Happy Friday Friends!
I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day and that you have had a wonderful week. It absolutely amazes me how time flies! Between 2 boys playing football - on different teams - and another playing baseball, I feel like we are running somewhere all the time. Oh yeah, we are!
Well, this was one of those weeks when I thought I knew what "Happy Friday" was going to be most of the week. Early in the week I read about empowerment, empowering others, etc. I spent a lot of time thinking about and researching empowerment. Yes, empowerment is what this "Happy Friday" was going to be about. And then I went to Landry's baseball game.
Landry is in his first year of "kid pitch." Exciting stuff. He is so excited for each game and he has been hitting very well...one of the benefits of playing baseball with your two older brothers since you can walk! Landry came up to bat in the 1st inning. He fouled one ball off, there were a few balls and then, the pitcher hit him in the back, right below his left shoulder blade. The ball made that hollow "thud" sound that let's you know this one got him good. After a slow walk - I am pretty sure he was debating whether or not it would be o.k. to cry...he decided it wouldn't - he jogged down to 1st base. When he got to the base he turned around and looked at me and gave me the thumbs up. All is good!
The next time Landry came up to bat the pitcher threw the 1st pitch right down the middle of the plate and Landry...backed up. Landry has never backed up but now he did. I encouraged him to get back in there, his coach encouraged him to do the same. Landry eventually got walked - hey, it is the first year of "kid pitch!" The next time he came up to bat the exact same scenario played itself out. First pitch is right down the middle of the plate, Landry backs up, ultimately hangs in there for the other pitches and then ultimately walks. He has been hurt and now it is affecting how he acts, how he plays.
As Landry and I were driving home from the game we talked about him getting hit by the pitch. He confirms that "it really hurt" and that he "wanted to cry. I even got tears in my eyes." I tell him I understand however (at least I said "however' and not "but"!) I try to explain to him that he had to get back in there and take his swings. He looks at me like I am crazy and again explains that it hurt. He also tells me he is scared. I tell him I understand, I love him and I am so proud of him...I don't know what else to say.
This morning I was writing Landry a note. I wanted to encourage him, to help him understand that sometimes we do get hit by pitches but we have to get in there and take our swings. I hurt for him. I don't want him to get hurt, I don't want him to be scared...I want him to play like he always plays, be himself. It was then, at this moment, that it hit me; this is how God feels about us!
Ever been hit by a pitch - I am not just talking about baseball or softball, I am talking about in the game of life? It hurts. You are doing what you love to do and then you catch a fastball - lies, gossip, slander or any number of horrible things people do to each other - right in the middle of the back! For a moment you lose your breath, you want to cry, you put on your brave face, give the thumbs up but your scared. Yeah, all of us have been hit by a pitch at one time or another.
So as a Dad I am looking at my sweet little 8-year old who I love to death. I don't want him to be hurt, I am here for him when he is and I desperately don't want him to let this one, brief moment of pain define him. This is not what baseball is all about, this does not happen all the time and you are going to do so many great things if you will just get back in the batters box and swing the bat. This Friends is how God feels about you and me. He cares when you and I get hurt, He is there for us 24/7 and He doesn't want these moments of pain - the times when we get hit by the pitches of life - to define us. This was so clear to me this morning as I thought about my Little Slugger.
My question/challenge for us this morning, are we going to get up out of the dirt, dig back into the batters box and swinging for the fences? Or have we chosen to bail out every time the pitcher gets ready to deliver the pitch - guaranteeing that we will not get hit - well, actually you could in the first year of "kid pitch" however that's not the point! - but also guaranteeing that we will never get a hit?
Just as I hope, I pray my Little Slugger will overcome this challenge he now faces - it is teaching him life! - I also pray that you and I will do the same. I don't want to minimize at all the hurt, the pain, the fear. However I also refuse to minimize God - the fact that He loves you completely, that He is always there for you and He is hoping you will choose to pursue the greatness He has placed within you and not allow a bad pitch to alter your life course.
Please don't hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always be willing to help you any way I can.
Have a great day, a wonderful weekend and please cherish your precious families and friends.
