You Will Prevail

 Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day as a glorious new day is preparing to dawn in my Sweet Home Alabama! This is going to be a great one! 😊

This morning I simply want to share with you something I have studied and learned over the past couple of weeks…

In the book, Good to Great, Jim Collins introduced the concept he termed “The Stockdale Paradox.” He named the paradox after Admiral Jim Stockdale. Admiral Stockdale was the highest-ranking U.S. military officer in the “Hanoi Hotel” prisoner of war camp during the Vietnam War. During his more than 8 years of imprisonment, Admiral Stockdale was tortured more than 20 times. As is noted on the Wikipedia page about him, “Stockdale lived out the war without any prisoner’s rights, no set release date, and no certainty as to whether he would even survive to see his family again.” Please, just for a moment, let the weight of what Admiral Stockdale experienced sink in…

Spoiler Alert: Admiral Stockdale made it out of the prisoner of war camp. How? How does a person endure what he endured and not only survive but thrive?!?! Here is an excerpt from Good to Great which answers that question:

“I never lost faith in the end of the story,” he said, when I asked him. “I never doubted not only that I would get out, but also that I would prevail in the end and turn the experience into the defining event of my life, which, in retrospect, I would not trade.”

So powerful!!! Never lost faith in the end of the story… Never doubted…Prevail in the end…Defining event…Would not trade!!!!!

In another excerpt, Admiral Stockdale offers great wisdom for all of us:

“You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end - which you can never afford to lose - with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.”

*The emphasis is mine.

This isn’t some Pollyanna, rose-colored glasses stuff here! Admiral Stockdale was in a situation that no human being would want to be in, and he knew it. At the same time, he never lost faith that he would prevail in the end…the paradox!

As a side note, when Mr. Collins asked Admiral Stockdale who did not make it out, he noted it was the optimists…the ones who said that by this date or that they would get out. The day would come and go, and they were still there. Over time, according to Admiral Stockdale, they died of a broken heart. It is not about optimism, it is about faith that, no matter the situation or circumstance, you will prevail in the end!

Friends, I have no idea who you are, where you are, what you are experiencing, or what challenges you may be facing. I simply want to challenge all of us with The Stockdale Paradox. We would be wise to face the brutal facts – let’s not stick our heads in the sand and pretend our reality is not our reality…how can we ever solve a problem, challenge, or issue that we are not willing to face and admit exists? At the same time, please never lose faith that you will prevail in the end. We are made stronger by the problems, challenges, and struggles that we face and overcome…this is what Admiral Stockdale meant by “the defining moment of my life.”

I want to share a couple of other quotes I came across as I studied The Stockdale Paradox.

Admiral Bill McCraven said this about becoming a Navy SEAL:

"So, while it is important to be physically fit when you go through training, you find out very quickly that your background, your social status, your color, your orientation, none of that matters," according to McRaven.

"The only thing that matters is that you go in with this purpose in mind and this — the thought that you are just not going to quit, no matter what happens. “

Two key points:

·       Purpose – I am reminded of the quote, “If you know your why, you can survive almost any how.”

·       Not going to quit – The unwavering faith that you will prevail in the end.

And then I was reading an article in the paper earlier this week about Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, Gardner Minshew. Great wisdom here from Gardner…

“If you have a dream to chase, things to learn, and people to love, then you don’t need much else. It’s not as important to know what’s around the bend, as it is to trust that you’ll be able to handle whatever it is.”

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.

Have a great day, a wonderful weekend, please cherish your precious families, and please stay well!

Kev

What's next?

 Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day as a glorious new day begins to dawn in my Sweet Home Alabama! I am so excited to live this day! 😊

This past week my Beautiful Bride and I spent several nights watching The Captain, an ESPN documentary on the life of former New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter. For those of you who don’t know who Derek is, let me share a little bit of information with you from his Wikipedia page:

“As a player, Jeter spent his entire 20-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the New York Yankees. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2020; he received 396 of 397 possible votes (99.75%), the second-highest percentage in MLB history (behind only teammate Mariano Rivera) and the highest by a position player. He was the chief executive officer (CEO) and part owner of the league's Miami Marlins from September 2017 to February 2022.”

