’s ironic I dabble into this topic: Tranny’s in the military. (Get over my non-PC terminology)

 

Oompa-Loompa-in-Chief Trump has banned them from the military. Why?

I think it’s probably fairly obvious where I stand on transsexualism. (To clear any confusion, keep reading.) I have a good friend who has a child dealing with this and we just don’t see eye-to-eye. That’s ok. Doesn’t mean we are mortal enemies. (Take note, world.) We just don’t really discuss the issue. We have more beliefs in common than separate, so we are grown-ups and just respect each other anyway.

On the face of this, I really must say though… I’m not sure BANNING them from the military is the right answer. As twisted as it is… America is THEIR country too. I’ve not served, so my perspective here is limited. But, the battlefield and the bullets flying don’t care where you want to pee. If a bullet finds meat, it doesn’t care whether you used to wrestle boys or girls.

To me, they have every right to serve our country. I’m not about to belittle their service because they have identity issues. Most ‘normal’ people don’t serve. If you make the decision to do so, you are to be appreciated. Period.

Now, do I have an issue with the optics of it? Sure. I’m flawed and honest enough to admit that. There is something silly to me about an American soldier named Jenny, but born Jim, being on the battlefield facing our enemies. But, they have the right to die a hero for you and me as much as anyone. Or they should. And when they fire a bullet, it’ll kill the enemy just like anyone else’s. Being a hero should be gender-agnostic.

 I’m so sick of this whole issue. Completely. This whole climate and the fact it’s even an issue is an argument against its validity as an issue in the first place, quite honestly.

Translated: You can’t open Pandora’s Box and not expect to deal with its contents.

You don’t have to agree with the validity of transsexualism to appreciate their sacrifice and willingness, as Americans, to die so you can enjoy your first-world problems.

Now…

I’m not done. J

 All this said, I also believe in military morale. And this is where my lack of service really shows, because I’m ignorant on a literal ‘bunker mentality’. I don’t want soldiers out there uncomfortable with the person next to them. (That goes both ways). I think much of that discomfort is probably unwarranted, but if it’s there, then it matters. When bullets are flying, you’re a meat bag out there. If you’re worrying why Jenny, er Jim, er whoever, is out there too, I’m guessing you won’t be worrying about much of anything for long.

If the discomfort is rooted in a testosterone-filled mindset, I’d say grow up. I’m open to a legit reason behind opposition though. Educate me.

Why a tranny (get over it) would WANT to be out there facing not only bullets but abuse from their own mates is beyond me.  But, if it hurts morale, it’s not worth it. Find a solution to put them in other positions or with troops who don’t care.

I don’t know where the balance between troop morale and allowing this lies, but it shouldn’t rest on a hill of macho pride. All I believe, is if bullets are flying past me, I don’t care who’s out there with me helping me… I’m just appreciative that they are.

I’ve got a lot of military friends. And I have an idea where they probably fall on this. And I don’t blame them as long as they can articulate why. What don’t I know? What am I not considering here? The only thing I can think of is them trying to get military dollars to pay for their ‘transition’… which I oppose in every way.

Trust me… I’m a little surprised by my own stance here. Lol… I do not support any kind of LGBT agenda. I will look for ways to oppose it when it makes sense. Doesn’t mean I hate them. It means I’m opposed to making special rules for people who think they deserve them. I oppose special rules FOR people… and I oppose special rules AGAINST people. (If you want to discuss this in detail, I’ll be happy to show my consistency here.) Keeping tranny’s out of the military is the first thing I’d consider a true attack on a group of people. Their right to defend our country is actually being taken away. That’s a dangerous precedent.

 Just as the slippery slope can go fast one direction (special LGBT privileges), it can also go the other (attacking and oppressing.) I’m opposed to both. (See? Consistency.)

I’m probably going to be lauded by more liberal friends than I feel comfortable with (giggle), but I legitimately think this is a pointless topic. This is no sanctity of marriage argument. No spiritual angle here to point Biblically and rest against. It’s not a safety issue, either, really. It’s just nonsense.

