10 SECONDS

4th Quarter.

Saints 24     Vikings 23

3rd and 10.

Vikings have the ball on their own 39.  They have 61 yards to go for a touch down...probably about 30 yards to go to get into field goal range.

No timeouts.

10 SECONDS left in the game.

What happened next is something that will go down in NFL history.

So many unlikely things that should not have happened...happened.

10 SECONDS.

Similar to football (or any sport that operates with a time clock), in life, the game is not over until the clock shows 00:00.

What can happen in 10 SECONDS?

It seems like it is the "normal" countdown to things:

• New Years
• Rocket Launch (how many remember watching the Apollo launchings and counting down?)
• The time it takes to get across half court in basketall

But in life, in 10 SECONDS:

• You can make a decision that can change your life.....good or bad

A sharp word.

A negative reaction.

That one last drink.

A smile.

A hug.

I DO.

10 SECONDS is a long time, but in the right situation, what happens in that 10 SECONDS can last a lifetime!

Oh, and a team can complete an unbelievable pass play, score a "walk off" touchdown to win the playoff game and advance to play another week. (Saints 24 - Vikings 29)

10 SECONDS.

TAKING DOWN THE LIGHTS

Back on November 26th, I posted about the CHEERLEADER'S favorite season, Christmas, and how November 26th was the "official" day of the Christmas Season, it was the day the lights and decorations when up...inside and out!

Today, January 13th, is probably the CHEERLEADER'S least favorite day...the day the decorations and lights come down and are put away for almost 11 months.

The taking down of all the decorations doesn't just happen on January 13th each year.  It is usually the weekend AFTER the CHEERLEADER'S birthday.

Her birthday was this past Tuesday, January 9th.

Here's the thing:  seasons come and season go.  

The trees are down (yep, you read that right, T-R-E-E-S!) and put away.

The inside decorations are all put away too.

But THE Light of the World has not left us.

I mentioned, back in November, that the lights, the trees, all the decorations, were just a seasonal reminder to what that SEASON was all about:  The Savior of the World came to dispel darkness.

God sent His Son (Jesus) into the world NOT to judge the world, but to save the world through Him (John 3:17 NLT).

So even though the lights, trees and decorations are down and put away, the truth of the season lasts ALL YEAR....EVERY YEAR of you life.....of my life.

Maybe your decorations are still up.

Maybe your decorations came down on December 26th.

Whatever it is, remember that the TRUTH OF THE SEASON should be put away, but should always be "out" in your life!

THAT will truly make this your BEST YEAR YET!

LIFE LESSONS

Today, I thought we would look at different lessons that life brings us.

When growing up, I heard many things that have carried over into my life, and thing that I have passed down to my boys.  Like:

• "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." (I'm really good at quoting this one, and I hope I do it when faced with it)
• If you say naughty words, you'll get your mouth washed out with soap (yep, experienced this one too!)

Any way, I thought we would look at what our old friend, Dr. Seuss, had to say about the 5 LESSONS IN LIFE.

Now, I know there are more than 5..but we'll start here.  We'll look at what he said, and I'll add some commentary to each one.

Here we go.

Lesson # 1 - Today you are You, that is truer than true.  There is no one alive who is Youer than you.

• So much here.  Why is it that we try to be someone we are not?  In the Bible, in 1 Corinthians 12:18, describing our lives like a physical body, it says that we are placed right where God wants us.  
• Be yourself!  Everyone else is taken!

Lesson # 2 - Why fit in when you were born to stand out?

• There is so much that each of us have to offer that is unique to us. 
• I remember growing up that I was so concerned with the opinions of others.  Almost like George McFly in Back to the Future.  "What if they don't like it?  What if I fail?"  That was my battle cry.
• Just like Lesson #1, I'm me...so I'm going to continue to be me.  I will still learn and grow and do things to better myself, but I'm going to be me in the process!

Lesson # 3 - You have brains in your head.  You have feet in your shoes.  You can steer yourself any direction you choose.

• Growing up, I would get the question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?"  Others don't ask me that anymore, but I find my self asking that question.
• If you want something, count the cost and then go after it.
• We all have choices.  OWN THEM!  

Lesson # 4 - Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

• Peer pressure.
• Being one of the cool kids.
• Wearing the right clothes.
• Once again....JUST BE YOU!
• Now, use tact and discretion and don't just say what you want to whoever you want.  Go back to the first part of Lesson #3....you have brains in your head....use them!

Lesson # 5 - Today I shall behave, as if this is the day I will be remembered.

• I don't know about you, but I want to be remember for something positive.  Something good.  Something of impact.
• I have this friend I used to work with whose greatest fear was doing something stupid and ending up on YouTube.  My response....don't do anything stupid.
• Remember, MY RESPONSE IS MY RESPONSIBILITY.

BE YOU

STAND OUT

GO AFTER IT

BE AUTHENTIC

LEAVE A LEGACY

Great LIFE LESSONS to work on daily!

EVERY DAY IS A NEW DAY

A number of years ago, the CHEERLEADER and I were faced with a tough decision.

