Mark Carlson - Design Christian Church

GREAT BOOK!

2010-05-06T07:25:00.000-07:00

I picked up Dick Hardy's recent book 27 TOUGH QUESTIONS PASTORS ASK.

What a great book!! I really mean that!

I had the privilege of working with Dick in Des Moines Iowa at a great church! He is a great friend and a gifted person.

This book is filled with fantastic info. What I love about the book is that it doesn't offer 'how-to's' from a lead pastor viewpoint. It offers lead pastor insight but refreshingly from a different view-point. Dick was one of the best executive pastor's around which influences how he writes and I love it!

Great book. Great insight. Great answers. I'll have more on this in the next few days!

Getting ready to head to Wichita, KS next week to meet with a pastor and music staff in a consulting format. We'll have a ton of fun!!

Keep it real!

Mark

HOW TO BUILD A CAR IN THREE HOURS!

2010-03-08T13:31:00.000-08:00

Totally amazing! My daughter and me (with the help of my wife) built a car that propels itself! We did it in about three hours! OK, so the thing can't carry people or anything at all, but it still runs...for about 20 feet!

We built a mousetrap car!! I'm sure many of you have had to build one of these, but this is the first mousetrap car effort for this family. Not sure how our oldest daughter missed this drill, but she didn't have to do one in her 8th grade year.

Now here is the reason this is significant: I'm really not good at this stuff and my wife is. She is like her dad: can do just about anything by thinking about it and drawing it out....sometimes only in her head. She is very talented and makes me look like, well, a real loser!!!

So, given that my wife had quite a few things to get done yesterday, it fell upon me to assist the youngest with her project. As the child received the news that mom was busy, I could hear her mutter to her mother "Oh, brother!"

Fortunately, mom and daughter had started the project and it was underway with enough prior planning so that I could come waltzing in and claim the victory! We finished the car. It works! And now I'm ready for MIT!

Kudos to mom and daughter for a job well done!!!!

TAKE A STEP BACK

2010-03-03T16:19:00.000-08:00

In our hyper competitive society, when faced with an insurmountable challenge, we typically put the pedal to the metal and push on ahead. It doesn't matter if it is athletics or sales or the corporate board room arena, the challenge always come from somebody that we have to give more, push harder, give a better effort!

But what happens when we are already at peak capacity and giving more is not an option?

Engines red line. Muscles fatigue. Brains go numb.

Seth Godin talks about instead of trying harder, try different.

How true it is.

Take a different angle. Relax. Let the game come to you. Work on a different muscle group.

Tony Horton talks about 'muscle confusion'. By changing things up we get more out of our muscles than if we get stuck in one routine.

Sometimes when we think we need to try harder and are already at max capacity, take a step back and try different!

WHEN AVAILABILITY AND ABILITY COLLIDE

2010-03-02T07:48:00.000-08:00

I was thinking the other day how some people have the ability to do something, but are unavailable to do it. Then there are those who are available, but don't have the ability.

Ability + Availability = Great Success.

He played football at a small university. Not very fast. Not very big. Had some ability.

Turned down by one NFL team, but was available to drive, yes drive nearly 2000 miles and try out for another.

He made the team!

During his career, Steve Largent, out-performed people with great abilities, and he turned a very humble start in the NFL into a Hall of Fame career.

How?

Ability + Availability = Great Success.

There are people all around us that have the ability to make a difference and they do not. Why? They think they are unavailable.

Others end up making a huge impact because they recognize their abilities and make themselves available! Those kind of people are HUGELY successful!!!

If you have the ability, then become available and watch the great things happen!!

A Reversal Of Thought

2010-02-12T07:45:00.000-08:00

I was reading the story of how Jesus healed the woman who had a bleeding disorder. It is found in Mark 5. She had struggled with this problem for 12 years. She had been to every doctor and she had spent everything she had tyring to find a cure for her illness. She was desperate!

Then it happened. She had a reversal of thought!

She had heard of this Jesus who had the power to do miraculous things for people. She had heard how he had touched them and they were healed. She thought: "If only I COULD TOUCH HIM!"

She wasn't arrogant. She wasn't proud. She was at the end of her rope.

She believed in the power of Jesus. She knew He could heal her illness. Her humility was profound and her faith huge. "If only I could touch Him."

She didn't need to be the center of attention, she knew Jesus was.
She didn't need to have Him see her, she just needed to see Him.
She didn't need to tell Him all about her problem, she just needed a corner of his cloak dragging behind Him in the dust.

She fought through the crowd and touched a portion of Jesus' garment and instantly she was healed!

Instead of asking Jesus to touch you, why don't you ask Him what it takes for you to touch Him!

2010-02-09T21:14:00.000-08:00

This Sunday is Valentine's Day! I can't

remember the last time it landed on a Sunday!

We are going to be talking about what it means

to LOVE STRONG!

Too often we view love as an emotion or something connected with flowers, chocolates, or jewelry.

Jesus said is was deeper than that.

Jesus said to love your enemy. Love those who treat you poorly. Love those who actually inflict bodily harm upon you.

Jesus implied that we are to LOVE STRONG!

All Around Us

2010-01-30T11:41:00.000-08:00

I just finished a great article by ESPN columnist Rick Reilley. I love to read his stuff. He is a gifted writer. (as I listen to Cartagrapher by E.S. POSTHUMUS...now that is some fine stuff right there! Two brothers who write crazy stuff!!)

His article was titled: The Misbehavior of Athletes.