I’m NOT on board with opening up bathrooms to ‘wherever you want to go.’ I’m not for giving special rights to people just because they claim victimhood and parade for it. Not one little bit.

But, if you love this country enough to fight for it?

Thank you.

Proverbs 3 - Be Wise

So, as I'm going through Proverbs during the month of May, I won't post a full blown blog about every chapter, but some may warrant more than just a simple Facebook post.

Proverbs Chapter 3 is one. I may be a bit biased, but Proverbs is my favorite book in the the Bible because it's the most day-to-day useful in terms of practical application. Even non-believers can appreciate much of the insight this book offers, even if they can't see it's true wisdom (see chapter one for an explanation there. :) )

Instead of more rambling, I'll just dig in:

3:3-4
Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, And so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.

That first part is a hammer.
This is a messed up day and age where we're all out to get ours and if, in the process of daily life, we can extend an olive branch, the best of us might... as long as it doesn't inconvenience us. Life has a way of wrenching the general 'good' out of people. There is a blessing to naivete, but that inherently makes us vulnerable to those who would take advantage. So, how do we proceed? How do we stay gentle and merciful while also not getting walked on?

The quickest example of this is driving in traffic. Remember when you first got your license and it really wasn't a big deal if someone cut you off. Or snuck in front of you. Giving the right of way to someone who didn't have it really wasn't a big deal. You'll get where your going soon enough. Life was good. (If this DOESN'T apply to you, then just work with me here...)

Fast forward 25 years and you see someone scooching up the shoulder hoping to merge into your lane when you've patiently (?) sat there, waiting your turn. How quickly does that horn, finger, voice and/or blood pressure (no Oxford comma!) raise now?

Or you're at the mall at Christmas while you and another car eyeball the same parking spot. "Not this time, punk. This one's MINE." So you punch it with a grimace on your face and twisted pride in your heart that you got it! "Sucka!!!"

Life changes us over time. We become less merciful because we're living the rat race and dadgummit, that parking lot is the cheese!

Where we used to think of others if not first, then at least equally, has morphed into a less violent version of the Hunger Games.

Mercy isn't even part of the equation.

Which brings me to my next point here. To show mercy infers that we hold some kind of power to give it. So, by that inference, we hold more power than we realize. It's not always easy. Heck, if it were, I doubt it would be included as something to hold onto. But, while this verse can be dissected many ways, the simplest, most practical I can see is this: Be nice.

If it's in your power to show mercy, show it. Don't get walked on, but sometimes the strongest most immovable people can also be the most merciful.

3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him and he will direct your path.

One of my favorite Bible verses. I won't write so much about this one except this one point:
I try to look at situations in life through a God-view. "In all your ways" is a loaded statement. When I don't have an answer to how to view something in this life, I use what I feel is God's point of view as the litmus test. Maybe I'm wrong some. Maybe I'm right some. But, I do what I can to acknowledge God's sovereignty and control, even when I don't understand it.

That way? I'm trusting that while I don't know it all, He is directing and opening up a path for me, nonetheless.

3:7-8
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones.

I doubt this is referencing physical health, although I guess in the right instance, it could. But, this one hits me square in the nose.

"Do not be wise in your own eyes."
Have you caught the name of my blog? Is the irony there setting in? Accidental Genius?

While the origins of my blog name may be its own blog topic at some point, I've been known to be a bit haughty. Trust me, it's more tears of a clown, but if you don't really know me, you wouldn't know this. While there is a deeper meaning to this, I think this verse, on the surface, directs us to humility. Meekness is not weakness. But, again, this world we live in tries to wring all that out of us like a wash rag after doing the dishes.

On a deeper level, I think this tells us that wisdom doesn't come from ourselves, so don't get too big for your britches, mister!

3:9-10
Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine.

Better not let that heretic Joel Osteen see this... oh wait, it's obvious he has and has twisted it like a soft pretzel. This verse does not lay the groundwork for those 'Prosperity Gospel' preachers.

