Just Continue That Thought...

"Lie 2: The more you worry about it, the better your odds of avoiding it."

2024-02-05T14:14:00.000-09:00

A thought by Louie Giglio in his book, Winning the War on Worry (p. 5). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)

Here is another lie that the Enemy uses with us.

And Louie says, "This is a tricky lie. Yes, we often have cause for concern and preparation. But the Enemy wants you to believe that if you worry or fret over a certain outcome long enough, you can keep something bad from happening."

But this is so important to realize. He says, "The reality is worrying has never once prevented something negative from happening. Planning might. Prayer has. But worry never will."

He continues, "The Enemy tells you that by worrying about a situation (or every situation) you can make your tomorrow better. Really, worry just robs you of today. Jesus implored us: 'I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ... Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.' (Matthew 6:25–26, 34)"

Louie then says, "One of the greatest tools to help counter the temptation to worry is recalling the faithfulness of God. In every situation, worry wants you to think, This is the one where everything is going to go off the rails. But the faithfulness of God tells you otherwise. It says, 'Today, I will do for you what I did yesterday, and the day before, and the days before that.' Faithfulness is the fuel of peace for today, while worry pushes you past today and into tomorrow."

And we need to remember that, "Faithfulness is the fuel of peace for today, while worry pushes you past today and into tomorrow." Yes, yes! #continuethought

Giglio, Louie. Winning the War on Worry (p. 6). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

"Lie 1: Something really bad is going to happen."

2024-02-02T12:39:00.003-09:00

A thought by Louie Giglio in his book, Winning the War on Worry (p. 3). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)

Now this is one of the worry lies.

Louie says, "We’ve all been tormented by this lie. Throughout the day, as we are confronted by different situations, we too easily tilt to the negative extreme and assume something bad is going to happen. But really, only a fraction of the things we worry about come to pass. A 2019 study from Penn State showed that roughly 91 percent of the things we worry about never even happen.1 But worry wants to convince you of what feels like the inevitability of every possible negative outcome. It tries to guarantee that your situation will end in the worst-case scenario.

"There’s a quote often attributed to French philosopher Michel de Montaigne, who framed this lie well when he wrote: 'My life has been full of terrible misfortunes, most of which never happened.'

Louie continues, "I’ve lost both my parents to long-term, debilitating diseases. Pain and suffering and loss are a part of our journey on a broken planet. Jesus underscored this when He said, 'In this world you will have trouble . . .' The power to deflate worry, though, is found in how Jesus finished that sentence: 'but . . . I have overcome the world (John 16:33).

"So here’s the new reality that allows you to combat the lie that something bad is going to happen: most of what you’re spending your time worrying about won’t happen. If you know and believe this ahead of time, you can cut worry off from the onset because you’re now armed with the reality that 'the worst' outcome statistically will not occur. The more you choose not to go down the path of worry, the better equipped you’ll become."

He then says, "Now, again, that’s not to say that bad things won’t come our way, because unfortunately we live in a broken world filled with heartache, misfortune, and loss. But what it does mean is that we don’t have to overcommit our valuable time and attention toward what-if circumstances. If the what if happens, when something bad actually lands in your world, Jesus will give you what you need to overcome it."

Ans that is so true. Yes, yes! #continuethought

"To put it simply, worry isn’t just a bad habit."

2024-02-01T13:39:00.001-09:00

A thought by Louie Giglio in his book, Winning the War on Worry (p. 1). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)

Ok, that is interesting.

Louie says, "Worry is an Enemy tactic—a strategy built on lies that are designed to rob you of peace and tear your mind to pieces.

"That’s why it’s crucial that you are able to spot the lies worry tells."

He goes on, "Not long ago while on safari in South Africa, Shelley and I were really wanting to see a leopard in the wild. Early and late on our game drives our eyes were set on every tree limb, bush, grassy hill, and river path in hopes of finding one of several leopards that were known to frequent this particular area. But here’s the thing: leopards aren’t bright orange with tall, sparkly antennae on their backs. They are designed to blend into the surroundings, like the bark of a baobab tree where they might be lounging on one of its mighty branches.

"In the same way, the devil isn’t going to jump up and down in front of you shouting, 'Hey, I’m a liar, and everything I’m telling you right now is going to drain your life of joy!' No, he’s going to arrive more acceptably—in the form of worry. Because everyone worries, right?"

Louie then says, "To keep your adversary from blending into the scenery of your mind, you have to become adept at spotting the lies worry tells you."

So Louie is going to take us on a look at four lies. And that is going to be very profitable. Yes, yes! #continuethought

"Before you know it worrying becomes a way of life."

2024-01-31T14:27:00.000-09:00

A thought by Louie Giglio in his book, Winning the War on Worry (p. ix). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)

Worry is a difficult mental problem in the world in which we live. It really is.

Louie says, "Like barnacles on the bottom of a boat, worry has a way of subtly attaching itself to our thoughts. Worry often starts below the waterline, out of sight, out of the forefront of our thoughts. At first it’s just a simple what if . . .

"What if I get to the reception late and miss the moment?
What if I don’t know anyone when I get there?
What if my supervisor hates my idea?

What if it rains next week on the night I’ve planned the outdoor party?"

He goes on, "Before you know it worrying becomes a way of life. And just like those barnacles on the bottom of a boat add weight and resistance and therefore slow down the vessel, worry slows down your progress and corrodes your quality of life.

"Over time, these little what ifs that we allow to creep in and stick to the hull of our hearts begin to morph into substantial and sinking fears. Even before a what if ever comes to fruition, the more we allow it to linger and feed it with our attention and activity, the more it begins to weigh us down. As believers, we are meant to live a life characterized by the light and easy yoke of Jesus (Matthew 11:30), and the more room we give what ifs, the more heavily burdened we become."

Louie says, "Before we go too much further, let’s pause to clarify something right away. You are not the only person to step onto this battlefield and look across the way toward the enemy of worry and anxiety. The Enemy loves to isolate us and make our struggles seem disproportionate to those around us. But worry isn’t an uncommon tactic. In fact, it’s one of the Enemy’s go-to weapons. There is some level of comfort in knowing that worry strikes people from every walk of life and background."

