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Archive for the ‘Motivational’ Category

Multi-Tasking Isn’t an Art It’s a Sickness

Posted in Formation, Motivational on March 19, 2010| 3 Comments »

I am the world’s worst when it comes to being “Type A” and wanting to make sure I make the most of my time.  In fact, I used to keep a slogan pinned to my wall that said, “No Regrets.”  I didn’t (and still don’t) want to to get to the end of my life and say, “I wish I had done this or that.”  So my approach to life has been intense – making the most of my time by becoming as streamlined and efficient as I can be.  The biggest area this has come in to play is the area of multi-tasking.  I never go to the doctor’s office without a book or my computer – I can’t stand the thought of waiting with nothing to keep my productive.  I often return emails while talking on the phone.  And I never go on a trip without more work than I could possibly get done while I am gone – just in case there is some down time and I could get something done.  The result, however, is impaired focus.  There is no way for a human being to focus, truly pay attention, to multiple things at the same time and the thought that we can is a sickness caught from our society.

I ran across this blog post yesterday by Pete Wilson (@pwilson), a pastor in a church in Tennessee. You can take a look at it here.  It is very well done and reminded me of the importance of balance – the balance between what I think I need to get done and my relationship with God.

Several years ago, I did a lot of study on spiritual practices and realized that I must carve some time into my “busy” schedule to be still before God.  That means if want to be close to God, one of the first things I must do is nothing.  That is really hard for me to do, but that is what it takes.  Simply being still before God and forgetting about efficiency and productivity.

In the long run, the real regret would be a life lived without a relationship with God.

Be still today!

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What’s In a Name?

Posted in Family, Humor, Motivational on March 8, 2010| 1 Comment »

Have you ever known someone whose given name reflected their occupation or career?  Such as Mr. Farmer who farms for a living or Mrs. Cook who works in the school cafeteria?

Last night we spent some time in the emergency room at the hospital with family friends whose son was in a car accident yesterday afternoon.  No one was seriously injured but our friends’ son cut his hand badly and needed surgery last night.  I was in the room when the surgeon came in and introduced himself.  When he told us his name, I knew what my post would most likely be today.  His name . . . Dr. Mulligan.  My questionable sense of humor nearly got the better of me but I was able to restrain my wit until we reached the waiting room.

For those of you not familiar with golf, and the way people like me play the game, a “mulligan” is what you call for when you hit a bad shot and you request to hit another.  In formal play, a mulligan is not allowed but the way I play, we try to keep it to one or two per 9 holes.  At any rate, a mulligan is a “do over.”

Maybe its just me, but I found it quite comical that the surgeon performing the procedure was named, Dr. “Do Over.”

However, he was excellent.  He had an immediate connection with the patient and did a great job informing and calming everyone in the room.  The surgery was a great success and his ability carried into the waiting room after the procedure as well.  He was outstanding.

Here is my thought for today: we don’t choose our name – we are born with it.  We don’t chose where we are born or to whom.  But we do have the ability to choose how we will live and what kind of difference we will make in this world.

I challenge you today, regardless of what life seems to have dealt you, to make a positive and real difference in someone else’s life before you go to bed tonight.

Let me know how that goes.

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Developing Your Network

Posted in Leadership, Motivational on March 5, 2010| 1 Comment »

I just finished a book recently by Clay Shirky entitled, Here Comes Everybody.  The book deals with issues around technology and social networking.  There is a lot of information and challenging thoughts in the book but one of the things I took away from it was that as a leader, I should be developing my network.  Let me  explain.

Development of a network does not mean growing the number of contacts you have exponentially.  For example, I tweet (you can follow me at @jbrianhill on Twitter).  I get a couple of followers per day who are using online tools to gain followers.  When I look at their follow and follower counts and the numbers are over 10,000, then I know that they have no desire to really connect with me as part of their network, they are just trying to see how many followers they can get. So I choose not to follow them back.  The result of my choice is that in a day or two, they quit following me as well.  But what is the point of all of that?

