Always let your faith be bigger than your fear.

When I first started writing it was super scary. Some good friends encouraged me to do it, saying they thought it was a spiritual gift. I thought they were joshing with me as I never was very good at writing growing up. Plus, my memory of writing as a student was not a good one – writing was about as painful as pulling teeth.

What am I going to write about?
What if no one reads my writing? Man, that would make me look really foolish, right?
What happens if or when I run out of ideas?

The wall of fear with my writing dilemma was one of acceptance. I was establishing barriers to success before I even started. I had to overcome the vulnerability thing. This was scary. On the first day that I hit the publish button on my blog I felt about as exposed as a streaker running buck naked through Florida Field on a fall Saturday. “Have you no sense of decency, you silly joke of a man?” – these were the hateful words that went through my mind. Where do they come from? Need I say more…

“Fear is a manipulative emotion that can trick us into living a boring life.” Donald Miller

One thing is for sure: whenever we fold due to fear we fail. Success is only an option when we convince ourselves to try. In that regard fear can be like a formidable brick wall.

I’ve faced other brick walls, but here’s the humdinger for me, always, for the big ideas of life that lie beyond the other side of fear:

There is one fear that helps me get through the brick walls that I face in life – it’s the fear of not knowing. Fear is temporary. Regret lasts forever. (Click To Tweet)

If I hadn’t written I would never know the joy it brings when someone tells me they loved my material.

If I hadn’t started my own business I would have been very disappointed in myself, never knowing if I could do it or not.

If I hadn’t stepped out in faith and turned it all over to God a few years ago, I would have never known the refreshing feeling of living every day as a portion of eternity.

If I hadn’t wrestled with and overcome my own vulnerabilities I never would have known the feeling of self-confidence and freedom I find in just being myself, and living in my own skin.

These have been my big ideas. I’ve heard that voice of invoked fear echoing in the background every time. It will always be there when we strive to do good. It remains as we go through the barrier, and then rise above the crowd. In fact, it’s not going away as long as we live in the conflict of the two ages. Pay no attention to the idle chatter of the evil one and his minions.

Always let your faith be bigger than your fear.

Do you have a brick wall of fear that you’re facing now? How have you been able to overcome fear in the past?

Image courtesy of “tomylees” on flickr.com

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Big rocks. Yep, those things we are declaring to be our top priorities.We have to set time aside for these activities to ensure that we have hit the mark when it’s all said and done. Steven Covey made this idea stick with the popular analogy shared in this short video…

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So Covey thought in the realm of 7’s. He wrote one of my all-time favorite books, “The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People.” He even has 7 big rocks in the video! The whole idea of the 7 rocks centers on figuring out what is most important to you and focusing on those things. When we choose to fill our time attending to the things that don’t really matter we leave little time for the things that do matter. All the rest is minutiae… or is it? I’m adding a corollary today: the significance of variables.

First the big rocks…

For me, I have to be a person of action. I have to be intentional about this stuff because I want to make a difference. I’m most productive in the morning, so I jump right on the big rocks. I take a thinking break, either exercise or possibly even a nap, sometime during the day. Before you get too excited realize my day typically starts hours before most people ever tip the coffee pot at the office. Late afternoon I typically tackle another big rock. Evening as well.

What are your big rocks? Even if you’re familiar with this concept, have you ever thought through or made a list? You may be a little surprised by the next part…

Here are a few ideas of what the big rocks might look like:

– Faith. Starting the day off with a devotional helps set the tone for me. I also try to walk all day with the Lord by my side. Serving, growing in my relationship with Him, fellowship with other believers, and making disciples. This qualifies as my biggest rock. Ha, Jesus is THE ROCK!!

– Family. I’m extremely blessed with a very close family. I love hanging with the little tikes so I make family a very important big rock. Aside from the joy of being around my grandchildren, helping them learn and grow is an investment well worthwhile to me.

– Exercise. I can get a little overboard on this one, but the bare minimum recommended daily dose of exercise doesn’t really mean all that much to my get up and go. I have found through the ages that my body needs more than the base necessities in this arena. Maybe you do too?

