it's your choice

The other day I was watching a 30 for 30 episode on ESPN about Todd Marinovich. As I didd I thought about all the highs and lows we go through in life. If you are familiar with the story there are any number of thoughts you can take from it:

• Was Todd's father the textbook case of an overbearing, controlling father?
• Did Todd squander his opportunities for greatness on drugs and alcohol?
• Was Todd the innocent victim of other's expectations?

Most of those questions are irrelevant and the meaningless speculation and hindsight of people who did not live through what Todd did. At some point in the story I experienced each of those feelings, but what I took away from the story is where Todd seems to be today. He seems to have found some level of peace with his own life, rebuilt his relationship with his father and is trying not to repeat these lessons with his own son.

The truth is Todd's life isn't much differen than yours or mine. No, I never used cocaine. I have only been in prison by choice (visiting a friend or attempting to do prison ministry). I did at times have a strained relationship with my own father, but I now understand he only wanted what was best for his boys. I was never a top athelete and didn't play professional sports. As a matter of fact I have never been the "star performer" in any avenue of my life. So how are Todd and I alike? Simple, life happens to us all.

There have been days in my life when I couldn't hardly get off my knees because I was so low, discouraged and defeated all I could do was pray. There were times I prayed the most fervent prayers imaginable, but those prayers were for God to take and take me now. I have known the struggle of not knowing how I was going to face another day.

Now I find that most days I am the optimist. Life is still hard. I struggle with politics, religion and the economic morass that is our country, but I CHOOSE happiness. I choose to look for the bright side of life. I choose to believe that better days are ahead. Could I be wrong? Absolutely, but I will not surrender today worrying about tomorrow.

How we live each day is choice. Sometimes you hear people blaming their lives on others. That's just too easy. You can change the circumstances of your life. You can be happier, live life more fully and be the kind of person who brings sunshine and promise into the lives of others.

Who determines your destiny?

I recieved a stark reminder this year that we still live in the greatest nation in the world. Yes, I have been perturbed about the election, the infringement of our constitutional rights and the growing debt burden that is facing America. Still, this is a land of opportunity and optimism. Let us not forget that almost half our nation (probably more) still holds to traditional, conservative, entreprenuerial values.

In April of this year I realized that I had become a slacker. I wasn't eating right and I had become old, fat and tired. I lost my motivation and it was even impacting my work (no energy). Now for the commercial. I changed my habits, started eating right and yes, for those of you tired of hearing it - I signed up with Advocare. I lost 43 lbs and feel great, energetic and best of all I am the old optimist I used to be.

In addition I needed to earn more income. I was behind on my retirement planning and with two girls in school I had to find a way to help fund their education. I always avoided direct sales, but this time I gave it a try and in a few short months finding another $1,000 a month made a huge difference in the bottom line.

So are you the person who cries in your coffee, or do you do something about the circumstances in your life while you still can. Get up, get active and get on the success train.

Giving Back

Sometimes it is difficult to do the work I do. It's not the challenges of fundraising, or the struggles of trying to oversee staff that are tens of thousands of miles away. The real problem is dealing with the economic disparity there is in the world. Now before I go too far, I am a card carrying, right-wing, gun-toting, bible-banging conservative. I don't believe in socialism or the government redistribution of wealth. That being said, I do believe in the personal redistribution of wealth, or as we typically refer to it as charity or benevolence.

The Holidays are particularly challenging because of the gross over-spending that takes place in our culture. We have allowed the advertising industry to convince us that the more we spend the more we are filled with the Christmas spirit. This year I am asking for your help in finding some meaningful ways to give back during the holidays. Here are a few ideas that I have, but I would love to get your feedback and hear of some creative ways to really lift up Christ over the next two months.

• I am considering making a micro-loan in a developing country in the name of each of my children.
• Serving for a day or two at the Nashville Rescue Mission.
• Finding a family in need and quietly and anonmymously helping them with groceries or Christmas presents.

Please share your thoughts in the comments section at the bottom of this blog.