He gave examples of pro athletes who have undermined the public trust and cheated their sport or spouse. Examples: Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Tiger Woods, Gilbert Arenas.

For every misguided athlete he listed its counterpoint: Ken Griffey Jr., Jack Nicklaus, etc.

He chose to focus upon the glass half full picture when it comes to athletes whom we have a tendency to place upon pedestals.

One reality from his great article is this: for all the bad that seems to happen in our day, there is just as much good happening all around us.

The sun is still coming up in the East. There is sufficient oxygen to breathe. There is someone who loves us completely and there are people that want to be our friends.

There IS good all around us!

Smoked!

2010-01-23T09:42:00.000-08:00

Some of the guys stayed after church last week and we played a rousing game of football! I think there was a conspiracy, but on the team I was playing with, we had a good share of the 'wiser' dudes. OK, so we were older!

I'm not sure at what age it happens. It is really a bizarre thing when you realize it for the first
time. I've known it for a few years now. That moment when your brain is still thinking like
a young, twenty-something and your arms and legs are functioning at their true age!

The brain says 'NOW!' The legs say, 'Huh?'

Needless to say, our team got smoked!!!!

I'm putting all the blame for the horrific outcome on the league commish: Jason!!!!

What A Machine!

2010-01-12T08:25:00.000-08:00

My wife hollered for me to come and get the spider!

She is deathly afraid of them. One had made a bummer of a move and
showed up on the wall at the worst time....when she was walking by.

So, I meander up the stairs and here is this tiny, little spider. I was able
to get it into my hands and he wiggled free, hanging by its thread!

After I got him back into my hands he became damaged goods.

As I was walking to the sink to rinse off my hands, I felt this single thread
of a web brushing against one of the hairs on the back of my hand (sounds
gross!). It startled me! It actually felt like something much larger than
a single strand from that teeny tiny spider.

I couldn't beleive that one single thread from that single little spider could
make such a commotion of nerve impulses as it brushed against a single
hair on my hand! Blew me away as I thought about the thousands if not
tens of thousands of electrical charges taking place within my body and
brain just from one single spider web thread touching my hand.

The Bible says that we are '..fearfully and wonderfully made.'

Fo sho!

The next time you think about it, thank God for your one-of-a-kind
machine called your body!

God does good work!!!

Wacky Emails

2010-01-06T13:28:00.001-08:00

I had a new email in my Spam folder the other day. I find it quite amazing that people would actually click and open one of these whacky wacked out deals. You get them. I get them. Everybody gets them! They are peddling nasty stuff, to bogus financial junk, to meds, to whatever.

But the one I received the other day made me laugh out loud! It was trying to hook me up with some RITALIN!!!!! Hilarious!

How did they know I ran out??????

Gotta go. ADD/AHAD/AHDL/....KICKING IN!!!!!!

RESOLUTIONS!

2010-01-02T10:01:00.000-08:00

Hey, if you are into New Year's resos, here's a few I came across!

1. Stop eating boogers- Cameron 6 years old..

2. Stop passing gas in church- Melissa 10 years old
3. Stop drinking out of the milk container- Rick 36 years old.
4. Then stop putting back the empty container- Rick 36 years old.
5. Stop eating other employee's lunches out of the frig- 28 yr old worker at a food distribution plant
6. I will balance my checkbook ………………on my nose.
7. I will think of a new password, other than the word password.
8. I will always....always check for paper, when leaving the bathroom.
9. I will work with neglected children......my own.
10. I will not sit in the living room all day in my pj’s; instead I will be moving the computer into the bedroom.
11. I will work hard to become a legal advisor and push for the immediate restriction of anything Twilight.
12. I will be a millionaire on Farmville.
13. I will not ask my fellow taxpayers to bail me out of anything.
14. I will not text or email my spouse or children while sitting in another room.

Happy New Year!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2009-12-24T08:51:00.000-08:00

I had a friend ask me the other day who has two young daughters, what Christmas is like when the girls get older. I told him it is still pretty much the same minus all the little pieces to the toys and doll clothes!!!

I love Christmas, but my wife and daughters love it even more!! Not because of the gifts, but because of the huge vault of valued memories they carry. I do as well; they just get so excited about it all!!!!! OK, so do I!

We wish you a very wonderful and blessed Christmas!!!

Makes You Stop And Calibrate

2009-12-01T14:44:00.000-08:00

This whole Lakewood Police deal has really made me stop and consider how blessed we are to have police men and women who really have a tough job. I know of two men in our church who are helping to fill the gap at Lakewood PD. These guys are from different PD's in the area.

A huge thank you to Brian and Greg and to all of the other officers assisting Lakewood. And a huge thank you to all police personnel for their daily service to our communities!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

2009-11-26T06:24:00.001-08:00

I was able to share a short Thanksgiving talk in our city-wide Thanksgiving service last night.
Here's the salient points. The not so salient other stuff consisted of a really corny Tday poem (people laughed) and a few ramblings and bramblings.

We took our thoughts from Colossians 2:6-7 and focused on the last few words of verse 7.

My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving. (The Message)

LIVING IN THANKSGIVING

1. Thankfulness is necessary to overcome disappointment in your life.

2. Thankfulness is essential to overcoming resentment in your life.

Somebody said: “Thankfulness produces more positive emotional energy than any other attitude in life.”

3. Thankfulness brings contentment into your life.

Thankfulness will never replace your disappointments and losses in life, but it will heal your spirit.

The Big Hunt

2009-11-20T07:33:00.000-08:00

I should have done this awhile back, but failed to do so! Now I am taking care of business!

