Monday, October 20, 2008

TIMING IS EVERYTHING

Stock Market.
Coaching the Seahawks one final year.
Red light.
Hunting.
Baking.
Grilling.

You make you own list, but timing has such a huge part to play in so many different aspects of our lives. Have you thought about the whole idea of timing lately?

Farmers rotate their crops so as to give the earth time to replenish it's nutrients.

Timing between a quarterback and his receivers.
Timing between a pass from one soccer player to another.
Timing belts on our autos.
Timing in music....don't get me started!

Sometimes timing either breaks a relationship or makes one. Timing can mend or wreck a marriage.

How?

Words. Acts. Deeds. Attention to detail and a response to it. Timing. Is it in you?

Make Today Count (MTC!)

Mark

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

WHO ARE YOU VOTING FOR?

I gotta be honest whichya....I cannot wait for this election season to be over. I'm really sick and tired of the commercials on tv and radio, the flyers, the signs, the 'he said' 'she said'........

However, I am grateful to live in America and to have the opportunity to vote my conscience. To not vote is just plain not taking advantage of the great privilege we have that people groups around the world would, well, die for.

I could care less if by the time the Presidential race is called, Washington's votes don't factor into the win or lose totals, I will have cast my vote, committed to a candidate and once again said a simple and quiet prayer of thanks to God for the USA!

The vote for our gubernatorial race will be different in the sense that we will be able to see in real-time how our votes are influencing the outcome.

So,Let's get it on! Let's vote! Let's move on and clear the air-waves of the whining!!!!! Make sure you vote! You might just be the 'swing vote!!'

MTC!
Mark

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

BILL WAS RIGHT!

In his book, AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP, Bill George speaks directly at and about the nonsense we are seeing played out on every news channel each and everyday regarding the financial mess we are in.

Bill's thesis is simply this: "Timeless leadership is always about character and authenticity."

The book is a fantastic read regarding his view of what true leaders are to be and what authentic companies are to achieve. Anything from over greedy CEO compensation packages to efforts to fraud the shareholder via bogus acquisitions to 'creative' accounting so as to meet quarterly estimates.

Let's face it, character and authenticity will stand up against slick, shiny, and hip and will outlast them all. Without authenticity and a strong moral compass, nothing else really matters or makes sense. Ask Wall Street!

So here you go: are you an authentic leader? To your kids? To your spouse? To your company? To your church? To your team? To the people who depend upon you?

MAKE TODAY COUNT!

Mark

Sunday, October 5, 2008

MARRIAGE

In just a few hours, I will be doing a talk on Marriage. I told my wife earlier this week that I was actually kind of stressed out over this one. We've been married for 21 years and in putting this talk together, I really see some glaring weaknesses in myself and I need to shore them up with God's help.

When I told Karen I felt like a lousy husband she laughed at me...that was not the help I was looking for!!

So, today, once again, I will be talking to myself while people listen in...isn't there help for that kind of stuff?

Here's your daily quiz:

1. How's your marriage?

2. What are your secrets for keeping it exquisite?

3. What are you doing to make it better?

4. What do you do to meet the needs of your mate?

5. Do you understand the needs of your spouse and do you work at meeting them even when you don't feel like it?

MAKE TODAY COUNT!
Mark

Saturday, October 4, 2008

HOW DO YOU...

Ever do the old Google search by typing in "How do you...." Funny and interesting some of the stuff that pops up. What really is funny is how it shows me how lousy my initial inquiry was!

So, on the topic of "How do you....." Here's a few ?'s for you personally.

How do you process your anger?

How do you process when someone disrespects you?

How do you process your feelings and emotions when you've 'had it up to here!'?

How do you process the feelings you have when you feel the people nearest you don't care or begin to understand who and why you are you?

I know it's a bit heavy, but those questions have been rumbling in my head as of late and when I look at other people and see a sad face I wonder how they got there. Bums me out.


I do believe that God provides for us what we need to be more than overcomers, winners, achievers in life. But....there are people who believe it too, yet really struggle with these issues. Indeed I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength... but what about those who don't yet know about that strength and his amazing grace?



MAKE TODAY COUNT!!!!

Mark