– Personal Growth. A big rock that deserves much more time and attention than we generally give it. Do you have a plan? It starts with a personal mission statement.

Wait… what about work? Heavens yes, work is a big rock. Maybe you thought this post was going to be about the big rocks we tackle at work? Well, I have  a system for them, too! This is a boxy guy concept, but it works to block out time in my schedule for the big work rocks. Whether we punch a time clock, write a book or bill a client by the hour, our big rock work process is similar – we can expect to produce income when we add value.

We’re not going to pay too much attention to the little rocks – you know, that stuff that is simply a distraction to what you are trying to achieve. We’re simply not going to give the little rocks much notoriety, aside from recognizing them for what they are and being diligent to make sure they don’t creepy creep into our lives.

Wagons ho to the variables!

Think of everything other than the big rocks as a variable.

There are two types of variables:

Dependent vs. Independent Variables.

From Wikipedia: “The “dependent variable” represents the output or effect, or is tested to see if it is the effect. The “independent variables” represent the inputs or causes, or are tested to see if they are the cause. Other variables may also be observed for various reasons.”

So variables are either causes or effects.

The environment that I work in is an important variable to me. Interestingly, sometimes my environment is a cause while other times it’s an effect. For instance, if I’m writing in my sweet spot, a comfortable place where I can focus, my environment has the effect of making my time much more productive in comparison to working in a coffee shop filled with distractions. Conversely, going to the coffee shop to meet a friend for a cup and convo will often spark new ideas for me. In this scenario, my environment is a cause, or independent variable. Pretty cool, right?

I think of music, cooking, reading, friends and adventure as variables too. They are so very important to me, like my description of “environment” above. They can all be dependent or independent variables.

So you may think some of my big rocks look like variables. Good, I’m glad you picked up on this discrepancy. Here’s why:

Some of the most important things in life are often NOT the things we consider to be productive.

Ok, yea I said it! It’s OK to consider your faith, family, fitness and personal growth ahead of work. Remember the old saying about the guy getting ready to kick the bucket, and how he never says “I wish I had spent more time at work.” Truth.

So who really is the wise one? Jesus. Yep, quit His job as a carpenter at the ripe old age of 30 to wander around teaching and healing people. Then, just 3 short years later, was removed from the face of the earth (for now anyways). Why? Ha, because it was important. Boom. Maybe it didn’t seem particularly important at the time, but the next time you look to see who’s signing the paychecks, maybe look again and realize it’s Him. Then regroup on your big rocks. I  can assure you that you will never regret it!

What do your big rocks look like?

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it can get pretty hot when you’re standing in the frying pan!

Corporate brands aren’t all that different from people when it comes right down to a crisis. Just think about it… yesterday’s corporate darling with a stellar reputation could turn into the red-headed stepchild in a hot second when disaster strikes or the urgent need for a recall pops up. While we can take some precautions, like quality controls for manufacturers or living by the inspired Word of God in our daily walk as an individual, virtually no one is immune to the possibility of a crisis.

Consider these examples:

• a long legacy of environmental awareness and stewardship is glossed over by a natural disaster, the sheen of an oil spill covers water, birds and sand, and tarnishes our memory…
• your favorite rapper is caught lip syncing at a live show…
• a sticky accelerator pedal on a venerable auto model is causing vehicles to crash and burn…
• worse still, a pastor is caught in a sex scandal (ok, that’s just my own judgmental take on the severity). So scandalous!!

How do I know this about brand crisis? First-hand experience, unfortunately. Nope, not a sex scandal… but still, quite embarrassing.

Here is a critical part of managing your own brand, or agenda (hopefully this won’t put a PR maven or two out of work…), the 3 keys to overcoming a brand crisis:

- Be Proactive. Don’t wait for someone else to tell your story for you. You have to take a leading role. Don’t be reluctant… you will find most reasonable people will accept that you’re human and have made a mistake.

- Be Accountable. Own up to your mistakes. Acknowledge that there’s a problem. Always shoot to be sincere, honest and upfront. This is the most effective way to douse the coals before they become an open flame.