My Father and two of my Brothers went on an elk hunting trip to Colorado earlier this month. We had a ball.

Cabin at 9500'. Lots of snow. God rally got busy with the scenery in that part of the world. Tons of fun!

God was totally benevolent and let me snag one! Here's some pics!!

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

2009-11-20T07:21:00.000-08:00

Chrsitmas is almost here!

I can't believe how fast time flies. When you are young, you never think of getting old. Time moves on at a brisk clip and before you know it there is more of life in the rear view mirror than in front of you!

Two options: we can stare in the rear view mirror, or we can cast or vision straight ahead and be excited and motivated by what lies ahead.

There are a number of movies out right now that deal with the end of things; 2012, Collapse, The Road. Time is moving us down the timeline, duh! How we deal with the added pressures of our cities, country, and world, need not be filled with gloom and doom and steady gazes in the rear view mirror.

Rather, fix your eyes on today and be a pusher of Hope. Spread it liberally. Pass it out freely. Don't hold back! Let 'er rip!!! People need Hope. God has more than we could ever contain and He's passing it out for free! You should check Him out!

MTC!
Mark

Websites...

2009-10-22T08:47:00.000-07:00

Just checked out a couple of sites and I had to wonder....."what lies beneath!"

Ever get the vibe after surfing somewhere that the website actually is a phony front for the bizarre reality of what is actually happening?

I better check ours!!!!!

NEVER SAY NEVER

2009-09-22T08:10:00.000-07:00

It had not happened since 1977. Not in 32 years had their been such a lopsided statistic. But there it was!

Regardless of the situation and how bleak it might look, never say never. Don't quit. Don't give in! Dig deep and go straight ahead. Find the will to win!

Last night, the Indianapolis Colts only had the football for just over 14 minutes for an entire game! Statistically they were getting killed.

They dug deep. Peyton Manning willed his teamates to victory. Some people just refuse to accept the notion that odds and statistics are to be accepted as reality. The true champions are those that look at them and brush them off and shoot right past them!

That's what the Colts did last night.

WHAT A GREAT WIN YESTERDAY!

2009-09-20T06:10:00.000-07:00

The Washington Huskies pulled off a HUGE 'W' yesterday and I found this picture.

Hilarious!!

WHAT TO DO WITH IT?

2009-09-17T17:41:00.000-07:00

The mighty men of Troy roll into Husky Stadium this Saturday!

I remember when the Huskies were the King of the Pac! Now, the gold and deep red rule the roost!!

So what do you do when you face such an opposing foe? What do you do when on paper you are outmanned, your previous record stinks, and you just don't have the personal pedigrees of the 'other guys'? What do you do when you feel the first tweaky twinge of fear?

Fear is a knee buckler. Fear is a perspective grabber. Fear takes your breath away, immobilizes you, makes your mind numb and your brain freeze!

Fear robs you of your joy, rips off your dignity, squanders your opportunity and just plain makes you a loser.

What to do with it?

Look at it squarely. Don't negotiate with it. Move past it. And don't recall it.

Don't let the fear of the past or fear of the future cause you to miss your opportunity TODAY!

Just like the Huskies are not fearing USC, you had better not let your fear of what you are facing rip you off from the moment that is your's for the taking!

HUSKIES, SEAHAWKS, ICHIRO...

2009-09-14T07:59:00.000-07:00

What a great weekend!

The Huskies finally get a 'W'!

The Seahawks rumble, bumble, fumble, stumble, mumble, and humble the St. Looie Rams!

Iciro get's his 200th hit in a single season.....again!!!! I think he's up to nine times in his career.

Sunday service was awesome and exciting!!

We all want to pile up some wins in our lives. The Huskies were 0-12 last year; the Hawks were 2-and whatever; Ichiro did his usual hitting but the team stunk!

Individual wins are great, but the team win is so much more enjoyable. Why? It is the culmination of many individuals working hard while encouraging each other to rise their best level. Besides, celebrating the a bunch of people is more fun than just celebrating by yourself!

The key to successive wins is successive and tireless effort. Training. Attention to detail. Focusing upon preparing the mind and heart to put in the work. Sustained endurance. And so much more.

Here's the great clincher: those teams and those individuals that define greatness/success are those who have a short memory after a loss.

It All Looked So Promising At The Start...

2009-09-08T10:22:00.000-07:00

There we were at the start of the race. Full of hope and dreams of victory! We were confident
in our team. Confident in our individual abilities. Confident in our game plan: crush the opposition!!!

Then someone hollered GO!

We were a solid one step out of first place at the turn and suddenly it all went south.

We made the turn and inexplicably our hopes went from fame fortune and riches, to horror, agony, and disbelief. Our strap of cloth that tied our dreams and legs together broke in one single stride and there we were disqualified from the race!

The sad part of this story is that even with four legs untethered, we still ended up in last place!!!!

The moral of the story: none!!! We wanted to win!!!!!

IT'S ON!!!

2009-09-03T08:40:00.000-07:00

I really look forward to this time of year. It's not that could care less about all the other times of the year, but I just really love now!

Do you have certain times of the year that you like a tad bit more than others?

For me I love that it's football season. The Seahawks play tonight! Oregon and Boise St. are going to mix it up on the blue turf! Tahoma High School has their first game this Friday night (and my awesome daughter will be in the front row of the cheer squad!). The other huge one for me is that the hunting season gets going during this time of year.