Later he says, "God can conquer worry because He has already been victorious over the ultimate root of worry: fear. We’ll dig into this in a later chapter, but 1 John 4:18 says it so well: 'There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.'

"God is greater than fear and all its cousins—depression, anxiety, panic, and worry. And if God is greater, you and I can experience freedom from the grip of worry that robs us of sleep and peace."

He later says, "So before we get into the thick of it, before we even jump in to chapter 1, let’s pause here at the very beginning and take a step together. Remember when I said that the Enemy loves to utilize the weapon of what if? Instead of fixating on the what ifs, let’s commit right now to acknowledging that God has already provided us with the truth of what is. God doesn’t deal in confusion. He doesn’t leave things to chance, and He is never unsure of the final outcome. He doesn’t do if. He is—and that is a truth on which we can build our foundation.

"So wherever you are reading this, no matter what you are walking through, I encourage you to speak out this reality:

"God, I believe You are greater. Specifically, You are greater than whatever I am worrying about right now.

"I believe this confession will immediately catalyze the process of resizing worry and replacing it with trust.

"And if you’re not quite able to declare those words with full conviction, then maybe this is your confession: God, help me have greater faith in You. This is a prayer God loves to hear and loves to come through for."

And Louie then says, "If you’re ready to live free, to cultivate a peaceful heart and confident mind, He’s ready to help you bury worry and live with a new reality of deep-rooted trust and hope."

Now that is a great place for us to start. Yes, yes! #continuethought

"If everyone agrees with you, you’re probably not leading at all."

2024-01-30T14:33:00.000-09:00

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus in his book, Mind Shift (p. 41). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)

Now that is a very interesting thought.

Erwin says, "Leaders create clarity, raise standards, and call people to more. By definition, this creates a dividing line. Great leaders are not afraid to define what it means to be on their team, organization, or movement. They know their vision isn’t for everyone, and they recognize those with a shared vision. Great leaders also know that great teams form when there is a sifting process."

He goes on, "For years I allowed those most resistant to change to have the most influence on our rate, pace, and scale of transformation—even though this went completely against my natural inclination. I was an idealist. I genuinely valued people, and I thought that meant that I should act as if every person could thrive in our new reality. What I didn’t realize is that most institutions—whether they’re a church or a Fortune 100 company—are led by administrators and managers. Their highest value is to protect what exists. Their strength is risk management. Their weakness is an aversion to innovation, creativity, and risk."

Later in talking about his church, he says, "Twelve years ago, we relocated Mosaic to the heart of Hollywood. The move seemed like a no-brainer. It’s a rare opportunity to get to plant your flag on Hollywood Boulevard, a place where millions of people visit every year. We had multiple campuses across Los Angeles, and our most established campus at the time was in massive flux. With no permanent location, we were constantly having to relocate our services at a moment’s notice. We had to move more than two thousand people back and forth between Pasadena and then Glendale and then back to Pasadena. The property on Hollywood Boulevard would give our community a home, a place where we could invite Angelenos to come and find meaning and hope."

He says, "One evening, Kim (his wife) was assessing the cost of what this move would entail. She began naming one, then two, then three families she felt certain we would lose. By then, I was no longer a novice to the leadership journey. I understood the costs of change. I also understood that without change, there is no future. As a leader, you cannot make decisions based on who you have. You have to make decisions based on who you serve.

He then says, "Kim named three of our most-committed families. These three families had been with us for decades. They had served in the church alongside us and become our personal friends. I felt the pain of losing them at a gut level. Although Kim didn’t mean to do this, I sensed she was holding it against me. I was holding it against me. After a moment of silence, I shared with her a harsh reality that I will never forget: 'I wish I had the luxury of making my decisions based on only three families. I have the responsibility to make decisions based on the thousands of families that will be affected.'"

He later says, "Having people choose to leave can be the greatest gift they give to you. Some of your most defining moments will be when you bring such clarity that people know whether they are in or out. In the process, you help them define their values. They may not choose to move forward with you, but they may be choosing to move forward with their lives."

And that is what effective leadership is all about. Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

"Fame is what you’re known for. Greatness is what you are."

2024-01-29T14:25:00.000-09:00

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus in his book, Mind Shift (p. 35). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)

Erwin says, "You can be great and never be famous. You might be a scientist who discovers the cure for a disease, for example, but science doesn’t play well on TikTok, so you may end up living the rest of your life in obscurity. You might be a great mathematician who unlocks the mysteries of the universe and at best become a household name among a handful of physicists. Maybe your grandfather worked the coal mines, or the assembly line, or the front lines, all to create a better life for his children and grandchildren. Is his greatness any less great for the lack of fame?"

He continues, "Here’s the key: Don’t try to keep up with those who use all their energy pursuing fame. They are on the fast track. You need to play the long game. But know that if you do this, it might not go well for you in the short term. You will be the tortoise, not the hare. You might feel as if you’re losing ground while other people are earning more money or attention or living out your dreams.

"Stay the course. Greatness takes time. In its earliest stages, it looks like practice. Every great novelist has written millions of words that will never be read. The neurosurgeon with the skills to save your life sacrificed more than a decade of their own life gaining those skills. The tennis great who makes that impossible shot to win Wimbledon hit that same shot a thousand times while training for that championship."

Erwin then says, "You may think you need an audience to reveal your greatness. The truth is, the audience will sidetrack you from your future. You perform for the audience; you develop for yourself. That’s the paradox with unlocking your greatness. While the outcome may gain you the adoration of the masses, the process is a journey you must be willing to walk alone. Greatness is always grown in private. If you want to do what no one has done before, you must be willing to do what no one is doing. Even those close to you will not understand your intensity and the focus essential for continuous improvement. If you need the applause to be great, you will never survive the process. But if you want to move toward your optimal capacity, you must decide that the applause that matters comes from within. The crowd will meet you at the finish line, but your resilience and determination will accompany you the whole way."

Now that is so very, very good. Yes, yes! #continuethought

"When you finally understand that life is all about people, everything in your life changes."