Development of a network should be about pouring yourself into others to develop them.  As an employee or a member of an organization, if you are not working to contribute to the goals of that organization then you really hold no value to the organization.  But as a leader, if you are not contributing to the organization by investing in those whom you lead, then you are not relevant and even worse, possibly a detriment to the organization.

What are you going to do to develop your network today?  When you take the time, the dividends are huge!

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How’s Your Connection?

Posted in Formation, Motivational on March 4, 2010| Leave a Comment »

I am in Fort Worth today for a board meeting.  I flew out last night and got to the hotel late.  As I unpacked, I noticed that my shirt that I was planning on wearing today was wrinkled beyond what even I would normally wear.  So I did what every liberated man would do – I got out the iron and the ironing board.  (No wise cracks please – yes, I know how to use an iron)

I plugged the iron into the outlet and waited for it to heat up.  And I waited – and I waited.  After two or three minutes, the iron was no warmer than when I pulled it from the closet.  I checked to see if it was on and tested the plug – still nothing.  After a few seconds, I determined that the outlet was not working.  I moved it to another outlet and – heat!

It reminded me that we are to be instruments in the hands of God – but just like the cold iron, we will be unable to do what God wants us to do if we are not connected to the Father.  I could have tried to iron my shirt with a cold iron, but I am pretty sure it would not have done much.

The same is true of us.  When we try and do things on our own power, not much happens.  But when we are connected to the source, the Bible says here that God can do some amazing things through us.

How’s your connection today?

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Beans and Rice

Posted in Missions, Motivational on February 26, 2010| Leave a Comment »

I had a meeting yesterday with two really dedicated missionaries in the El Paso area.  They run a food bank for a local colonia (unincorporated community) just outside El Paso.  Every Tuesday, they give out beans and rice (an average of 900 pounds per month) along with other grocery items.  During this time, they have a worship service with those who come for assistance and also have an opportunity to pray with each of the folks.  Next month will mark nine years for them in this ministry.

I left the meeting amazed and inspired by their dedication.  Thank you Elfie and Joan for your tireless dedication to our Lord and the people of Fabens and the border towns just inside Mexico.

May we all strive to live out our salvation as you do each day!

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Exercise Those Muscles

Posted in Formation, Motivational on February 24, 2010| Leave a Comment »

I have had a renewed realization that I need to be getting exercise.  It really hit me a few weeks ago when I took the boys for a suicide ski trip to Ruidoso.  We skied all day and then made the four hour drive home.  By the time I got out of the car at home, I could hardly walk.  My legs had tightened up and the next few days were somewhat uncomfortable.

So this week, I decided it was time to get back into the gym.  I went on Monday and eased into my old workout routine thinking I would minimize the soreness that way, and for the most part, that strategy has worked.  But this morning as a I went through my routine, I was reminded that I have a long way to go to get back in shape.

This experience has reminded me as well, that there are other “muscles” that atrophy when we don’t use them.  I am thinking of the spiritual muscles of listening to God, of showing Jesus’ love to those around us and other similar muscles.  Why is it that these muscles need to be exercised?

Two things to think about today: 1) We need to exercise these muscles because it is here that we grow our relationship with God.  So we have to be intentional and fierce when it comes to focusing on our relationship with God.

2) Exercise is necessary because without it, our spiritual life will atrophy.  The world in which we live does not put any priority on a relationship with God.  In fact, Jesus showed us just how counter-cultural following God with the heart really was in his time – today is no different.

So exercise those muscles today – it may be difficult to get into the routine at first, but once you get started, you will be glad you did!

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Leaders Aren’t Born, They Form

Posted in Leadership, Motivational on February 22, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Leaders aren’t born, they form.  I truly believe that statement.  Certainly, people are born with certain skills, passion and gifts that help them down the road to leadership, but much of what makes a leader is learned and experienced.

The most important key to leadership is trust.  Do people trust you?  There are libraries of leadership books that will give you all kinds of formulas and ideas for leading people.  But if the people you lead cannot trust you, nothing is going to work.