Just as the earth has it's seasons, we have our seasons. I am working more diligently at 'soaking up the seasons of life.' Drinking them in. Enjoying them. Less frenetic and more observatory. Because when IT'S ON, I fully understand that like any other season, it will end. So I'm just wanting to drink it all to the full while IT'S ON!!!!

ONEAONE

2009-09-02T06:55:00.000-07:00

When Shelby was a toddler, we had a game we called 'higher like a flyer'. I would lay on my back and bounce her up and down in the air with her lying on my legs. She would laugh and giggle and when I would get tired and stop, she would scream 'One a one! One a one!!'

Each September our kids get to go back to school...one a one! They get to do it again...one a one!

I can't believe my baby is a Senior this year. Makes me wish just a bit that the 'one a one' days were still here!

Oh, that's right! I almost forgot!

2009-07-27T12:58:00.000-07:00

A funny thing happened to me today!

We don't have A/C in our house and the A/C in my car is busted. I really haven't been anywhere like the mall or a movie since this really warm weather has hit. The school we
have our Sunday services in is just old enough to not have A/C either.

After my run this morning I popped into the Post Office. As I opened the door and stepped in I was greeted by a friendly blast of icy cold air!! I laughed out loud!!!

Oh, that's right! I almost forgot how good A/C feels!!!!

I'm not complaining about the heat at all! I love it!!

This AWESOME SUMMER WEATHER is making me think I really like A/C!

Stingy or Generous

2009-06-25T11:06:00.001-07:00

I was struck today with the thought of how, during the course of any day, we can either be a generous person or a stingy person.

This does not always deal with money. Could be time, abilities, attitude, care, etc.

I believe that it all starts with a person's heart. If they are stingy at their core, they will be stingy with everything.

If they are generous at their core, they will be as generous as they can be.

What do you think?

MAKE TODAY COUNT!

Mark

SMARTS

2009-06-04T06:50:00.000-07:00

I get a 'question of the day' from THE COLLEG BOARD...an SAT help for students and parents of students gettin gready to graduate from high school and enter the wide world of college.

Just let me say this, based upon the questions I receive each day and my inability to even understand the math question, my chances of passing the SAT are slimmer than a Kryspy Creme donut surviving a two hour weight watchers seminar!

Being smart doesn't make you smart.

Think about the people in your life that you once thought were 'too bright', but years later, you look back and see the resume of their life and you notice, what they lacked in book knowledge they made up for in smarts!

2009-06-03T09:19:00.001-07:00

WHAT A GIFT!

Ever think about the weather as a gift? I am!

No air conditioning in the house, 90 degrees...I'm lovin' it!!

MTC

Mark

KUDOS ALL AROUND

2009-06-02T11:23:00.001-07:00

Ever wonder where customer service went? Whatever happened to the concept that the consumer is King? Nordstrom has had it right for years. I just found another one!

I talked with Dick who is the supervisor of a great department in a state run agency today. I thanked him for his excellent people and their thoroughness, patience, and kindness. The agency is in another state than the one I live in. As I talked with him, he informed me that from
his 30 years of working in sales, he has applied the same principles and expectations to his staff
at this state agency. He is very clear with his people, he explained, "If you can't meet these expectations in dealing with our customers, then you won't work here."

It's no wonder other states have inquired of him 'how he does it'. Treating people as you would like to be treated never gets old.

Great job Dick and a huge thank you to all of your team!

MAKE TODAY COUNT!

Mark

Professor Garbage A. Disposal

2009-05-07T07:37:00.001-07:00

Are you an inquisitive person? Do you like learning new things?

For an example: some people think they can't fix something because they are afraid they will make the problem worse. Others dive in, figure it out, and learn from the experience and have that much more confidence for the next situation.

My garbage disposal taught me some things the other evening.

It became plugged/clogged/wouldn't drain. It ran fine, but the water would not drain and the combination of broccoli stems, cabbage, and some other vegetable ends (don't have a clue what they were...my wife said they are healthy!), made a real seal inside the disposal and it would not drain!

I tried digging the stuff out. I tried the little miniature plunger. Nothing worked.

Over my dead carcass was I going to pay somebody to unplug my disposal.

After only a few minutes and a real mess in the bucket, the problem was solved.

I'm just glad my wife wasn't home. I don't think she would have let me take stuff apart like I did.

I learned from the professor that night that:
1. Garbage disposals look mean, but they really aren't that bad.
2. I now understand fully why they put plastic piping in certain places in the house.
3. Don't ever quit my day job!

MTC!
Mark

SHINE UP YOUR VISION

2009-04-28T06:34:00.000-07:00

Over time, things that once excited you can become dull....if you don't take the time to put the shine back into them.

Have you ever received any awards or trophies? For the first week or month you look at them often and keep them clear of dust.

As time goes by, they become less significant and maybe even a nuisance.

Vision should never be like that.

Even when you get discouraged and feel like you will never see vision realized, take it off the shelf, polish and shine it up, put it into a prominent place where you can see it often, and keep moving towards it!

Don't treat your vision like your old awards, shine it up!!!! Make it sparkle. Clean it up and make it something that people notice!

Make Today Count!
Mark

DAVE RAMSEY'S TOWN HALL FOR HOPE

2009-04-17T07:36:00.000-07:00

Next Thursday, April 23 @ 7pm, we will be broadcasting Dave Ramsey's Town Hall For Hope. It is a nationwide live webcast....well, live for Eastcoasters and kinda, sorta live for us Leftcoasters.

Maple Valley Presbyterian has graciously offered all of us to come to their place! Their seating is ample, but come early and get a good seat.