2024-01-26T12:59:00.000-09:00

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus in his book, Mind Shift (p. 23). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)

And that is what we want and need. We look at our lives and realize there are some things that need to change.

Going back, Erwin said, "When you make the mind shift that it’s not all about you—it’s all about the people whose lives change for the better because of you—it is transformational."

He then continues, "What does this shift look like in practice? It’s choosing to be kind. It’s tipping well when people serve you. It’s taking time to acknowledge the people around you and remember their names. It’s speaking well of people when they are not in the room. It’s remembering who helped you when you needed them, and returning the favor. It’s making time for friendship. It’s refusing to have the mentality that it’s not personal, it’s just business. It’s making sure it’s always personal. It’s listening. It’s being present. It’s seeing life through the template of relationships."

Yes, people really are important to God and to us. We really do need each other.

He then says, "If you wait too long to come to this realization, you will find yourself looking back with at least some degree of regret. You will see where you chose things over people and wonder what you were thinking. The things you attained at the cost of the people you genuinely counted as friends were not worth the exchange. Most likely, those things no longer have the value that you perceived they would have, and they certainly did not bring you the happiness you expected."

He says, "Experiences are actually quite nuanced. I have an incredible appreciation for great experiences. Yet, what I’ve come to realize is that the greatest experiences are the ones that are shared. Even the best experiences do not bring us a sense of fulfillment when we experience them alone. After all, what makes for a great experience? What makes it unforgettable? What qualifies it to become a lifelong memory? It’s not the experience itself. It’s the people with whom you shared it."

And have you found that to be so very, very true? We really do need each other and we really do need to understand that. Yes, yes! #continuethought

"People must never be a means to an end."

2024-01-25T13:06:00.005-09:00

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus in his book, Mind Shift (p. 21). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)

And that is so important for us to comprehend, to understand and to live out.

Here is what Erwin says around this thought. He says, "I have friends who made the conscious choice to put their relationships on the back burner while they built their personal empire. There is a lot to be said about that kind of intentionality.

"The danger, of course, is that you can become blind to the importance of the people in your life. No one succeeds alone. Yet some people take all the credit for the success in their lives. Success is far richer, more meaningful, and more sustainable when you build it in the context of healthy relationships. People must never be a means to an end. Relationships should never be simply utilitarian."

Doing it together, whatever it is, can be, as he says, "more meaningful and more sustainable".

He continues, "When I asked Mark Burnett, the producer of shows like Survivor and Shark Tank, to tell me the key for his sustainable success, he didn’t talk about his creative process or the individual genius that has helped him create smash-hit programs for more than twenty years. Instead he described the small, loyal, tight-knit team that moves with him whenever he takes on a new endeavor. When your strategy for success includes the people in your life who are willing to join you and pay the price with you, it is immeasurably more rewarding."

Erwin then says, "It’s a bit awkward for me to write this down and share it with you, but it reflects one of my highest values. I have never measured my success by how much I’ve accomplished, or how much I have acquired. I have always measured my success by how many people I can take with me on the journey. My measure is simple: Do people elevate when they are in the gravitational pull of my life? Am I investing in the success of others? When you make the mind shift that it’s not all about you—it’s all about the people whose lives change for the better because of you—it is transformational."

And that is so true. We really do need each other. Yes, yes! #continuethought

"We cannot accumulate enough things to make our lives worth living."

2024-01-24T14:14:00.000-09:00

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus in his book, Mind Shift (p. 18). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)

That is a thought that we really do need to realize is true, don't we?

Erwin starts chapter 1 by saying, "The longer you live, the more you come to realize that it is inevitable that you will lose things."

Later he says, "The best way to lose your life and look back with regret is to never mature past the mindset that life is all about things. We need to be careful that we’ve not simply replaced fighting over the LEGOs in the nursery with fighting over who has the most Lamborghinis. We cannot accumulate enough things to make our lives worth living.

A Lamborghini

He goes on, "Eventually, most of us transition into the second stage of development. For people in this stage, life is no longer about things but about experiences. Often it’s filled with firsts. Our first crush. Our first date. Our first kiss. Our first taste of independence. Life revolves around every new experience, and they make us feel alive.

"Those experiences are not inconsequential. They shape our identity and self-worth. We want the experience of winning, so we play football. We want to be popular, so we join the cheer team. We want to be loved, so we experience sexual intimacy long before we’re ready for it. After all, life is all about experiences. If we’re not experiencing, we’re not living. At least that’s what we think."

But is that true?

Erwin then says, "Eventually, we begin to see life a bit differently. Having nice things makes life nice, and great experiences can enrich us and leave us with wonderful memories. But eventually we realize that possessions and experiences are enhancements to life, not its ultimate meaning. This epiphany is perhaps the singular transition that moves us from adolescence into adulthood. When we grasp that life is about people, when we make people our highest priority, this shift becomes the best measure of maturity, wholeness, and health."

And that is such an important mind shift for us to deal with. It really is! Yes, yes! #continuethought

"We were always just one choice away."

2024-01-23T13:43:00.001-09:00

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus in his book, Mind Shift (p. 9). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)

That is a very challenging thought, isn't it?

Erwin continues, "Life is an unpredictable and beautiful journey filled with both adventure and danger. That is, of course, if you choose life rather than existence. Life doesn’t just happen. If your life is happening by accident, you are only existing. If you are living beneath your potential, you are only existing. If you’ve surrendered your uniqueness for acceptance, you are only existing. If you are living for pleasure and profit rather than love and purpose, you are only existing."

In other words "We were always just one choice away."

Maybe you are in those young years and you are striving to figure all of this out. Or maybe where I am in my older years and realizing that I still have choices. That I am not limited by my years. No matter what, "Life is an unpredictable and beautiful journey filled with both adventure and danger." And that can be exciting.

Erwin goes on, "For most of us, the tension is not between good choices and bad choices. The real battle is between the easy good and the hard best."