When you honor someone, you humbly acknowledge them and lift them up. God wants our best, not our leftovers. He doesn't want the unpopped kernels at the bottom of the bag. He wants the buttered top. Not because he needs it, but if we're willing to give Him that, then our honoring Him actually means something. And He'll bless us for that. (see Malachi 3:10... the only verse I'm aware of in the entire Bible where God challenges us to test Him.)

I'll admit... this one is HARRRRRRD for me to do. I'm not good at it. I give enough of my money away. Or time. Sometimes I just want to relax after a long days work and not 'do'. But, EVERY time I've given of myself or have been faithful financially, I've been blessed. Sometimes I just get the feel-goods because I did what's right. Sometimes I've been blessed in tangible ways. But, I also trust Matthew 6:19-21 in that not all our blessings will be earthly. Or I say I trust in it. I at least know I SHOULD, therefore I know it's true... it's just a matter of taking the next step and actually DOING it.

3:11-12
Short version: God loves you. Part of that love means He will rebuke and correct us. It hurts, but be thankful because it's validation of His love. Once He stops 'correcting you', be very scared. It may just mean He's leaving you to your own devices. And that's never good.

3:13-18
This passage basically says wisdom is better than riches and those who recognize this will experience happiness and blessing.

What I find interesting here is the comparison to silver, gold, rubies and financial gain. Wisdom is better than these things. Why? How? Who wouldn't rather be a rich fool than a wise idiot? At least you can have fun and worry about things other than how bills are going to be paid, right?!

Well, in the famous words of Cousin Eddie from Christmas Vacation... it's the gift that keeps on giving!

Silver, gold, rubies, money... they all have finite value. Once expended, their value is not only gone... but transferred to someone else to enjoy. So it's a double sting in that you no longer have it and someone else does!

Wisdom? It's yours. It's a blessing that never ends. And... you can (and should) share it. It multiplies in value instead of recedes.

Don't be so narrow-minded and tunnel-focused to overlook the real value Godly wisdom brings.

3:22-23
Basically: If you let God's wisdom direct you, life will be a simpler, safer, less drama-filled journey because you haven't stepped where God hasn't directed you. Don't mistake simple, safe or drama-free as absolutes. At all.

But, so often we put ourselves in stupid situations because we are acting unwisely.

Do you keep finding yourself dating the same kind of scumbag? Choose more wisely.
Do you constantly find yourself in arguments with your friend(s)? Choose more wisely.
Do you root for the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins? Choose more wisely. :)

Bottom line is if we allow wisdom to be a driving force in our decision-making and relationship building, our odds of stepping through that minefield will be greatly enhanced.

3:24-26
Somewhat of an extension of the prior verses, wisdom offers a sense of peace to our decision-making process. If you've acted wisely, regardless of the situation (or even outcome), you can sleep easy knowing you made the right choice. It may not always work out perfectly. Wisdom isn't some cosmic override button to the difficulties of life. But, even logically speaking, if you 'play it smart', more times than not, you'll come out on top. And knowing that just makes for an easier night of sleep each night because you did what's right. The results are beyond your control.

Perfect example...
Poker. Poker is a game of probably and statistics. At its core, it's a mathematical game of how to act given the cards in front of you. Every hand can be a winner. Every hand can be a loser. But it depends on how the board plays out.

If you were playing poker heads up against another person and you were dealt pocket aces (AA) while your opponent was dealt pocket 9s, you would have an 81.31% chance to win.

This means you have an 18.69% chance to lose. Those are good odds.

But you CAN still lose. And anyone who has played poker will tell you... getting your aces cracked feels like it happens a heck of a lot more often than 18.69%!

It's a somewhat flawed analogy because wisdom isn't bound to mathematical probability. But the point remains... if you operate your life wisely, you're more likely to see good fortune more times than those who don't.

3:27-30
Be good to each other. Don't be a douche. He's your ace-in-the-hole. He WILL bless you for treating others well.

Just don't start assigning the method of how those blessings should be received. Know that God has your back. :)

3:34-35
Sure He scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble. The wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the legacy of fools.