Hope you can make the Hope webcast!!

MTC!
Mark

Great Event

2009-04-10T08:08:00.000-07:00

The Town Hall For Hope Live Webcast with Dave Ramsey is going to be a great event.

We've had a huge response from our community and so we have moved it from the school to the Presbyterian church for greater seating capacity. The local pastors have jumped on board and it is really awesome to have a group of guys who love God and are into Kingdom building things and not worried about who gets the credit except for God.

If you are not attending, go to www.townhallforhope.com and sign up today!!

We've added the live broadcast at 5pm to accomodate the crowd. The taped broadcast will be aired at 7pm.

Make Today Count!

Mark

Necessary Maintenance

2009-04-08T08:16:00.001-07:00

We might even call it preventative maintenance, but I needed to do some necessary maintenance to my lawn as I had neglected it somewhat last spring.

So, yesterday six of us neighbors rented a lawn aerator.

One of my neighbors' little 5 year old daughter said about the machine, "That is a better lawn moler than my daddy has. But why does it make poop on the grass?" What a riot!!!!!

As I'm fighting this aerator over my front and back lawn areas I was thinking about the necessary maintenance that is required in life. We need to see a dentist once in a while, the doctor, take certain medications, get some exercise, etc.

What about the necessary maintenance in your family? Hanging out together, talking with each other, communicating how we really love and appreciate each other, and expressing verbally how wonderfully talented and funny and gifted they are.

What about the necessary maintenance in you own spiritual life? Daily spiritual disciplines like prayer and reading the Bible, taking care of your connection with God, working on loving others like Jesus said we should.

We spend quite a bit of time, effort, energy, money, and provide necessary maintenance on our yards. We should apply the same to our families, ourselves and our relationship with God.

Just random thoughts walking behind an aerator!

Make Today Count!
Mark

LOVER OR HATER?

2009-04-01T19:18:00.000-07:00

I was talking with a buddy of mine in our old neighborhood in Cali today. Granted, it
was of the texting variety, but none the less (am I supposed to put hyphens in them thar werds???) it was a good chat. He accused me of hating.

Just because I was totally bummed that he was doing 74 degrees and I was doing 37 and snow, doesn't mean that I'm a hater!!!! He was just giving me a bad time.

Have you ever been misunderstood? Have you ever been doing the right things only to be called out because someone who wasn't even around said that you weren't?

Times like that make it hard to love.

You get the looks. You get the emails. You get the texts. Hang in there. Be a lover! Don't be a hater!

MTC!
Mark

IT MUST BE SUNDAY BECAUSE...

2009-03-29T06:33:00.000-07:00

IT SNOWED AGAIN!!!!!!!

PERCEPTION VS REALITY

2009-03-26T07:14:00.000-07:00

My friend sent me this yesterday. It really cracked me up!

'What I perceive my brain to be.....'

'What my brain really is!'

MAKE TODAY COUNT!!!

Mark

ALL THE LITTLE THINGS

2009-03-25T08:41:00.000-07:00

You've heard people say about someone else: "He/she does all the little things really well."

I truly believe that life is comprised of little things and not just one or two big events.

More often than not, people focus on the one big deal, the one big break, the one big experience.

Persisting in and doing well with all the little things in life, will lead to a great big wonderful life over time!

Keep doing the little things well in your world....today!

Mark

GLOBAL WARMING?

2009-03-15T05:40:00.000-07:00

Ummmm........

BIGGER, FASTER, STRONGER

2009-03-12T07:30:00.000-07:00

I don't know if you are following the World Baseball Classic or not, but a very interesting storyline caught my attention.

Have you ever been in a situation where on the surface, people would say that you couldn't do this or that? Maybe they thought you were too small, not talented enough, didn't have enough experience?

It's like David vs Goliath; USA Olympic Men's Hockey beating Russian for the gold medal, Nate Robinson dunking over Dwight Howard or the Netherlands beating and ousting the Dominican Republic from the World Baseball Classic.

A group of nobodies handles one the best in the world. Go figure.

As the old saying goes, "It's not the size of the dog, but the size of the fight in the dog." And oh, yeah, it doesn't hurt to believe that you can do that which everyone else says you can't!

Go for it!!

MAKE TODAY COUNT!

Mark

IT'S GORGEOUS, BUT....

2009-03-11T16:39:00.000-07:00

What a spectacular day! It all started last night!

Now, that sounds absurd!!!

But it did!

We were coming home from K's bball game and as we drove up our hill, the moon was coming over the mountains. It was HUGEMONGOUS!!!! I mean it was massive.

The news even covered it and because of the clear and cold weather, the moon stood out extra special!

As beautiful as that was and as gorgeous today is, I was reminded of my human nature that is never satisfied! I was griping to myself how cold it was!!

Never enough. Never satisfied. Never content. The bible talks about how to get it and it's not in the form of a stimulus plan either!

What a great day and I'm not cold anymore!!

MAKE TODAY COUNT!

Mark

STICKING TOGETHER

2009-03-10T07:43:00.000-07:00

I was talking with a neighbor who lives down the street from me. I was asking him how his job was going and he was asking how the people in the church were doing. He then asked if I knew of any of our neighbors who might be affected by the current economic situation. He then made this comment: 'We just gotta stick together!'

Profound.

Refreshing.

How true.

Sticking together will get you and me through. Sticking together provides so many wonderful qualities and they vary based upon the situation.