And this is so important to see, "It’s as though there is a gravitational pull toward mediocrity. The more determined you are to maximize your life, the more challenges you will face. The more you are unwilling to be satisfied with the status quo, the more you will find yourself facing resistance. It’s tempting to choose the easy road, to settle for mere existence. But the obstacles and challenges and crises you face are not interruptions or detours on the path of life. They are the very context for life itself."

And this is why he wrote this book and why it is an important book to be read no matter where we are in life.

He says, "Mental health, mental clarity, mental toughness, and mental agility all have one thing in common: The journey begins in our minds. This is where the battle is fought—and where the battle is won. Every time you want to elevate your level of execution, performance, or effectiveness, it will require a mind shift. For anything to change, the first thing that must change is your mind. I’ve come to realize after forty years of working with people who were both desperate and determined to change their lives that my real occupation is a mind architect."

So, let's hook on to the journey. Yes, yes! #continuethought

"Outrage is all around, so we have to decide how to walk through this."

2022-06-23T09:53:00.000-09:00

A thought by Ed Stetzer in his book, Christians in the Age of Outrage: How to Bring Our Best When the World Is at Its Worst (p. xv). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)

It really is, isn't it?

Ed continues, "We are living in a day—and this is indeed our moment—when we need to live like Christ, as gospel Christians in the midst of shouting, anger, and hatred. And it’s going to get worse.

"To be sure, there is a lot in this world that is outrage inducing. Terrorism, sex trafficking and exploitation, systemic racism, illegal immigration, child poverty, opioid addiction . . . and the list goes on. These issues deserve a measure of outrage, don’t they? They certainly deserve our anger."

He goes on, "And this is part of the problem. What do we do when the anger becomes too much? When our righteous indignation at injustice morphs into something completely different? How do we know when righteous anger has made the turn into unbridled outrage? These questions do not have easy answers, but they deserve our consideration if we want to be faithful disciples of Christ."

And later is his introduction to Part 1 he says, "Good thinking requires good diagnosis. It requires a discussion of what is wrong, how we got here, and what blind spots and behavior are feeding the problem. So part 1 of this book is necessary to lay the groundwork for the rest of the book."

He then says, "Let’s get out the stethoscope before we start prescribing the treatment. But let’s not confuse diagnosis with the cure."

So let's decide how to walk through this that we are going through. Yes, yes! #continuethought

"the battle right now is for the narrative;"

2022-06-16T09:01:00.000-09:00

A thought by John Eldridge in his book, Resilient (p. 34). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)

It really is.

Earlier John says, "It’s almost shocking when we realize how spun up we’ve been. 'Don’t freak out' is essentially what Jesus was saying. This advice is drilled into every form of military training and survival course—when things get hot, don’t freak out. Keep your cool so you can make good decisions."

He says, ". . . a simple, satisfying step is to get your head out of the 'wars and rumors of wars' and back into the story God is telling. For example: the story of God should get more of your 'attention time' than any other media.

"If you spend thirty minutes a day consuming what is called news (this includes all social media), then you need to spend more than thirty minutes—maybe twice as much—in the Scriptures or listening to biblical podcasts. Instead of using your downtime to scroll through Facebook or Instagram, use it to read something that reminds you of the story of God—a psalm, a good sermon, even a simple quote."

He goes on, "Remember—the battle right now is for the narrative; who gets to frame the story for you? Either it will be God, or someone else. If you are 'alarmed,' something has drawn your attention away from the story of God. Let your fears, anxieties, anger, or rage alert you that you’ve been taken hostage; stop and get your bearings."

He then says, "A friend of mine got completely addicted to the news during the 2020 pandemic and US presidential election (which was full of drama). He realized how upset he had become from the daily consumption, so he quit. Cold turkey. He walked away from the news for six months. You might think that irresponsible, but Jesus gave us a simple test: you shall know them by their fruit. The fruit of the media consumption was stress, anger, depression, and rage. The fruit of walking away? In my friend’s own words, 'I have more peace and joy in my life now than I ever have.' "

And I believe that is what He wants for us even in the time we are going through. Yes, yes! #continuethought

"The human brain processes information in the form of narrative."

2022-06-14T08:34:00.000-09:00

A thought by John Eldridge in his book, Resilient (p. 22). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)

That is very interesting.

John continues, "This is one more example of how deeply story is woven into the fabric of reality.

"Story is the way we orient ourselves in the world. Story is how we figure things out, bring order and meaning to the events around us. The story we hold to at any given time shapes our perceptions, hopes, and expectations; it gives us a place to stand. In this mad hour on the earth, what story are you telling yourself—or letting others tell you?"

He asks, "Is it a political narrative? We just need to get the right people in power!
"Is it a social narrative? The issue is injustice! We need justice!
"Is it about the economy? A new era of prosperity is coming!
"Most importantly, is it the story God is telling?"

Good questions. He goes on, "We are living in a story, friends. A story written and being unfolded by the hand of God. Despite what the world is shouting at you, the story of God is still the story of the world. This is the hardest thing to hang on to, and the most important thing to hang on to: the story of God is still the story of the world.

He says, "Allow me to quote a passage from the book of Ephesians:

God raised [Jesus] from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. (Ephesians 1:20–23 THE MESSAGE)"

He later says, "The story of God, the story of Jesus Christ has been, is now, and always will be the story of the world.

"This is so important for the friends of God to keep in front of us; it’s one of those things to put on a sticky note on your refrigerator or bathroom mirror: the story of God has been, is now, and always will be the story of the world."

John then said, "The sun came up today; the sun will come up tomorrow, because Jesus Christ is actually ruling. Think of all the millions of beautiful things taking place in nature right now. The caribou are still migrating. The dolphins are still swimming in the oceans. Whales are still coming up for air, diving down deep. The whole animal kingdom is living, breathing, and flourishing because Jesus Christ is the story, and because he is sustaining all things by the power of his mighty word, as Hebrews 1:3 says. Clinging to this fact will really help you 'keep your head.' "

And that is the story we need to be holding on to in this day that we are living. Yes, yes! #continuethought

"But our God has provision for us!"