Derek was a very special baseball player…here is a list of his career highlights and awards:

14× All-Star (1998–2002, 2004, 2006–2012, 2014)

5× World Series champion (1996, 1998–2000, 2009)

World Series MVP (2000)

AL Rookie of the Year (1996)

5× Gold Glove Award (2004–2006, 2009–2010)

5× Silver Slugger Award (2006–2009, 2012)

2× AL Hank Aaron Award (2006, 2009)

Roberto Clemente Award (2009)

New York Yankees captain (2003–2014)

New York Yankees No. 2 retired

Monument Park honoree

Remarkable, right?! And one of my favorite parts about his incredible story – from the time he was a little boy all Derek ever wanted to do was to play shortstop for the New York Yankees! He not only got to live his dream, but it also seemed no moment was too big for him…he seemingly always delivered. To illustrate the point, in his last game, after this ridiculously successful career, he got the game winning! Truly incredible stuff…

In the last episode Derek talks about the one regret he has is that he did not enjoy the moments more. He was always so busy focusing on what is next – the next challenge, the next season, the next championship to be won, etc. – that he did not fully enjoy the moments he was in…and there were so many remarkable ones! Can you relate? Me too!

About 6 years ago I remember this reality slapping me in the face. It seemed that up until that moment I always knew where I was going next, the next challenge, etc. In that moment I realized, I know nothing beyond this moment, this day! I, like you, have had tough days and season of life. I still find living fully present in every moment, simply living one day at a time, the greatest challenge of all!

And as I have sat back and reflected on the different season of life, I can completely relate to Derek’s regret. My Mom and Dad, Nano and Grandpa (I absolutely adored him!!!) are now in Heaven and there are no more moments to sit and talk, to go to ballgames, to go to dinner, to be together… And there are so many times that I did not appreciate the moment! I think about my Tender Warriors. Only one of them lives in the same house I live in now. The days, which seemed so long when they were little, flew by, never to be regained. I absolutely enjoy every moment with them now however I can’t go back and relive the moments playing, wrestling, talking, snuggling… How many moments I so foolishly wasted because I had to get to the next thing, they had to get to bed, or whatever it was that I allowed to steal the moment!

Now listen, this isn’t a message about regret…none of us can change the past, we can only – if we are wise! – learn and grow from it! That is what I want for me and you…that we will learn, grow, and live fully present from this moment forward! So, that is the challenge I throw down for us this week; from this point forward, let’s choose to live fully present in the moment! I don’t know what tomorrow, next week, next month or next year might bring. I simply know that you and I have today…and that is enough!

I want to close by sharing a couple of scriptures/quotes with you:

“The key is this: Meet today’s problems with today’s strength. Don’t start tackling tomorrow’s problems until tomorrow. You do not have tomorrow’s strength yet. You simply have enough for today.” – Max Lucado

“Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” – Matthew 6:34

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present.” – Bill Keane

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.

Have a great day, a wonderful weekend, please cherish your precious families, and please stay well!

Kev

Gaining Wisdom

 Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day as a glorious new day is dawning in my Sweet Home Alabama!

Earlier this week I was reading the Bible Study I referenced last week, Gaining Godly Wisdom. The study was written by the YouVersion team, and it is remarkable! When I read what I am about to share, I immediately thought of all of you…I hope you find the message I am going to share as valuable as I do!

Before sharing excerpts from this outstanding plan, I want to ask you, what are you filling yourself with every day? We know “what’s in the well always comes up in the bucket”…so what are you filling your well with? With “What Will Your Influence Be…?” we focus so much on what our influence will be in the lives of others however it is what first influences us that determines what our influence will be in the lives of others. None of us can pour from an empty cup and what is within us determines what flows from us. Please thoughtfully consider what you are filling yourself with every day and intentionally choose the things you allow to fill your well!

O.K., I am now going to share excerpts from this Bible Study. The daily devotional was titled “Wisdom from Proverbs.” It stated in part:

“While there are dozens of verses that mention wisdom in this book [Proverbs], we’ll focus on some and glean as much truth as we can about wisdom.

Proverbs 12:15 NLT

Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.