Kev
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Friday, September 20, 2013
What's Your Brand?
Happy Friday Friends!
I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day and that a wonderful week is coming to a close for you.
Earlier this week I was dropping my 8-year old little Tender Warrior off at school. As he was getting out of the car I said, "I love you, I believe in you and I am so proud of you." His precious little eyes looked at me and in his little voice he said, "I am proud of you." Those 5 words sunk deep, deep into my spirit.
The Free Online Dictionary (www.thefreedictionary.com) defines authentic as:
1. Conforming to fact and therefore worthy of trust, reliance, or belief
2. Having a claimed and verifiable origin or authorship; not counterfeit or copied
This week I was reading a leadership book and it was speaking about being authentic - as a person, the importance of authenticity, how authenticity builds trust, etc. I then Googled quotes about authenticity to share that day on Twitter & Facebook. It was interesting to me the number of quotes that talked about the importance of authenticity from a business perspective - to establish your brand, so customers will believe in you and your company. The emphasis on being authentic in what we do as opposed to in who we are was paramount to me.
Here is a question for you; are you proud of who you are? Another quote I absolutely love; "would the little boy (girl) you were be proud of the man (woman) you have become?" Just like a precious little 8-year olds words spoke deeply to my spirit - I pray today that I can be the man he thinks I am! - this quote cuts to the core.
Sadly, for many of us, I believe the answer is no. We would not be proud of the men and women we are because we have gotten so, so far away from who we were created - perfectly equipped for great purposes - to be. We have listened to the lies the world has told us, we are trying to be successful from a worldly perspective and, in the process of doing these things, we have veered far from the truth we knew deep in our hearts when we were little children. We can't be authentic if we are trying to be something we are not.
It is interesting to me that we spend so much time trying to prove our authenticity in the things we say and do at work, in the "masks" we put on for others to see when all we really need to do to be authentic is to embrace who we are, who we were created to be and then strive each and every day to be the best we can be. Deep inside your heart, your spirit you know - each one of us knows - who we really are, what are goals, hopes & dreams are, what our values & beliefs are...we know! The unsettled spirit comes from a lack of integrity between those things and the things that we do each and every day. Many of us are worn out and tired, running a race to prove we are something we are not, to only lay our head on the pillow at night and find a restless spirit waiting to talk to us. This is the little boy, the little girl you were waiting for you to slow down enough so he, so she, can finally remind you of who you were created to be, what you knew to be true before you "grew up" and became the man, the woman you are today.
You are not a mistake. You are not flawed. You are not broken. You were created on purpose for a great purpose. You are perfectly equipped to be everything that little boy, that little girl dreamed of being. You may have made mistakes, you might find yourself this morning a long way off the road to where you know you are supposed to be. Please get your eyes off of where you are and catch the precious vision you had as a boy or girl. You can't change the things you have done up until this moment however you can change what is going to happen in the next moment. It is up to you. You only have to answer to yourself and the little boy or little girl who will meet you at your pillow when you lay your head down tonight. While the world will believe the lies you tell/live, he or she never will...even if you die telling and living them.
Please don't hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always be willing to help you any way I can.
Have a great day, a wonderful weekend and please cherish your precious families and friends.
Kev
I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day and that a wonderful week is coming to a close for you.
Earlier this week I was dropping my 8-year old little Tender Warrior off at school. As he was getting out of the car I said, "I love you, I believe in you and I am so proud of you." His precious little eyes looked at me and in his little voice he said, "I am proud of you." Those 5 words sunk deep, deep into my spirit.
The Free Online Dictionary (www.thefreedictionary.com) defines authentic as:
1. Conforming to fact and therefore worthy of trust, reliance, or belief
2. Having a claimed and verifiable origin or authorship; not counterfeit or copied
This week I was reading a leadership book and it was speaking about being authentic - as a person, the importance of authenticity, how authenticity builds trust, etc. I then Googled quotes about authenticity to share that day on Twitter & Facebook. It was interesting to me the number of quotes that talked about the importance of authenticity from a business perspective - to establish your brand, so customers will believe in you and your company. The emphasis on being authentic in what we do as opposed to in who we are was paramount to me.