2022-06-13T08:56:00.001-09:00

A thought by John Eldridge in his book, Resilient (p. 13). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)

And that is so true but let's go back to set this thought up.

Earlier John said, "When the human heart and soul experience month after month of disappointment and loss, death rolls in. Dr. Richard Gunderman described the progressive onset of disillusionment as the accumulation of hundreds or thousands of tiny disappointments, each one hardly noticeable on its own. The loss of hope and dreams suffocates the Primal Drive for Life.

He says, "But our God has provision for us!

"I know, I know—most of you think that what you need right now is three months at the coast. Walking on the beach, drinks on the deck, and with all my heart I hope you find that. But for most of us, a sabbatical in some gorgeous refuge is not available. What is available is the River of Life, God himself, in ways we have not yet tapped into."

He continues, "God wants to make his life available to you. Remember—he’s the creator of those beautiful places you wish you could go to for a sabbatical. All that beauty and resilience, all that life comes from God, and he wants to impart a greater measure of himself to you! The life of God is described in Scripture as a river—a powerful, gorgeous, unceasing, ever-renewing, ever-flowing river."

He says, "Ezekiel was given a number of beautiful visions, glimpses into the kingdom of God that permeates this world. He saw the temple of God in Jerusalem, and out of the temple was flowing the River of Life. As it flowed forth across the countryside, it became so deep and wide it wasn’t possible to swim across it—an image of abundance! I love how the passage ends: 'Where the river flows everything will live' (Ezekiel 47:9).

"Everything will live. This is what we want—to live, to find life in its fullness again."

He later says, "There is so much life flowing from God that it flows like a mighty river. Isn’t that marvelous? Follow me now—the River of Life is not just for later. Jesus stated clearly that the river is meant to flow out of our inner being right here, in this life: 'Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them' (John 7:37–38).

"The mighty life of God flowing in you and through you, saturating you like a river.

"Now let me pull all this together. We have a capacity and drive in us for living. It’s a precious longing, and it’s taken a beating. God is 'the fountain of life' (Psalm 36:9). There is so much life flowing from God that it flows like a river no one can even swim across—a superabundant outflow of life! This life is meant to flow in us, and through us.

"In order to tap into the River of Life, we begin by loving God in our longing for life to be good again. That’s where things are decided. Nearly all of us have been chasing relief in a myriad of hopes, plans, and dreams without first turning to God. So we need to enter the longing, feel it, become present to it, and in that place start loving God. Choose him."

He then says, "Our first step toward resilience is to return our Primal Drive for Life and our longing for things to be good again to God; we come back to Jesus from all other places we’ve been chasing life. We allow him to be our rescuer here, in the longing for life to be good again. We ask God to fill us with the river of his life."

God has a provision for us. Let's just come back to Jesus from all the places we've been chasing life. Yes, yes! #continuethought

"The longing for things to be good again is one of the deepest yearnings of the human heart."

2022-06-10T08:25:00.002-09:00

A thought by John Eldridge in his book, Resilient (p. 1). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)

And we do have that longing, don't we?

John continues, "It has slumbered in the depths of our souls ever since we lost our true home. For our hearts remember Eden.

"Most of the time this beautiful, powerful longing flows like an underground river below the surface of our awareness—so long as we are consoled by some measure of goodness in our lives. While we are enjoying our work, our family, our adventures, or the little pleasures of this world, the longing for things to be good again seems to be placated."

He goes on, "But when trials and heartbreaks wash in, the longing rises to the surface like a whale coming up for air, filled with momentum and force. This is especially true after times of severe testing, because during the testing we are rallying. But when the storm subsides, the longing for things to be good again rises up to demand relief.

"How we shepherd this longing—so crucial to our identity and the true life of our heart—how we listen to it but also guide it in right or wrong directions, this determines our fate."

He says, "God has given each human soul a capacity and drive, a primal aspiration for life. This is as fundamental to you as your own survival.

"The epicenter of our being is the deep longing to aspire for things that bring us life, to plan for those things, to take hold of them, to enjoy them, and start the cycle over as we aspire toward new things! This is the essential craving for life given to us by God. Let’s call this capacity the Primal Drive for Life.

"The longing for things to be good again is the mournful cry of the Primal Drive for Life in us, like the haunting cries of whales under the sea."

He then says, "This hunger allows human beings to survive the most terrible ordeals; it also enables us to savor all the goodness of this world, to love, and to create works of immense beauty."

And we have been living with that hunger, haven't we? Yes, yes! #continuethought

"There is hope, great hope."

2022-06-09T10:03:00.000-09:00

A thought by John Eldridge in his book, Resilient (p. xii). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)

Let's go back a bit. In talking about what we have been going through during the Covid-19 pandemic, John says, "Follow me closely now. To be suddenly stripped of your normal life; to live under the fear of suffering and death; to be bombarded with negative news, kept in a state of constant uncertainty about the future, with no clear view of the finish line; and to lose every human countenance behind a mask—may I point out that this is exactly the torment that terrorist regimes use to break down prisoners psychologically and physically?"

He says, "Folks, this had a traumatic effect, and we’ve got to plan for our recovery and find new resilience.

" 'At least we can get back to our normal lives,' one friend said. But that’s not true either. I know you want it to be true, but events are converging that prevent normal life from happening. Our enemy, the prince of darkness, has engineered this situation to do serious harm to the human heart. I believe we are set up for a sweeping loss of faith."

And back to where we started, "There is hope, great hope. Jesus Christ knew that humanity would face hard times, especially as history accelerates toward the end of the age. He gave us counsel on how to live through such trials, and now would be a good time to pay attention to what he said. The Creator and Redeemer of our humanity has given us a path toward recovery and resilience. We would be fools to ignore it or push it off to 'some other time.' Whatever you believe about the coming years, I think we can all agree that greater resilience of heart and soul would be a very good thing to take hold of."

He then says, "In this hour we don’t need inspiration and cute stories. We need a survival guide—which is exactly what this book is. Each chapter opens with a true story of human resilience against the bleakest odds. You’ll also encounter 'Skills' callouts to draw your attention to practical tools for strengthening heart and soul. And every chapter will pull your attention to Jesus himself, for we need the supernatural resilience provided in Christ. It is always available—we simply have to take hold of it."