Oh man, I could write about this one all day.

I'll give you the abridged version: God loves humility. He will bless humility. If you're looking out for number-1, be sure you're number-2. (Stop giggling...)

Don't be the fool who thinks they have it all figured out. Who knows all the answers. Who equates insight with wisdom. Who thinks meekness is weakness. Who prefers logic over faith. Who seeks personal glory over Godly glory. Who rejects wisdom in lieu of personal glory.

If you do... at the end of the day, your legacy will be shame. Maybe in this world. Maybe in the next. Maybe both. And the scary part is, if you're this one, you won't believe it's coming anyway.

Don't be that guy. Life is hard enough without making it harder on ourselves.

It's unwise.

Why I Like Tom Brady

Ever have someone question your sanity? Or why you like something?

Heck… every question that within yourself?

Like… why do you like salt and pepper on apples? Or fries dipped in honey? Or pizza and ranch dressing? Or Tom Brady?

If you’ve followed me or know me or heard about me or are aware that I exist, then you are familiar with my love for the accomplishments of Tom Brady, the Greatest and Most Accomplished QB of All Time.

And if you’re like most people not living in the Boston area, you may wonder why and how I came to admire such a man who left his wife for supermodel Gisele Bundchen, been ‘busted’ for ‘cheating’ and generally gives other Pretty Boys a bad name because he’s so, well… pretty.

Well… let me clue you in one something… I don’t admire the MAN. I admire the accomplishments. Unlike most people, I can and am able to, separate the person from the achievement.

I’m not going to get into the whole cheating thing because you’ll be reading all day if I do. Let’s just cap that conversation with the premise that I don’t really care for reasons that sound like rationalization, but really aren’t to anyone who doesn’t like him. That’s a tired argument and irrelevant to my point, quite honestly.

Why do I like Tom Brady so much? Blame Emmitt Smith. (No, really… and I’ll get to it later…)

Same reason Bill Laimbeer is my favorite basketball player while growing up.
Same reason why Bill Romanowski is one of my favorite linebackers of all time.
Not really the same reason I like Barry Bonds so much, but we’ll touch on him later.

Effort. Heart. Accomplishment. Leadership. The ability to rise above a situation and perform when others fold under pressure. Notice I didn’t say talent.

Tom Brady wasn’t a top-rated QB coming out of high school. He was basically a 4-star recruit who had to send tapes around the country to garner much interest from college recruiters. He could have gone to many places but landed at Michigan, where he wasn’t even the highest ranked QB in his Michigan draft class (Drew Henson.)

He split time with Henson there and was eventually a 6th round dart throw of a pick by the New England Patriots. He wasn’t supposed to be more than depth behind established Drew Bledsoe. The Patriots had (and still have) a philosophy to draft QBs, develop them and trade them off for something of more value later. Brady was just another cog in that machine.
Until he got his chance.

I’ll spare you the accolades, but it’s fair to say, regardless of personal opinion, Brady’s accomplishments ranks him as one of the top QBs in the history of the NFL . And ‘one of the top’ leaves lots of room to insert anyone you like, but I can argue with no difficulty, that he’s the greatest ever. But, if you like someone else, knock yourself out.

Enough of a history lesson.

My point to all that? He isn’t an overly talented athlete. Heck, most in high school thought he’d be playing in the World Series, not Super Bowls. Colleges recruit talent. The NFL drafts talent.
Talent doesn’t measure effort, heart or discipline.

Just as Bad Boy Bill Laimbeer from the Detroit Pistons and Bill Romanowski from a number of different teams showed, lack of talent can create a chip on your shoulder. A ‘watch me succeed because you didn’t think I would’ mentality is easy to love.  They were mean and nasty and played hard because that’s the only way they knew to succeed.

I admire that. Always have.

Heck, I was told by an ex-girlfriend’s mother I’d never amount to anything. Still stings. Not because I value her opinion, but because I don’t like be being underestimated.

When I see effort win, I admire it. Talent is supposed to succeed. But, any coach will tell you, give me effort over talent any day.