Here is a question for you; are you proud of who you are? Another quote I absolutely love; "would the little boy (girl) you were be proud of the man (woman) you have become?" Just like a precious little 8-year olds words spoke deeply to my spirit - I pray today that I can be the man he thinks I am! - this quote cuts to the core.
Sadly, for many of us, I believe the answer is no. We would not be proud of the men and women we are because we have gotten so, so far away from who we were created - perfectly equipped for great purposes - to be. We have listened to the lies the world has told us, we are trying to be successful from a worldly perspective and, in the process of doing these things, we have veered far from the truth we knew deep in our hearts when we were little children. We can't be authentic if we are trying to be something we are not.
It is interesting to me that we spend so much time trying to prove our authenticity in the things we say and do at work, in the "masks" we put on for others to see when all we really need to do to be authentic is to embrace who we are, who we were created to be and then strive each and every day to be the best we can be. Deep inside your heart, your spirit you know - each one of us knows - who we really are, what are goals, hopes & dreams are, what our values & beliefs are...we know! The unsettled spirit comes from a lack of integrity between those things and the things that we do each and every day. Many of us are worn out and tired, running a race to prove we are something we are not, to only lay our head on the pillow at night and find a restless spirit waiting to talk to us. This is the little boy, the little girl you were waiting for you to slow down enough so he, so she, can finally remind you of who you were created to be, what you knew to be true before you "grew up" and became the man, the woman you are today.
You are not a mistake. You are not flawed. You are not broken. You were created on purpose for a great purpose. You are perfectly equipped to be everything that little boy, that little girl dreamed of being. You may have made mistakes, you might find yourself this morning a long way off the road to where you know you are supposed to be. Please get your eyes off of where you are and catch the precious vision you had as a boy or girl. You can't change the things you have done up until this moment however you can change what is going to happen in the next moment. It is up to you. You only have to answer to yourself and the little boy or little girl who will meet you at your pillow when you lay your head down tonight. While the world will believe the lies you tell/live, he or she never will...even if you die telling and living them.
Please don't hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always be willing to help you any way I can.
Have a great day, a wonderful weekend and please cherish your precious families and friends.
Kev
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Accountability, Humility & Repentance
Happy Friday Friends!
I hope and trust this post finds all you all having a great day and that you have been enjoying a wonderful weekend with your families and friends!
I know I am getting this out on Sunday. I got my rear end kicked by my schedule for the last 3 days and I truly have not had the opportunity to sit down and type this out until now. Though it is a few days later than normal I still wanted to take the time to share the sermon that was preached to me by the example set by a man that works at my oldest sons school.
Last Friday (9/6/13) my oldest son had a home football game. The whole Haslam crew - plus Grandpa & Uncle Phil - were out in full force to support our team. My 13-year old and my 8-year old went down to play catch with some other boys in one of the end zones...you know, the boys dreaming of making plays like the big boys on the game field.
At the end of halftime one of the Dads whose son was also playing catch came to me and told me about a completely inappropriate comment directed at our boys by a staff member at the school. It was funny; logically it registered that the comment was wrong however my spirit was completely calm, at peace. In that moment I became very aware of the "Happy Friday" I had written the night before...specifically it became perfectly clear to me that God was leading me. While I felt compelled to speak with the staff member I did not feel anger, rage, want to yell at the staff member, etc. Basically what I am telling you is I found myself acting completely different than how I know I would react if it was me leading by my strength, my courage, my knowledge and my wisdom. I thanked the Lord for being the Lord of my life and I prayed that he would continue to lead me as I spoke with this staff member about what he said. I then waited to what I thought would be an appropriate time to speak with the staff member.
Shortly after halftime I went to the staff member. As I approached him I took off my hat, introduced myself and extended my hand to shake his. At first he was impatient sounding, gave me his first name but not his last until I asked...everything about him made it clear that he did not want to be speaking with me. I then explained who I was - the father of two of the boys who were playing in the end zone - and stated that I was concerned about the statement I was told he made. Immediately everything changed. Our eyes were locked on each other and a tenderness immediately filled his. It was like looking out the window at a horrible storm and immediately seeing the day transform to a perfectly tranquil day...that was the view as I peered through his eyes into his soul. He didn't make excuse, shift blame, etc. He looked me dead in the eye and said, "yes, I did say that and I am so sorry." He acknowledged that what he said was wrong, he apologized for it and he offered to apologize directly to the boys. There was really nothing else that needed to be said.