One of the largest pieces to this idea of sticking together is SELFLESSNESS. A bit tough to learn as an American. Looking out for other's needs. Making sure the parts of the whole are taken care of. It is a deeper more insightful existence.

Let's stick together! We can make a difference in each other's lives!!

MAKE TODAY COUNT!

Mark

F/X

2009-03-09T10:14:00.000-07:00

Have you checked out some of the headlines from around the world lately? I was looking at some of them today and I wondered what effects they had on people.

Do people get freaked out by the enormous amount of turmoil globally?
Do people feel insulated here in America and feel that the issues in the Middle East, Russia, Iran are 'a world away'?
Could people really care less about it all?

Just curious.

WHOA!

2009-02-17T07:02:00.001-08:00

Just talked on the phone yesterday to a former boss of mine. Great man. Great guy.
Great pastor. He had a pacemaker put in.

What is crazy is that Rick has always been healthy and a great athlete and in shape! He's even run a few marathons. So a pacemaker would be the last thing I would come up with as far as a health related issue.

His heart rate would go from 40 to 200 and he would pass out. Thankfully, he will be fine and continue on with a very successful and full life.

Makes me appreciate my health!!

MAKE TODAY COUNT!
Mark

TAKEN FOR GRANTED

2009-02-04T07:02:00.001-08:00

Have you thought about your left knee lately?

Has it been good to you?

Does it cause you pain?

Do you like it better or worse than your right knee?

Do you even have any knees?

My dad just had his left knee replaced last week. The progress he is making is fantastic!

As I was visiting him in the hospital a few days after surgery I realized how often I take my good health for granted. I'm trying not to do that this week. I am very grateful for the good health that I have.

Be nice to your knees and the rest of your body! Stay in good health!!!

Make Today Count!
Mark

gimmeeabreak

2009-02-02T16:49:00.000-08:00

I saw two plays of the SuperBowl yesterday. My team did not win!!

Boohoo!!!

Now, what I did hear today on the radio was that people were a bit irrated at some of the calls the Steelers received/didn't get....depending on your view of the World Champs!

I didn't see any of them so I can't comment on the actual calls/non-calls, but this I can tell you: it doesn't matter whether you are a Seahawk fan or a Cardinal fan, when you lose and place the majority of the blame on the refs....gimmmeeeeeabreak!!!!!!

I'm not a Steeler fan and it was a total drag when the Hawks lost three years ago, but all the same, you can't gripe about the calls. Winners find ways to win.

Be a winner not a whiner!!! Nuffsaid.

(I'm talkin' to myself on this one!)

SUPREMELY AWESOME!

2009-01-30T08:22:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday we dedicated six people who stepped up to the plate and said "I'm gonna follow Christ and live my life as He wants me to."

Supremely awesome!

THE BIG THREE

2009-01-30T08:16:00.000-08:00

I was on the phone the other day with a good friend of mine. He's lived a very interesting
life and still does. The man he is today is so incredibly different than who he used to be.
Pretty much a 180 on a dead end 360!

He told me had been mulling over just three words lately: OBEDIENCE. FAITHFULNESS. PERSISTENCE.

At one time in his life, he would have scoffed at those thoughts outside of the 'family' business he was in.

Now, it is what keeps him on a course that is connected with God.

I've been contemplating how good my OFP FACTOR is lately. How's your's?

Do what's right. Stay committed to the right things. Never give up.

MAKE TODAY COUNT!
Mark

New Friends

2009-01-22T07:23:00.000-08:00

I've made some new friends this past week. Sounds like I'm in pre-school!!!

Friends are critical to our existence. Friends make life much more enjoyable and interesting.

I thank God for my new friends! Andy, Erick, Tom, Dave, Charles, Guy, Steve.

Thanks for being a part of my life!

WOULD YOU RATHER?

2009-01-09T07:40:00.000-08:00

Have....

Snow and cold or not so cold and rain?

35 College football Bowl Games or 32 College Football Teams in a Playoff?

Have the Sonics in Seattle and only winning 19 games or In OKC and winning 50 games? (not gonna happen!!!)

Would you rather have a house or a home?

Would you rather have money or love?

Would you rather acceptance and appreciation or power?

Would you rather have coffee or tea? ( I can't believe that is even a question!!!!)

THAT WAS THEN THIS IS NOW

2008-12-31T08:56:00.000-08:00

Do you ever look back and laugh at how when you were younger, like a kid, some stuff just freaked you out and now that you are 'mature', 'advanced', 'older' it doesn't bother you at all?

We just finished having two weeks of tremendous snow and really cold temps. It was fantastic, but it is good to see the snow get out of here!

During this cold snap, my wife and the girls would find ourselves walking in the cold and snow or sledding in it or just having snow ball fights. During one of these times I remembered back to when I was 8 or 9 and how I would really hate getting cold. Snow in the face, wet gloves, wet feet, shaking cold....I hated it.

Decades later, I'm laughing as my wife and daughters have both of my ears plugged with snow (cheap shots I might add!), I have no hat, my gloves are soaked, my jeans are freezing to my wet legs, and I'm loving it!

What did you used to fear or dread as a kid and now you actually look forward to it?

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HERE'S A GREAT READ

2008-12-23T10:29:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas to you!!!!

I'm wrapping up a fantastic book that was suggested to me by my cousin. I'm glad Sandy put me on to it. It's by Brennan Manning...THE RELENTLESS TENDERNESS OF JESUS.

Good stuff.

Be blessed! Be safe! Be filled with hope...the hope that Jesus gives!

Merry Christmas to you and all your peeps!