Couple this with the accomplishments he’s earned, largely when it counts the most, and I don’t apologize for like who I like.

But there’s a catch… and here’s where Emmitt Smith comes in.

I’m also a jaded sports fan.

I met Emmitt right after he was drafted at Sound Warehouse (yes, I’m old) in Irving. He wasn’t a very friendly fellow. Granted, I was just another kid star struck at running into him. But, hey, this was my experience. He blew me off.

Not a crime, but just kinda douchey.

But, of course, I always rooted for him and would take him over Barry Sanders or any other RB during his time b/c of his effort and toughness. He wasn’t the most talented guy, but he was the engine of the Cowboy dominance in the ‘90s because he had more heart than any player of his era.
Skip ahead to a few years after he retired and I start hearing stories from authors and writers about how difficult he was to deal with. They’re experience validated my own. He even wanted $10k for a 15 min interview for a book praising how dominant the Cowboys were in the ‘90s. If there’s one thing I despise, it’s a prima donna. (I know those hating Tom Brady would call him that, but I guess I just don’t see him as one… or I’d despise him too.)

I’ve always felt you are how you treat people. Your status or position is irrelevant to me and if you shove it in my face, I’m not going to respect you for it. And worse, I’m going to despise you. As people, no one is better than another.

So, the more and more I read about how Emmitt treated people, the more disappointed I became that my favorite Cowboy was basically a douchebag. He was beloved by fans, but only for what he did on the field. And most fans equated his on-field success with personal character. I experienced different and read more and more about how my experience really seemed to be who the guy is… not what he portrayed himself to be.

That whole process jaded me. I stopped caring (generally) what a person does in their off-field life. I enjoyed watching their accomplishments and ability. I created a clean separation of the two. Because if I didn’t, I wouldn’t enjoy following sports anymore.

Now, that’s not an absolute. Some players cross over, good and bad to me. I’ll even admit to some hypocrisy and inconsistency. There are always exceptions to the rule.

Enter Barry Bonds.

By every account, he’s a jerk. A talented, better-than-you-and-he-knows-it jerk who was known to seclude himself from his teammates, berate the media, fans when confronted and was the poster boy for steroids (even though it was during a time it wasn’t illegal.)

Thank goodness I’m not a girl. I think I’d be a sucker for the bad boy.

But, Barry is the exception to my rule. I’ve got no defense.

Back to Tom Brady... (don’t roll your eyes)

Don’t confuse admiration for his accomplishments for admiration for HIM. I’ll argue and defend him on certain things but certainly can’t on others. But, just like I don’t want to hear Hollywood stars spout off to me about their political agenda, I don’t want more from my athlete than a good performance. Dance, monkey, dance.

The other stuff? I’ve tuned it out unless it’s so egregious, I can’t. Good people make mistakes. Bad people treat others poorly. That’s ultimately my litmus test. It’s not a mistake to treat people poorly. It’s a character flaw. Does Brady treat people poorly? I have no idea. I do know that I am pretty in-tune with the sports world and I’ve not heard anything to suggest he does. Maybe he hides it well. Good for him if so.

Now, everyone’s favorite QB Peyton Manning? I’ve HEARD first-hand him big-time people on the radio when he didn’t think he was on air. His condescension showed me he’s a character and brand he protects. He tried to ruin a trainer’s career in college because she accused him of sexual assault. (Details are a bit lame, as he basically tea-bagged her as a joke.) His daddy jumped in on the attack. That story never really went anywhere and I honestly don’t know how much credence I even give it. But, I do know it’s out there.

My point in bringing Manning up is he and Brady will always be compared to each other because they faced off so much and were two of the greatest QBs in history. And generally… if you like one, you’re supposed to hate the other. I like Peyton. A lot. He’s the best field general ever at QB. But, I’m just not buying into a public persona. I buy into what I experience. Peyton lost me once I heard that radio interview. I do love his commercials though.