It just might be what we need in the day in which we are living. Yes,yes! #continuethought

". . . I started helping others discover their passion."

2022-06-08T08:41:00.000-09:00

A thought by John C. Maxwell in his book, Talent Is Never Enough (p. 37). HarperCollins Leadership. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.

John says, "One of my roles as a motivational teacher is to try to help people reach their potential. For years, I tried to inspire passion in audiences by going about it the wrong way. I used to tell people about what made me passionate, what made me want to get out and do my best. But I could see that it wasn’t having the effect I desired—people just didn’t respond. I couldn’t ignite others’ passion by sharing my own.

"I decided to change my focus. Instead of sharing my passion, I started helping others discover their passion. To do that, I ask these questions:

What do you sing about?
What do you cry about?

What do you dream about?"

He goes on, "The first two questions speak to what touches you at a deep level today. The third answers what will bring you fulfillment tomorrow. The answers to these questions can often help people discover their true passion."

He continues, "While everybody can possess passion, not everyone takes the time to discover it. And that’s a shame. Passion is fuel for the will. Passion turns your have-to’s into want-to’s. What we accomplish in life is based less on what we want and more on how much we want it. The secret to willpower is what someone once called wantpower. People who want something enough usually find the willpower to achieve it."

He then says, "You can’t help people become winners unless they want to win. Champions become champions from within, not from without."

And that is so important for us to do so ask the question and find out your passion. Yes, yes! #continuethought

"It’s difficult to achieve when you don’t have the desire to do so."

2022-06-07T09:52:00.000-09:00

A thought by John C. Maxwell in his book, Talent Is Never Enough (p. 36). HarperCollins Leadership. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.

John says, "What carries people to the top? What makes them take risks, go the extra mile, and do whatever it takes to achieve their goals? It isn’t talent. It’s passion. Passion is more important than a plan. Passion creates fire. It provides fuel. I have yet to meet a passionate person who lacked energy. As long as the passion is there, it doesn’t matter if they fail. It doesn’t matter how many times they fall down. It doesn’t matter if others are against them or if people say they cannot succeed. They keep going and make the most of whatever talent they possess. They are talent-plus people and do not stop until they succeed."

He later says, "Loving what you do is the key that opens the door for achievement. When you don’t like what you’re doing, it really shows—no matter how hard you try to pretend it doesn’t. You can become like the little boy named Eddie whose grandmother was an opera lover. She had season tickets, and when Eddie turned eight, she decided to take him to a performance of Wagner—in German—as his birthday present. The next day, at his mother’s prompting, the child wrote the following in a thank-you note: 'Dear Grandmother, Thank you for the birthday present. It is what I always wanted, but not very much. Love, Eddie.'"

That too many times is the way we are in what we do and we wonder why we're not successful.

John continues, "It’s difficult to achieve when you don’t have the desire to do so. That’s why passion is so important. There is a story about Socrates in which a proud and disdainful young man came to the philosopher and, with a smirk, said, 'O great Socrates, I come to you for knowledge.'

"Seeing the shallow and vain young man for what he was, Socrates led the young man down to the sea into waist-deep water. Then he said, 'Tell me again what you want.'

" 'Knowledge,' he responded with a smile.

"Socrates grabbed the young man by his shoulders and pushed him down under the water, holding him there for thirty seconds. 'Now, what do you want?'

" 'Wisdom, O great Socrates,' the young man sputtered.

"The philosopher pushed him under once again. When he let him up, he asked again, 'What do you want?'

" 'Knowledge, O wise and . . . ,' he managed to spit out before Socrates held him under again, this time even longer.

" 'What do you want?' the old man asked as he let him up again. The younger man coughed and gasped.

" 'Air!' he screamed. 'I need air!'

" 'When you want knowledge as much as you just wanted air, then you will get knowledge,' the old man stated as he returned to shore."

John then said, "The only way you can achieve anything of significance is to really want it. Passion provides that."

Passion is the key. Yes, yes! #continuethought

"Results come from actions."

2022-06-06T07:53:00.000-09:00

A thought by John C. Maxwell in his book, Talent Is Never Enough (p. 26). HarperCollins Leadership. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)

Does that make sense?

John says, "That may seem obvious in the physical realm. Sir Isaac Newton’s third law of motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. However, in the human realm, many people don’t make the connection. They simply hope for good results. Hope is not a strategy. If you want good results, you need to perform good actions. If you want to perform good actions, you must have positive expectations. To have positive expectations, you have to first believe. It all goes back to that. Radio personality Paul Harvey observed, 'If you don’t live it, you don’t believe it.' It all starts with belief."

John continues, "A popular activity for tourists in Switzerland is mountain climbing—not the type of climbing that the world-class mountaineers do to scale the world’s highest peaks. Maybe it would be more accurate to call it high-altitude hiking. Groups depart from a 'base camp' early in the morning with the intention of making it to the top of the mountain by mid-afternoon.

"I talked to a guide about his experiences with these groups, and he described an interesting phenomenon. He said that for most of these expeditions, the group stops at a halfway house where the climbers have lunch, catch their breath, and prepare themselves for the last leg of the rigorous climb. Invariably some members of the group opt for the warmth and comfort of the halfway house and decide not to climb to the top. As the rest of the group leaves, the ones who stay are happy and talkative. It’s a party. But when the shadows begin to lengthen, many make their way over to the window that looks up the mountain. And the room gets quiet as they wait for the climbers to return. Why is that? They realize they’ve missed a special opportunity. Most of them will never be in that part of the world again. They won’t ever have a chance to climb that mountain again. They missed it."

He goes on, "That’s what it’s like when people don’t make the most of their talent, when they don’t believe in themselves and their potential, when they don’t act on their belief and try to make the most of every opportunity."

He then says, "Don’t allow that to happen to you! Live the life you were meant to. Try to see yourself as you could be, and then do everything in your power to believe that you can become that person. That is the first important step in becoming a talent-plus person."