WHITE SAND OR WHITE SNOW

2008-12-22T10:35:00.000-08:00

I've got a buddy in Florida who has just been giving me grief over our weather versus his. He's in Southern Florida and on the beach with the pool. He'll drop me a line asking me if I think he should turn on his A/C or not....what a bum!!!!

He's from Minnesota and has no mercy for me having to shovel my driveway and fight through the 2-3' drifts at my house. He mocks from a distance. Wimp!!!

It's all in good fun and I'm thrilled that he can sit by his pool and have a beverage and contemplate the inconsequential things of life.

He's a great friend, but I really don't like him very much right now!!!!

Hey Tom.....Merry Christmas!!!

STUFF YOU CAN'T CHANGE

2008-12-19T08:36:00.000-08:00

I really am hoping and praying this weather system doesn't blow in and mess up Sunday!

What if it does?

What if it doesn't?

Ever worry about stuff you have no control over? I do!!! I shouldn't but I do. It doesn't dominate me, but I end up wondering and trying to figure out woulda, shoulda, coulda.

We have a big day planned for Sunday and I guess I should just not worry about it!

ENLARGED HEART

2008-12-16T09:02:00.000-08:00

For the past month, as a church, we have been partnering with the Maple Valley Food Band and Emergency Services in providing gifts for kids/families. Every Monday, I take a car load of gifts, nice and new, and drop them off at MVFB.

Our church has a heart problem!

We are not a large church, but we do have an enlarged heart! The director of the Christmas Gifts program for MVFB even made a comment about how 'giving' the people of Design have been!

Our people were given 62 children to provide gifts for. They were handled quickly. So, the good folks of DCC with the enlarged heart problem, just keep bring gifts and more gifts.

No need to see a cardiologist for this problem!!!

Give on!

Make Today Count!
Mark

LOTS OF LOVE AND LOTS OF CREDIT

2008-12-13T09:53:00.000-08:00

Hey, they got it right!!!! It finally blew in!!!

ZERO CREDIT ZERO LOVE

2008-12-12T06:54:00.000-08:00

Having lived in a few different states in our fair land, it has been interesting to observe how local weather forcasters communicate what is, what might be, and what was, as it pertains to the weather.

The first time I saw weather forcaster utilizing intense radar imaging was in the Midwest. We lived in 'Tornado Alley' and those folks were serious about black skies with warm and cold air! But, even with their advanced gear, getting the weather nailed, was really tough. The big joke there was "If you don't like the weather, wait 20 minutes."

Tuning into the weather forcast in Cali was a bit ridiculous once June hit. Quite frankly, the stations could have saved some big dough and just closed that part of the operation down. Sunny. Warm. Hot. Hotter. Plan any event, just take the sunscreen and lots of liquid! See you in late October!!

Here in the NW, we give great grace and kindness to our weather people. I'm not disrespctin' the professionals, but we understand that getting the weather prognosticated properly is out of their control. The disclaimers roll off their lips like the water off of my roof. Not their fault.

When they get it right, we give them zero credit and when they say it is going to be 85 and it clouds up and drizzles with a balmy 68, we give them zero love.

So, they say we might get some snow, other places more snow, the mountains lots of snow, in this new storm. We shall see!!! At any rate, it will be fun to watch it all come roaring in.

Remember: be nice to our weather people, their doing the best they can!!!

I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR

2008-12-09T07:38:00.000-08:00

Lights! Parties! Being with friends and family! Buying gifts! GETTING GIFTS!!!!! Cold weather! Chance of snow!

And one of the most awesome things to me about living here in the great Seattle area is on those really cold, clear days....Mt. Rainier is absolutly stunning from the hill we live on!!! Then, when we go to Everett to be with family, Mt. Baker is the biggest snow cone you've ever seen!

Tis the season!!!!

Make Today Count!!
Mark

EXPECTATIONS: DO YOU HAVE SOME?

2008-12-01T16:00:00.000-08:00

Listening to all the bantering back and forth on the radio and reading the different posts, people still possess some expectations for the future of Husky and Seahawk football. I really get a kick out of the whole process.

And I for one, think it is great!!

Why not?

Have some expectations! Have a level that you refuse to dip beneath! In our politically correct, overly sensitive culture where if you say the wrong thing to the wrong person, somebody somewhere will make you believe that the person you tried to get motivated, has lived a horribly stunted life because you made them feel bad and hurt their feelings.

Baloney!

Expectations are good. Expectations are necessary. If you are underachieving, you'd better hope you have people in your sphere of influence that can get into your mental kitchen and rearrange your furniture!

I'm glad my Mom and Dad had expectations for my life. I'm 45 and they still do! I'm totally thankful that I had professors that said I was lousy! I'm glad I've had friends that have said 'you can do better than that!'

Getting mad at my under achieving is a great motivator for me. How about you? Or do you take offense when somebody calls you out for not meeting expectations?

Get fired up! Reach for and hit those expectations! Don't be a wimp or cry when somebody motivates you to do better.

I saw on YouTube the other day an NFL coach get in the grill of a rookie....the mammoth of a man, the player, not the coach started to cry! Give me a break!!

I for one, was a fan of the Lou Pinella school of Major League Managing: if you don't like it, get over it and if you can't get over it, we'll trade your sorry carcass!

Expectations: do you have some?

MTC!!!
Mark

I AM THANKFUL FOR....