So this circles us back to now…
I appreciate greatness. I’ll sports-argue accomplishments all day long and if you want to shut down the argument because you think Brady is a cheater or a douche or whatever, that’s your right and another discussion as far as I’m concerned. Maybe he IS a bad guy. Maybe I’m fooled. Wouldn’t be the first time. But, that also doesn’t diminish his accomplishments.

But, because I have largely separated an athlete from who they are as a person, I see effort, heart, discipline, accomplishment and leadership.

I admire those things. I make no apologies for that.

I’ve learned the one bias stronger than liking someone is despising them.  So, those who despise Brady never will come around. Doesn’t bother me any. But to criticize my admiration is just ignorance why I do in the first place.

He’s just the best QB of all time and I recognize it.

Lights, Camera, ...

“New Year’s Day: Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.” – Mark Twain

That about sums up the newness and hope the New Year brings… and the inevitable erosion of said hope once general motivation recedes into the norm.

In other words: Good intentions mean nothing.
In other words: All talk, no action.
In other words: Nothing changes unless your actions change.

As I look back on 2016, I cringe. Not because Carrie Fisher died (although I did tear up). Not because Prince, George Michael, Muhammad Ali or Arnold Palmer died. All sad. Many more names joined the Final Destination Brigade in 2016. I lost my job in 2016 (again). Had friends lose parents. Had other general difficulties, but that’s just the types of things life brings. 2016 certainly wasn’t a banner year for me, but there was lots of good in it too. And I think it’s important to recognize the blessings. Bad things happen but not all things that happen are bad.

I cringe when looking back because I realize how little I accomplished. How much I talked but how little I produced. Other than winning a fantasy football league, I don’t have a lot to show for 2016. I guess I completed a few video games too. So, there’s that. High five?

I didn’t make (m)any new friends. I didn’t impact (m)any lives. I was the hamster on the wheel not going anywhere. Not because certain bad things happened to me, but because I didn’t MAKE good things happen FOR me.

I’m pretty ashamed of myself, actually. But, that’s how life tends to go for most people. We have good hopes and intentions but little to back any of that up. We think good thoughts into existence to make ourselves feel better as if it will accomplish anything. I can think I want to get healthy, but sucking in my stomach a little bit doesn’t make me any thinner. It’s a form of self-delusion that things aren’t as bad as you know they are deep down. The struggle is real. You can lie to yourself so much you forget the truth. And in some ways, I’ve fooled myself. Not because I meant to, but because I’ve let my words supersede my action.

I can’t tell you, nor would I want to, all the things I wish I could/would change. But, whatever is on that long list, all begins with a word: ACTION.

I’ve never been a real ‘resolution’ guy. Val and I would name 10 goals each year and measure progress against them. Newsflash: It didn’t work after a while. When your yearly goals all look the same as the previous three or four years? Yeah… that’s not working. That’s just good intentions.

So, as Val and I talked a little about what 2017 will bring, she mentioned that one of her friends is doing something very different. Maybe it’s all semantics, but this is an evolution of good intentions.

We are picking a single word to focus 2017 on. One word to center ourselves for the next year. One word to wrap our intentions around to focus them instead of floating along, knowing nothing will change.

My word? Well, you probably guessed it…

Action.

I can’t say what I will accomplish this year. So many things are beyond my control.  I want to get certain things paid off. I want to read 10 books. I want to write 52 blogs (at least one a week) this year. I want lots of things, but everything is dependent upon things I just have no control over. What I CAN control is the action and effort I put forth.

I talk a good game, but when the results are measured, I’m ashamed to say I lack in that regard. At least to the standards I should meet. And the primary reason? I’m lazy. I don’t put (m)any plans into action. I talk about things as if that’s how they get done.

I can’t effectively teach my kid that’s not how life works if that’s how I live my life.

I considered many words to focus 2017 on. And they’d be equally impactful. And it doesn’t mean they can’t make their way into my focus (or future years), but what makes the most sense for me now is action.

It’s time to make things happen and not just talk about them. Feel free to ask me how I’m doing.

What word can you wrap your 2017 around?

http://oneword365.com/#