Let's not waste our opportunities. Let's make the most of them. Yes, yes! #continuethought

"We cannot live in a way that is inconsistent with our expectations for ourselves."

2022-06-03T09:33:00.000-09:00

A thought by John C. Maxwell in his book, Talent Is Never Enough (p. 26). HarperCollins Leadership. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)

Our expectation can make such a difference in our life.

John continues, "It just doesn’t happen. I once heard a story that I have not been able to confirm about an aviation pioneer who built a plane the year before the Wright brothers made their historic flight in Kitty Hawk. The plane sat in this inventor’s barn because he was afraid to fly it. Maybe it was because it had never been done before. Maybe it was because he expected it to fail—I don’t know. It’s said that after the news reached him about Orville and Wilbur Wright, the man flew his plane. Before then, he didn’t believe in himself enough to take the risk."

John goes on, "There are two kinds of people in this world: those who want to get things done and those who don’t want to make mistakes. The Wright brothers were of the first type. The would-be aviation pioneer was of the second. If you’re of the first type, then you already expect to believe in yourself and take risks. But what if you’re of the second type? There’s good news: you can grow."

He says, "A story in Robert Schuller’s book Tough Times Never Last, but Tough People Do! is about Sir Edmund Hillary, who was the first person to reach the summit of Mount Everest along with Tibetan Tenzing Norgay. Prior to his success on Everest, Hillary had been part of another expedition, in which the team not only had failed to reach the summit but also had lost one of its members. At a reception for the expedition members in London, Hillary stood to address the audience. Behind the platform was a huge photograph of Everest. Hillary turned to face the image of the mountain and exclaimed, 'Mount Everest, you have defeated us. But I will return. And I will defeat you. Because you cannot get any bigger, and I can."

John then says, "I don’t know what challenges you face. They may be getting bigger every day, or they may already be as big as they can get, like Mount Everest. But I do know this: the only way you can rise to meet the challenges effectively is to expect to. You don’t overcome challenges by making them smaller. You overcome them by making yourself bigger!"

And it really help by connecting to God who for sure is bigger. Yes, yes! #continuethought

"Your beliefs control everything you do."

2022-06-02T08:13:00.000-09:00

A thought by John C. Maxwell in his book, Talent Is Never Enough (p. 23). HarperCollins Leadership. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)

John says, "If you want your talent to be lifted to its highest level, then you don’t begin by focusing on your talent. You begin by harnessing the power of your mind. Your beliefs control everything you do. Accomplishment is more than a matter of working harder or smarter. It’s also a matter of believing positively. Someone called it the 'sure enough' syndrome. If you expect to fail, sure enough, you will. If you expect to succeed, sure enough, you will. You will become on the outside what you believe on the inside."

He continues, "Personal breakthroughs begin with a change in your beliefs. Why? Because your beliefs determine your expectations, and your expectations determine your actions. A belief is a habit of mind in which confidence becomes a conviction that we embrace. In the long run, a belief is more than an idea that a person possesses. It is an idea that possesses a person. Benjamin Franklin said, 'Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.' If you want to achieve something in life, you have to be willing to be disappointed. You need to expect to succeed. Does that mean you always will? No. You will fail. You will make mistakes. But if you expect to win, you maximize your talent, and you keep trying.

"Attorney Kerry Randall said, 'Contrary to popular opinion, life does not get better by chance, life gets better by change. And this change always takes place inside; it is the change of thought that creates the better life.' Improvement comes from change, but change requires confidence. For that reason, you need to make confidence in yourself a priority. You need to put believing in your potential, yourself, your mission, and your fellow human beings at the top of your list. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt asserted, 'The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.' Don’t let your doubts cause your expector to expire."

He goes on, "Harvey McKay tells the story of a professor who stood before a class of thirty senior molecular biology students. Before he passed out the final exam, he stated, 'I have been privileged to be your instructor this semester, and I know how hard you have worked to prepare for this test. I also know most of you are off to medical school or grad school next fall. I am well aware of how much pressure you are under to keep your GPAs up, and because I am confident that you know this material, I am prepared to offer an automatic B to anyone who opts to skip taking the final exam.

"The relief was audible. A number of students jumped up from their desks, thanking their professor for the lifeline he had thrown them.

" 'Any other takers?' he asked. 'This is your last opportunity.'

"One more student decided to go."

John then said, "The instructor then handed out the final exam, which consisted of two sentences. 'Congratulations,' it read, 'you have just received an A in this class. Keep believing in yourself.' It was a just reward for the students who had worked hard and believed in themselves."

So true. So true. Yes, yes! #continuethought

"Belief in your mission will encourage you."

2022-06-01T09:03:00.002-09:00

A thought by John C. Maxwell in his book, Talent Is Never Enough (p. 21). HarperCollins Leadership. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)

John continues, "The more you believe in your potential, yourself, and your mission, the more you will be able to accomplish. If you keep believing, you will someday find yourself doing what you once considered impossible."

He later says, "Do you believe in your mission? Are you confident that you can accomplish great tasks? Do you expect to achieve your goals? These are necessary ingredients to lift your talent from potential to fruition."

He goes on, "I need to say one more thing about mission. It needs to include people. Only a life lived for others is worthwhile. As you fulfill your mission, will others around you say . . . 'My life is better as a result,' or 'My life is worse as a result.?"

He then says, "One of my prized possessions is a simple crystal paperweight. It doesn’t have an especially artistic design. It’s not especially valuable monetarily. But it means a lot to me because of what is engraved in it and who gave it to me. It says, John—

Pastor, Mentor, Friend

'Thank you for believing in me.'
Love,

Dan

"It was a gift from Dan Reiland, who worked with me for twenty years as a staff member, as my second in command, and then as a senior vice president at one of my companies. Dan is someone I would go to battle with. He’s like a kid brother to me. The mission we pursued together made both of us better. That’s the kind of person you want working with you—and the kind of result."

So have you found your mission, your purpose yet? We each have been created by God with a mission in His mind. And there is power in purpose, in mission. Yes, yes! #continuethought

"Your potential is really up to you."