A few thoughts:
1. What he actually said is irrelevant as far as I am concerned and that is why I did not share it here. We all say things we shouldn't have said, wish we hadn't said, etc. Who am I, sadly the owner of countless words I wish I had never spoken, to try to make this into a big huge thing because he said something he shouldn't have said?
2. The accountability, humility & true repentance offered by this man was a powerful, powerful testimony to me. I pray that every time I error I am as quick to own my mistakes and in a true spirit of humility offer a heartfelt apology. THAT is the testimony I want for my life.
3. I am mindful of the number of times I hear or read about administrators, teachers, coaches, etc. getting fired for poorly spoken words, words spoken in frustration, anger, perhaps fatigue. You know what I feel about this man? I am so thankful that he is on staff at my sons school. I don't want "perfect" administrators, teachers, coaches and staff working with my sons. These people don't exist. I want real people, people who are there because they genuinely love kids, because they want to help these kids become the best they are capable of becoming, because they want to help these kids discover the greatness that is within them. And I want people working with my kids who know they are not perfect and won't pretend to be so, who will own the mistake when they make it, who will offer a heartfelt apology which will lead to changed behavior the next...yes, that is who I want teaching my kids. Why? Because these people are influencing my sons' lives every single day! If my sons learned nothing more than honest accountability, humility and repentance at their schools, I will be forever indebted as they will have helped my Beautiful Bride and I raise great men.
Please don't hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your families. I will always be willing to help you any way I can.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend Friends and please cherish those precious families.
Kev
I hope and trust this post finds all you all having a great day and that you have been enjoying a wonderful weekend with your families and friends!
I know I am getting this out on Sunday. I got my rear end kicked by my schedule for the last 3 days and I truly have not had the opportunity to sit down and type this out until now. Though it is a few days later than normal I still wanted to take the time to share the sermon that was preached to me by the example set by a man that works at my oldest sons school.
Last Friday (9/6/13) my oldest son had a home football game. The whole Haslam crew - plus Grandpa & Uncle Phil - were out in full force to support our team. My 13-year old and my 8-year old went down to play catch with some other boys in one of the end zones...you know, the boys dreaming of making plays like the big boys on the game field.
At the end of halftime one of the Dads whose son was also playing catch came to me and told me about a completely inappropriate comment directed at our boys by a staff member at the school. It was funny; logically it registered that the comment was wrong however my spirit was completely calm, at peace. In that moment I became very aware of the "Happy Friday" I had written the night before...specifically it became perfectly clear to me that God was leading me. While I felt compelled to speak with the staff member I did not feel anger, rage, want to yell at the staff member, etc. Basically what I am telling you is I found myself acting completely different than how I know I would react if it was me leading by my strength, my courage, my knowledge and my wisdom. I thanked the Lord for being the Lord of my life and I prayed that he would continue to lead me as I spoke with this staff member about what he said. I then waited to what I thought would be an appropriate time to speak with the staff member.
Shortly after halftime I went to the staff member. As I approached him I took off my hat, introduced myself and extended my hand to shake his. At first he was impatient sounding, gave me his first name but not his last until I asked...everything about him made it clear that he did not want to be speaking with me. I then explained who I was - the father of two of the boys who were playing in the end zone - and stated that I was concerned about the statement I was told he made. Immediately everything changed. Our eyes were locked on each other and a tenderness immediately filled his. It was like looking out the window at a horrible storm and immediately seeing the day transform to a perfectly tranquil day...that was the view as I peered through his eyes into his soul. He didn't make excuse, shift blame, etc. He looked me dead in the eye and said, "yes, I did say that and I am so sorry." He acknowledged that what he said was wrong, he apologized for it and he offered to apologize directly to the boys. There was really nothing else that needed to be said.