Really, it was a HUGE, pivotal decision.  One that would have an affect on many things in our life moving forward.

As we were talking to some friends, they said to us, "THE BEST IS YET TO COME!"

Sometimes, sayings like that...cliches like that.....they are so hollow.  

No depth. 

Just saying something to be nice.

Except this time, when they said it, it had substance.  It had meaning.

At times like these, it's hard to see in front of you.  But that is where your focus should be.

DON'T LOOK BACK!

Jesus said, in Luke 9:62 [MSG], when talking to someone who said they would follow Him, but first, he wanted to say good-bye to his family.  Jesus told him, "No procrastination.  No backward looks.  You can't put God kingdom off until tomorrow.  Seize the day!"

EVERY DAY IS A NEW DAY!

Just like at the beginning of the year, the best IS yet to come, because EVERY DAY IS A NEW DAY.

What happened yesterday.....good or bad....is in the past.

The struggles you went through yesterday are in the past.

The successes you had yesterday are in the past.

What are you doing TODAY?

So, if you want it different than it was yesterday, START the change today....it's a NEW DAY!

NEVER WASTED TIME

Have you ever heard the saying, "Preparation time is NEVER WASTED TIME?"

Think about it.....

• You study for the test
• You train for the race
• You get your meals ready for the week

There is something about the success of the endeavor that STARTS with preparation.

PREPARATION TIME IS NEVER WASTED TIME.

I started thinking about this today as our area is forecasted to have ice, snow and strong winds hit us early in the morning continuing to noon.

MANY people are preparing for the storm.

Schools have already canceled.

Businesses are planning on a late open.

Grocery stores are really busy (first hand experience as I went to the store today and WOW it was busy).

So, when it's not calling for bad weather (blizzard; ice; hurricane; etc), what are ways that you can prepare for LIFE?

Depending on the scenario, here are a few tips:

• START EARLY
• Do your best to stay away from the "cram for the test" mentality.  In life, you'll do better if you don't always "pull an all nighter."
• This also includes making a list of things to do or items to get.
• REVIEW PAST EXPERIENCES
• What did you learn from similar activities that you have been through in the past?  "Study" these like you did in school when you looked over your notes before an exam
• MANAGE YOUR TIME
• President Abe Lincoln has been credited with saying, "Give me 6 hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe."
• Managing your time will help you stay away from the "all nighter" mentality
• GET HELP
• IF you need help, it's ok to ask for help.  Remember, "many hands make light work!"  
• One thing, don't ask for help just because you don't want to do it.  
• NOTHING NEW ON RACE DAY (concept)
• A few years ago, I picked up this concept when training for marathons.  
• You don't want to go into the race not having tested out your shoes; watch; music; hydration; nutrition and on and on.  You want to have some "test runs" when you make sure it will work for you.  The last thing you want is for those new socks you picked up at the race expo the day before, that you were sure were going to provide the right amount of cushion, only to find out they slip on your feet and cause you "quitting pain."
• This concept can work with anything that you have to do, primarily in pubic; like a work presentation using different forms of technology

So as you go to chop down that proverbial tree (or a literal tree), don't neglect the time spent to "sharpen your axe!"

PREPARATION TIME IS NEVER WASTED TIME!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHEERLEADER

BIRTHDAY No. 1!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR CHEERLEADER

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

Today, is the CHEERLEADER'S birthday.

What a day to celebrate!

Another trip around the sun.

Another BEST YEAR YET.

Another year of adventure!

So, let's go explore what's "out there!"

And come back here a year from now and celebrate again!

Love you!

Tim

EXTRA-ORDINARY

or·di·nar·y

ˈôrdnˌerē/

1. with no special or distinctive features; normal.

ex·traor·di·nar·y

ikˈstrôrd(ə)nˌerē,ˌekstrəˈôrdnˌerē/

1. very unusual or remarkable.

I was thinking about this idea of ORDINARY vs. EXTRAORDINARY.

I think (Tim's opinion here) that most everyone wants an extraordinary life.

Is there a difference between ORDINARY people and EXTRAORDINARY people?

If so, what is the difference?

From the outside, there's not much different.

The difference usually lies within.

There's a difference in:

• How each one thinks
• Habits
• Work ethic

The question is: How do you go about creating one....creating an EXTRAORDINARY life? 

Here are a few ways to consider: 

- DREAM BIG

     The EXTRAORDINARY don't just wish for it, they have a plan to get it

- Be PROACTIVE not just REACTIVE

     If you want it, don't wait for it, go get it

- Have EXTREME OWNERSHIP

     For the past year, we've said multiple times, "MY response is MY responsibility.

     OWN IT!  Good or bad...OWN IT!

- DISCIPLINE

     LEARN

     EXERCISE

     SLEEP

     LEAD

- PERSEVERANCE 

     Don't give up

     Michael Jordan once said, "Don't be afraid to fail.  Be afraid NOT to try"

- Be UNIQUELY YOU

     Everyone else is already taken!

- Do the EXTRA

     The main difference is the EXTRA!

How do YOU see yourself?

Why be normal when you can be REMARKABLE!