2022-05-31T08:09:00.001-09:00

A thought by John C. Maxwell in his book, Talent Is Never Enough (p. 18). HarperCollins Leadership. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)

It really is.

John continues, "It doesn’t matter what others might think. It doesn’t matter where you came from. It doesn’t even matter what you might have believed about yourself at a previous time in your life. It’s about what lies within you and whether you can bring it out."

He says, "There’s a story about a farm boy from Colorado who loved to hike and rock climb. One day while climbing in the mountains, he found an eagle’s nest with an egg in it. He took the egg from the nest, and when he got home, he put it under a hen along with her other eggs.

"Since he hatched among chicks, the eagle thought he was a chicken. He learned chicken behavior from his 'mother' and scratched in the chicken yard along with his 'siblings.' He didn’t know any better. And when he sometimes felt strange stirrings within him, he didn’t know what to do with them, so he ignored them or suppressed them. After all, if he was a chicken, he should behave like a chicken."

John goes on, "Then one day an eagle flew over the farm, and the chicken-yard eagle looked up and saw him. In that moment, he realized he wanted to be like that eagle. He wanted to fly high. He wanted to go to the mountain peaks he saw in the distance. He spread his wings, which were much larger and stronger than those of his siblings. Suddenly he understood that he was like that eagle. Though he had never flown before, he possessed the instinct and the capabilities. He spread his wings once more, and he flew, unsteadily at first, but then with greater power and control. As he soared and climbed, he knew that he had finally discovered his true self."

He then says, "Phillips Brooks, writer of the song 'O Little Town of Bethlehem,' remarked, 'When you discover you’ve been leading only half a life, the other half is going to haunt you until you develop it.' Not only is that true, but I’d also say this: Not reaching your potential is a real tragedy. To reach your potential, you must first believe in your potential, and determine to live way beyond average."

So let's do it. Yes, yes #continuethought

"The first and greatest obstacle to success for most people is their belief in themselves."

2022-05-27T08:33:00.000-09:00

A thought by John C. Maxwell in his book, Talent Is Never Enough (p. 11). HarperCollins Leadership. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)

And that is so true.

John continues, "Once people figure out where their sweet spot is (the area where they are most gifted), what often hinders them isn’t lack of talent. It’s lack of trust in themselves, which is a self-imposed limitation. Lack of belief can act as a ceiling on talent. However, when people believe in themselves, they unleash power in themselves and resources around them that almost immediately take them to a higher level. Your potential is a picture of what you can become. Belief helps you see the picture and reach for it."

Later John says, "Your potential is a picture of what you can become. Inventor Thomas Edison remarked, 'If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astonish ourselves.'

"Too often we see what is, not what could be. People looked at Joe Namath when he was young, and they saw a skinny, undersized kid. They looked at him when he was in high school, and they saw a kid who hung around with the wrong crowd and didn’t do his homework. They looked at him when he was in the pros, and they saw a guy with bad knees. But he saw himself as a champion. If you could see yourself in terms of your true potential, you wouldn’t recognize yourself.

"When my daughter, Elizabeth, was in high school, she had a 'glamour shot' taken of herself to give me as a gift. That was the rage at the time. A person would go into the photo studio and be made up to look like a movie star. When I first saw the picture, I thought, That’s not the way she looks every day, but that’s Elizabeth. That’s truly her. Likewise, that’s what it’s like when you see and believe in your potential. If you were to see yourself as you could be, you would look better than you ever imagined. I just wish I could show you a picture of yourself with your potential intact."

He goes on, "Indian statesman Mohandas Gandhi said, 'The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problems.' Closer to home, it would also suffice to solve most of our individual problems. We must first believe in our potential if we are to do what we’re capable of."

He then says, "Cartoonist Charles Schulz offered this comparison: 'Life is a ten-speed bike. Most of us have gears we never use.' What are we saving those gears for? It’s not good to travel through life without breaking a sweat. So what’s the problem? Most of the time it’s self-imposed limitations. They limit us as much as real ones. Life is difficult enough as it is. We make it more difficult when we impose additional limitations on ourselves. Industrialist Charles Schwab observed, 'When a man has put a limit on what he will do, he has put a limit on what he can do.' "

That makes a lot of sense, doesn't it? Yes, yes! #continuethought

"Talent is a given, but you must earn success."

2022-05-26T08:23:00.000-09:00

A thought by John C. Maxwell in his book, Talent Is Never Enough (p. 9). HarperCollins Leadership. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)

Have you found that to be true?

John says, "You see, people who neglect to make the right choices to release and maximize their talent continually under-perform. Their talent allows them to stand out, but their wrong choices make them sit down. Their friends, families, coaches, and bosses see their giftedness, but they wonder why they so often come up short of expectations. Their talent gives them opportunity, but their wrong choices shut the door. Talent is a given, but you must earn success."

He continues, "In contrast, talent-plus people come as close as humanly possible to achieving their potential. They frequently overperform. People see their giftedness and are amazed at how they continually rise above expectations. Their talent gives them opportunity, and their right choices open the door for even greater success."

He goes on, "Life is a matter of choices, and every choice you make makes you. What will you do for your career? Who will you marry? Where will you live? How much education will you get? What will you do with today? But one of the most important choices you will make is who will you become! Life is not merely a matter of holding and playing a good hand as you would hope to do in a card game. What you start with isn’t up to you. Talent is God-given. Life is playing the hand you have been dealt well. That is determined by your choices.

"TALENT + RIGHT CHOICES = A TALENT-PLUS PERSON

"The talent-plus people are the ones who maximize their talent, reach their potential, and fulfill their destiny.

"I was reading a book by Dr. Seuss to my grandchildren called Oh, The Places You’ll Go! In it, I found a wonderful truth. It said,

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself.

Any direction you choose.

"John then said, "I believe that with all my heart. My prayer is that Talent Is Never Enough will help you to steer yourself in the right direction and make right choices that will empower you to become a talent-plus person, build upon the foundation of your abilities, and live your life to its fullest potential."

And that is what we want, isn't it? Yes, yes! #continuethought