- Stick with your own, positive agenda. Don’t dwell on the past. Learn from it, and keep moving in a positive direction. Moreover, be sure to strive to do something that is powerful enough to overcome any negative association with your brand. If you have pundits, realize that you just discovered another party to influence, or enamor. Overwhelm them with God’s love.

By sticking with this simple game plan you will stand the best chance to emerge from the crisis and be on the road to recovery.

Do brands that go through crisis get a second chance? 

Absolutely, remember Tylenol? They faced crisis and survived. You can too, by stepping up to the plate and controlling the narrative of the event. There are many others… Mattel had to recall toys on many occasions… and Taco Bell is accused of putting something other than beef in the burrito’s.

Yikes!

For goodness sake, even Tiger has cleaned up his act and found a new girlfriend, right? btw, I love his story. No, not the bad part… the part about him getting it all together again. Just you wait and see, he’ll be doing Accenture commercials again before you know it!

Crisis… it could happen to anyone, eventually…

Hoping this never happens to you, if it does, just remember we’re not in high school any more, and there’s something to be said for grace, and His inspired word…

“… make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge, and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly love. For if you posses these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:5-11

Stumble… you betcha!

Fall… not likely.

Have you ever been in a situation of crisis? How did you handle it?

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Click the pic to head over to Amazon

My second book is available at Amazon today, it’s FREE for Kindle for the next 5 days so please follow this link to swing on over and grab your copy!

Here are the deets on this book…

Science says we can look to a theory development process to ensure our beliefs are sound, and based on a body of conclusive facts. John Dalton, Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin and other scientists contributed to and validated the Scientific Theory.

Science, like religion, has unanswered questions. Where do we find hope, morality and joy? Where does our faith reside? What should we believe? Answering those questions can be life changing, and can put one on a course to greater achievements.

“Believe… And You Say?” is a short book about how I balance my faith in God with my education as a scientist.

“The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education.” Albert Einstein

Moses said, “If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you.” Exodus 33:13

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God looks at our hearts as well as our deeds… that which is seen and unseen… and He works in wonderful ways… we never know what the next miracle is that God will work in our world.

The story of King David was one of Leaving The Door Open. When God instructed Samuel to anoint David, He was looking at David’s faith and character…

“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7.

David showed his faith and character when he followed God’s lead…. he displayed an open and receptive heart, and completely trusted in God to make the situation right with Saul… and his people. David displayed incredible courage, not cowardice, in doing what he knew was right… and Leaving The Door Open.

If my heart is right with God, then my relationships with other people are right too. If I feel a relationship isn’t right with someone I should go to them and attempt to make it right. If I can’t then I know that I have tried… and that I am always Leaving The Door Open… and that I have an open and receptive heart to hearing and following God’s lead.

How do you feel about Leaving The Door Open?

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Striving for perfection, or the ideal… knowing good and well that I will never make it in this world without Jesus… and through the power of Jesus’ resurrection we were made perfect in God’s sight…

while at the same time…

accepting that we live in an imperfect world… filled with people who are all gifted, different and imperfect… people who are like me… so while we’re all unique… we’re also all the same, in manner of speaking… we all still need to grow… and that He is not finished with us.

“because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” Hebrews 10:14.

a finished work… and at the same time… a work in progress.

and in Chapter 11… “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (11:1) … to this, the promise: that He is who He says He is, and that He is going to do everything that He says He is going to do.

Chapter 11 goes on to list the “cloud of witnesses” … the great ones… our examples of those who lived by faith… Abraham, Moses, Noah, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, to name a few…

and on into Chapter 12 … “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

This passage to me is how we can have “The Vision To See How The World Could Be” …

how important that vision and our witness really are…

fixing our eyes on Jesus…

enduring…

persevering…

I want to be a part of that legacy…

I know that I need to keep working at it…

I will keep working at it.

What one thing could you do today to help improve on the vision of our imperfect world, to keep moving in the right direction?

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Somewhere along the way we stop  asking questions and start making assumptions. But it seems the smartest people make the fewest assumptions.

“The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.” 1 Corinthians 8:12

And the more faith we have the fewer assumptions we make. Because with God all things are possible.

Know what I mean, Jelly Bean?