A few thoughts:
1. What he actually said is irrelevant as far as I am concerned and that is why I did not share it here. We all say things we shouldn't have said, wish we hadn't said, etc. Who am I, sadly the owner of countless words I wish I had never spoken, to try to make this into a big huge thing because he said something he shouldn't have said?
2. The accountability, humility & true repentance offered by this man was a powerful, powerful testimony to me. I pray that every time I error I am as quick to own my mistakes and in a true spirit of humility offer a heartfelt apology. THAT is the testimony I want for my life.
3. I am mindful of the number of times I hear or read about administrators, teachers, coaches, etc. getting fired for poorly spoken words, words spoken in frustration, anger, perhaps fatigue. You know what I feel about this man? I am so thankful that he is on staff at my sons school. I don't want "perfect" administrators, teachers, coaches and staff working with my sons. These people don't exist. I want real people, people who are there because they genuinely love kids, because they want to help these kids become the best they are capable of becoming, because they want to help these kids discover the greatness that is within them. And I want people working with my kids who know they are not perfect and won't pretend to be so, who will own the mistake when they make it, who will offer a heartfelt apology which will lead to changed behavior the next...yes, that is who I want teaching my kids. Why? Because these people are influencing my sons' lives every single day! If my sons learned nothing more than honest accountability, humility and repentance at their schools, I will be forever indebted as they will have helped my Beautiful Bride and I raise great men.
Please don't hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your families. I will always be willing to help you any way I can.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend Friends and please cherish those precious families.
Kev
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Your Bucket
Happy Friday Friends!
I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day and an awesome week is coming to a close for you.
Sorry, you are stuck with me this week! Wasn't my Beautiful Bride something?!?! Holy Smokes! I am so proud of her for following the conviction of her spirit and writing when she felt compelled to do so. She looked at me last week and said, "I am writing Happy Friday." She gave me that look that made it perfectly clear that this was not a question...it was a statement. I said, "yes ma'am." I am not as dumb as I look! (For all of my "friends", I appreciate you keeping your comments to yourselves!)
Most weeks we focus on what our influence will be in the lives of others. This week I would like to share briefly about a more important influence...what you, what I, are allowing to influence our lives. This is absolutely critical as what we choose (yes, it is a choice!) to allow to influence our lives personally will influence what our influence will be in the lives of others. As Ken Whitten, Pastor at Idlewild Baptist in Florida, once said, "What's in the well always comes up in the bucket."
"I start the day, the war begins...", lyrics from the song East to West by Casting Crowns. It is true, in your life and mine. The alarm goes off, we wake up and we begin to talk to ourselves. What will your influence be...? "I am tired." What will your influence be...? "I am not looking forward to this day." What will your influence be...? Maybe you wake up dreading a meeting, a conversation you know you need to have. What will your influence be...? Yes, from the moment we wake up, the war begins. We either speak life, hope & opportunity into our own hearts or we speak death, dread, perhaps failure. From the moment we become conscious we are determining our mental state, shaping the condition of our spirit for the day. Please be intentional, please be positive. Don't leave it to chance by how you feel...dictate your thoughts, your intentions to your feelings. They will follow.
What are we reading, thinking about, talking about, etc as we get ready for work/school? Yes, it matters. Are we reading, focusing on, talking about life giving, fruit bearing truth or are we allowing negativity, lies, death to be poured into our hearts. What will your influence be...?
Now we are at work, school or wherever we may go today. What are those conversations like? Who are the people we are allowing to speak into our spirit? Please think about that for a moment - we are allowing people to speak into the depths of who we are. This is NOT something that we want to be careless with, to not pay attention to. There is so much at stake - it is your spirit. It is always with you, it never leaves you...ever! This really isn't that complicated Friends, we just have to be intentional about it. We can figure this out; is it good for you and I to spend our time gossiping with others? How about complaining about our spouses and/or children? How about jumping on the internet and looking at things we would not be proud to tell our spouses, kids, friends (the true one's), bosses about? All of these things - whether they are positive or negative - are filling your bucket and mine. What will your influence be...?