Listening to others brings wisdom. Sometimes we are too close to a situation or have already decided what to do, but we’re wise to listen to the thoughts, insights, and suggestions of godly people in our lives. Even if the advice is unsolicited, wisdom will consider it anyway and decide if it’s worth heeding.

Proverbs 13:10 NCV

Pride only leads to arguments; but those who take advice are wise.

Too often people think they truly have all the answers, but even the people we consider to be wise receive advice. That’s how they grew to be wise! We all have room to grow, so let’s put aside a prideful mindset in order to become wise.

Proverbs 16:16 ESV

How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver!

Nothing this world has to offer can compare with the wisdom we can receive from God and others. We may enjoy temporary pleasures, including possessions and money, but employing wisdom in our decisions will bring a greater return. There’s no price tag we can put on God’s peace manifesting itself on a truly wise person.

Proverbs 19:20 NIV

Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.

The essence of this verse is that we should never stop seeking to grow in the area of gaining wisdom. We can never get to the place where we think, “Yep, I’ve got all the wisdom I need!” Life will continue to change, and we’ll have to learn to maneuver in new ways. The way we do this successfully is to never stop learning and growing in the area of becoming wise.

Proverbs 4:5-6 NASB

Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; love her, and she will watch over you.

One of the most vital aspects of walking in wisdom is that it actually protects and guards us. What an amazing thought! It’s not that our lives will be 100% problem free, but when we do seek to walk in wisdom, our wise choices will actually prevent a lot of unnecessary hardship.”

Powerful!!! I hope this lesson speaks to your heart half as much as it speaks to mine! Regardless, please thoughtfully, intentionally, choose the things you will pour into yourself every day! They are creating the life you live!

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.

Have a great day, a wonderful weekend, please cherish your precious families, and please stay well! 😊

Kev

Conviction & Compassion

 Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day on this glorious Saturday afternoon! I went on a business trip to Chicago this week with a remarkable group of people from work and I did not get back until last night, thus this Happy Friday is being written on a Saturday!

Last Sunday our Pastor, Steve Huskey, preached a phenomenal sermon! It was quite clear that he had sought and received Godly wisdom, discernment, strength, and courage. I want to start off this Happy Friday by sharing a couple of points from the message.

Sin is a sanctification issue, not a salvation issue.

We are called to live lives of truth and grace.

Truth – We are accountable for our sins.

Grace – We are forgiven.

Love doesn’t have a line.

If you are a                                         I cannot and will not love you.

Pastor Steve didn’t use this example, but it comes to me as I type this:

If you                                      I cannot and will not love you.

We are called to love. (That is a period, it is a definitive statement)

We can live with both conviction and compassion.

We are so quick to criticize, judge, and condemn. None of us wants to be criticized, judged, or condemned and yet, though every single one of us sins and falls short, as a culture we do this often. Why? How about we simply live out John 8: 3 – 11:

3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. 

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 

9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

11 “No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Please note a couple of things:

First, she was caught in adultery…it wasn’t a question of whether or not she was guilty, she was caught in the act of adultery.

Second, let’s simply follow Jesus’ advice - “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone…”

What if we lived this way?

I have to share with you all a few excerpts from my Bible study this morning. It is titled, “Gaining Godly Wisdom” and it was written by the YouVersion team.

“In James 3:13 – 18 NLT, Godly wisdom is explained in detail:

13 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. 18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.[a]

This passage is full of rich truths for us, so let’s really digest this passage. Exhibiting godly wisdom means we are:

Honorable – We show honor to everyone.

Humble – We don’t draw attention to ourselves.

Selfless – We think of others more than we think of ourselves.

Pure – We strive to have untarnished motives.

Peace-loving – We agree to respectfully disagree.

Gentle – We consider the feeling of others before acting.

Merciful – We give second chances because they’ve been given to us.

Impartial – We show fairness to all we encounter.

Sincere – We are authentic, honest, and full of integrity.”

Two powerful messages, Friends! Let’s live lives of conviction and compassion, and let’s choose to pursue Godly wisdom!

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.

Have a great afternoon, a wonderful weekend, please cherish your precious families, and please stay well!

Kev