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The subtitle, a story of second chances, shines the light on this true story of war, faith… and forgiveness. Here’s the jist of it… Andy uncovers artifacts from the second world war in his own back yard, along the coast of Southern Alabama. Through some research, he’s able to piece together an incredible story of two people reconciling their pasts and hatred to move forward with their lives. I can’t really say much more without spoiling this tale.

From the book…

“If you’re mad at someone you have to forgive them for you. You have a choice to make, either think about them all day long and let them keep hurting you inside… or give them to God. We are products of our past but we don’t have to be prisoners to it. Practicing forgiveness is less an act than a determined way of living. True forgiveness only comes at the conclusion of an inner struggle.”

I found a forgiveness prayer not too long ago, and have experienced that forgiving someone that has really hurt you badly takes time. A lot of prayer (I’ve prayed my forgiveness prayer over 100 times!!!). And a whole lot of God’s love. And this alone frees the human spirit.

Thank you Andy once again for sharing this amazing story. I can’t wait for the next!!!

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Andy Stanley has once again amazed me with this message, and explained faith to me in a way no one ever has before. Typical Andy style, plain and simple, yet delivering a much deeper understanding of the concept at hand.

Starting with what we call Circumstantial Faith… or looking for God in the circumstances of our life, our faith ebbs and flows based on the events of our life. This is very fragile faith. If the foundation of our faith is fragile, our faith can become very inconvenient. Eventually the temptations, pressures, pleasures or events of life will erode it.

Fortunately we can live our lives based on our knowledge of something that happened in history: Jesus came to our world and died for our sins. He was sent to be our forever Savior. We know and can have confidence in our faith against this. It is really not necessary for our faith to be leaning against our circumstances whatsoever.

So here it is… Andy’s definition of Biblical Faith: The confidence that God is who he says he is and will do everything he’s promised to do.

Plain and simple.

From Hebrews Chapter 11… Faith is the substance of things hoped for and not yet seen.

The writer of Hebrews goes on to give some specific examples through Chapter 11. Why did Noah build the ark? Why did Abraham obey and go even though not knowing where he was going? It goes on to list several other examples of people who lived by faith… and then comes to verse 13… All these people were still living by faith when they died; they did not receive the things promised (i.e., during their lifetime here on earth); they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. (with Noah and Abraham being the exceptions). They all acted in faith. Through faith in God.

The bridge between hope and faith is the promise. He loves us with all His heart, and has our best interests in mind… when we see it… and when we don’t. That’s it. That is enough for me 🙂 We’re living on the other side of the promise so why not trust Him?

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Forrest knew how to run: He could run all day long. He ran like the wind blows. When he went for the long run, he ran for 3 years, 2 months, 14 days, 16 hours before turning around and heading for home. I WISH I could do this too. I load up on Glucosamine daily, with the occasional Motrin and ice packs to nurse my tender knees. They’re still good, but only at about 30-35 miles a week. My knees are the equivalent of Freddy the Golfer’s fragile back.

Forrest was a man of faith: He was kind and compassionate and a loving, Godly man. He knew what he stood for and wasn’t afraid of anything here on Earth.

Forrest had a heart of gold: His heart was the size of Texas! Always giving, loving and caring. A true friend, and faithful companion.

Forrest knew what true love was all about: Real, unconditional love. Nothing fancy, or fake. He was always protective, trusting, hopeful… and he persevered.

Forrest was humble: He recognized his shortcomings and wasn’t afraid to admit them. He enjoyed simple pleasures, even after making a mint on that fruit stock (Apple, Inc.) that Lieutenant Dan helped him invest in. He gave a lot of the money away… to a Church, a charity, and to Bubba’s mom.

Forrest’s optimism and strong faith ran through him in a way that I truly admire… through some of life’s most painful experiences… loosing his best friend Bubba during the Vietnam war, the trials and tribulations of laying down the nets fishing for shrimp and repeatedly coming up empty handed (that is, until God showed up), “chasing” after Jenny until our fallen world finally did her in, and loosing his mom to cancer. He was a real man.

Forrest – “That’s all I have to say about that”

Please share with us about your hero too 🙂

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