So how do you build trust?  First, realize that trust does not come with title and position.  Sure, you will begin a new position with some “leadership change” in your pocket, as John Maxwell has said.  You will be given a little trust up front simply because people will give you the benefit of the doubt.  But that is not going to carry you far.

There are volumes written on this subject, but today I want to leave you with two ideas to think about as they relate to building trust.  The first is that people need to know that you truly and sincerely care about them – and that takes time.

The second is that you need to be transparent and vulnerable.  People need to see that you are real and authentic.  When you mess up, and you will, admit it, learn from it and go on.

People will trust someone who really cares and is authentic; and people will follow a leader they can trust.

Lead well today!

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Just a Snapshot

Posted in Formation, Hope, Motivational on February 16, 2010| 1 Comment »

This morning I heard a song I have never heard before, Before the Morning, by Josh Wilson.  There is a line in that song that has really stuck with me, and in fact, is the title of the album, “life is not a snapshot, it might take a little time but you’ll see the bigger picture.”

A snapshot is just that – a snap shot – a split second in time.  It is not life defining.  As followers in the Way, we live with the big picture in mind – or at least we should.  Whatever you are experiencing today is temporary.  Life ebbs and flows.  Some days are better than others.

So if you have been living in the shadow of suffering, hang in there, it very well could be the darkness before the dawn.  Another line in the same song speaks to this: “the pain you’ve been feeling can’t compare to the joy that’s coming.”

Dare to believe – the snapshot you are living today is just a moment in time – there is more.  God is going to do something amazing today, you just watch!

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That’s Gonna Leave a Mark

Posted in Leadership, Motivational on February 15, 2010| 1 Comment »

When I was 12, I played baseball – first base.  I really enjoyed it but my career came to a close one afternoon when a fast grounder came right down the first base line.  It was coming so fast I had to field it behind the first base bag.  You guessed it, it hit the bag and popped up and hit me in the right eye.  I really don’t remember what happened next.  I remember regaining my senses in the dugout and hearing these words, “That’s gonna leave a mark.”  It did – along with astigmatism I still suffer with today.

I have the opportunity to speak to a group of college students today at noon.  One of the things I want to relate to them is appropriate for us to think about today as well.

Do you want to leave a mark on the world?  At the end of your life, do you want your eulogy to include, “the world is a better place because of  . . . (insert your name)?”

If so, here is something for you to think about today.  Maybe instead for thinking “I want to leave my mark on the world,” maybe the better aspiration would be, “I want to allow God to leave a mark on the world through me.”

The question I have been asking myself over the last week is “whose mark am I trying to leave?”

Leave a mark today!

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Worship Can Get Messy

Posted in Community, Formation, Motivational on February 10, 2010| Leave a Comment »

In my prayer and reading time this morning I got all the way through one verse in Romans (now you can see why it is taking me multiple years to make it through the book – I’m up to chapter 12 now).

Romans 12:1 tells us that we should consider God’s mercy – that undeserved gift we have been given.  Upon considering this gift – we should act appropriately by sacrificing ourselves to God.  This is a verse we all know.  But there is something here I want us to think about today.

Paul specifically ties some things together for us here that makes all the difference for those of us who call ourselves Christ followers.  He says that in light of God’s mercy shown to us, we should offer our bodies (our physical beings, the flesh and blood you and me) as a living sacrifice – not some animal we sacrifice by killing on an altar but our living, breathing selves.

Now don’t miss this part – this is to be our reasonable, spiritual act of worship.  I know that different translations use either reasonable or spiritual here and normally I would not point it out but I want us to think about this specifically today.  Not to be a Greek geek, but the original word here is logikein – which can be translated as reasonable or spiritual.  But the point is this, which ever way you choose to translate it, the word carries the idea of our inner being – our spirit.

So what Paul is telling us is that our spiritual, intellectual worship is hollow without our physical commitment as well.  So often, we see our devotion time or sitting in a worship service and singing a few songs and listening to teaching as being where we truly worship.

But Paul is specific – spiritual worship takes physical action!  The Way is not for sitting – it is for getting knee deep in the messiness of life – in the time-consuming awkwardness of demanding relationships.  That is worship!

How will you worship today?

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