While it is important to realize that our lives do in fact influence every single life we come into contact with, it is critically important to first determine what we are going to allow to influence our lives. It is impossible to live on a consistent basis in a manner inconsistent with who we truly are at our core. A lot of people try...and fail miserably! This is where the quote, "It takes an hour to establish your reputation and a year to reveal your character" comes from. And what determines what we are at our core? Our thoughts, the things we read, watch, the people we associate with, etc. What are we pouring into our wells? What will we allow to influence our lives? Each one of us will choose (there is that dadgum - it's football season and I love Bobby Bowden - choice again!) and what we choose will in turn determine the influence we will have in the lives of others. Positive or negative we will all choose...
Please don't hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your families. I will always be willing to help you any way I can.
Have a great day, a wonderful weekend and please cherish your precious families.
Kev
I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day and an awesome week is coming to a close for you.
Sorry, you are stuck with me this week! Wasn't my Beautiful Bride something?!?! Holy Smokes! I am so proud of her for following the conviction of her spirit and writing when she felt compelled to do so. She looked at me last week and said, "I am writing Happy Friday." She gave me that look that made it perfectly clear that this was not a question...it was a statement. I said, "yes ma'am." I am not as dumb as I look! (For all of my "friends", I appreciate you keeping your comments to yourselves!)
Most weeks we focus on what our influence will be in the lives of others. This week I would like to share briefly about a more important influence...what you, what I, are allowing to influence our lives. This is absolutely critical as what we choose (yes, it is a choice!) to allow to influence our lives personally will influence what our influence will be in the lives of others. As Ken Whitten, Pastor at Idlewild Baptist in Florida, once said, "What's in the well always comes up in the bucket."
"I start the day, the war begins...", lyrics from the song East to West by Casting Crowns. It is true, in your life and mine. The alarm goes off, we wake up and we begin to talk to ourselves. What will your influence be...? "I am tired." What will your influence be...? "I am not looking forward to this day." What will your influence be...? Maybe you wake up dreading a meeting, a conversation you know you need to have. What will your influence be...? Yes, from the moment we wake up, the war begins. We either speak life, hope & opportunity into our own hearts or we speak death, dread, perhaps failure. From the moment we become conscious we are determining our mental state, shaping the condition of our spirit for the day. Please be intentional, please be positive. Don't leave it to chance by how you feel...dictate your thoughts, your intentions to your feelings. They will follow.
What are we reading, thinking about, talking about, etc as we get ready for work/school? Yes, it matters. Are we reading, focusing on, talking about life giving, fruit bearing truth or are we allowing negativity, lies, death to be poured into our hearts. What will your influence be...?
Now we are at work, school or wherever we may go today. What are those conversations like? Who are the people we are allowing to speak into our spirit? Please think about that for a moment - we are allowing people to speak into the depths of who we are. This is NOT something that we want to be careless with, to not pay attention to. There is so much at stake - it is your spirit. It is always with you, it never leaves you...ever! This really isn't that complicated Friends, we just have to be intentional about it. We can figure this out; is it good for you and I to spend our time gossiping with others? How about complaining about our spouses and/or children? How about jumping on the internet and looking at things we would not be proud to tell our spouses, kids, friends (the true one's), bosses about? All of these things - whether they are positive or negative - are filling your bucket and mine. What will your influence be...?
While it is important to realize that our lives do in fact influence every single life we come into contact with, it is critically important to first determine what we are going to allow to influence our lives. It is impossible to live on a consistent basis in a manner inconsistent with who we truly are at our core. A lot of people try...and fail miserably! This is where the quote, "It takes an hour to establish your reputation and a year to reveal your character" comes from. And what determines what we are at our core? Our thoughts, the things we read, watch, the people we associate with, etc. What are we pouring into our wells? What will we allow to influence our lives? Each one of us will choose (there is that dadgum - it's football season and I love Bobby Bowden - choice again!) and what we choose will in turn determine the influence we will have in the lives of others. Positive or negative we will all choose...
Please don't hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your families. I will always be willing to help you any way I can.
Have a great day, a wonderful weekend and please cherish your precious families.
Kev
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