2008-11-27T08:29:00.000-08:00

Having Christ in my life
My incredible wife
My two amazing daughters
My wonderful family (mom, dad, brothers and their families, my wife's family)
The amazing people that attend DCC
USA
Excellent health
The ability to give and receive
Food
COFFEEEEEEEE
My great neighbors
My great friends
My home
Automobiles that run
All of the people who have poured into my life the good things that have helped form who I am
And so many, many!!!!

INJUSTICE AND A TURKEY

2008-11-26T06:20:00.000-08:00

I love to hunt!

Now for all of you that don't and you have PETA on your speed dial, just relax!!

One of my favorite things to hunt is wild turkeys. They are smart. Wary. And are a very beautiful bird.

Given this is the eve of Thanksgiving and most of us will be with family and friends eating a farm raised turkey, the mind obviously gravitates to the whole reason for the day and that is...........thankfulness. No, its not just another day off!

Two words have been rumbling in my head lately: thankfulness and injustice.

I get to celebrate and be with family and have a warm home and more food than should be legal and watch football and just enjoy.....everything!

What if that was all gone? Would I have a thankful disposition? What if I was in a place where injustice prevailed and I had no voice, no protection, no help, no governmental assistance? What if I was a child and there were no adults in my life I could trust and in a place where adults used me as chattel, would I be a thankful person?

'Injustice' is not just missing a meal or needing a winter jacket. Injustice is a dark and grievous thing that needs people everywhere to correct the wrong and make it right. It might be in Mexico or Asia or Africa...every continent is touched by it.

I am a very thankful person today....more so because of how injustice has made me focus and a huge need and the help of a turkey to make me pause long enough to really evaluate how blessed I am.

I am asking God what I can do to help destroy injustice.

MTC!

Mark

MANAGER OR LEADER?

2008-11-25T06:41:00.001-08:00

Are you a manager or a leader?

Granted, there are aspects of each that a person utilizes when leading people, but there are some extreme differences as well.

I came across this topic the other day and it jarred me once again. The first time this question was posed to my brain was probably 15 years ago. It really challenged me.

I've never forgot about it.

So when I came upon this once again doing some reading, the query piqued my attention.

Managers- left brain

Leaders- right brain

Basically stated, managers organize and administrate and put systems together and make sure those systems are running and that people are following in them.

Leaders look to the future, the seek new challenges, they invent, they create, they ask tons of questions like 'why' or 'why not'...not to be antagonistic but to define an approach or direction to something or away from something.

Here is a huge difference: Leaders are focused on people. They realize that their greatest asset is not quarterly numbers, but the people that make the organization work!

So what are you?

MTC!
Mark

PRICELESS AND UNCONTAINABLE

2008-11-21T06:37:00.000-08:00

I was checking out the Apple Cup special that was on last night on FSN. It really was pretty cool. The show highlighted the rivalry between UW and WSU on the football field. FSN even broadcasted the 1992, BLIZZARD BOWL. That game was a doozy....snowing sideways, shoveling the field just to see a few lines, snow piles in the end zones, and Mark Brunell and Drew Bledsoe going at it.

It was really cool seeing and listening to Don James (head coach for the University of Washington) and Mike Price (head coach for the Washington State University) talk about that game and their remembrance of the various details was quite vivid.

As I watched them, it struck me how fast 16 years has flown by. My oldest daughter was 3 months old. Now she is one year away from attending either UW or WSU!!

Time is priceless and you can't contain it. It's here and gone. You can't buy more of it and you can't sell any of it. If you try to grab it and store it, you can't. Ask any person who is moving through life and too busy and what would they like more of.....time. Money is good, but time is better. If you have time you can make money. If you have money, you can't buy time. I've known countless people who have much more money than others, but they seem to accomplish less with their time than those who have less dough.

I always end these blogs with MTC.....Make Today Count! We all have the same amount of time. Use it and do good or lose it forever.

MTC!
Mark

NAVIGATING THROUGH THE FOG

2008-11-13T19:00:00.000-08:00

Up here in Washington state, the fog can get really thick! Even though you know exactly where you are and where you are going, when the fog rolls in, it becomes a challenge to find your driveway. For people who live on country roads, they go to great lengths to mark their driveway or lane. Reflectors, barrels with reflective tape, flags, goofy metal works of someone's mental machinations....all to find their way home.

We are all kind of doing that now with the economic fog we all find ourselves in. We know where we are at, but it is a bit tricky trying to get through it all. My heart goes out to the millions who are out of work and to those individuals who have just retired only to find their retirement severely depleted.

When I was a little boy, I couldn't say 'foggy' very well. One morning I was looking out the window and I said, "Momma....it's really hoggy outside." Well, it is a bit hoggy outside for all of us right now as we try to maneuver through these new and interesting times.

This I know for sure: tough times don't last, tough people do! Be strong. Put your hope in God and be tough.

We're going to make it just fine.

Make Today Count!

Mark

TIMING IS EVERYTHING

2008-10-20T10:39:00.000-07:00

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

WHO ARE YOU VOTING FOR?

2008-10-15T16:07:00.000-07:00

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

BILL WAS RIGHT!

2008-10-07T13:39:00.000-07:00

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

MARRIAGE

2008-10-05T07:33:00.000-07:00

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

HOW DO YOU...

2008-10-04T09:32:00.000-07:00

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

DON'T MISS THE POINT!

2008-09-29T11:44:00.000-07:00

I was talking with a friend the other day about some exercise questions. He's quite the workout guru and nutrition expert. He's been doing it for decades. The guy is ripped and if he didn't have a few grey hairs roaming on his head, would look about 50. The guy is pushing 70.

As we were gabbing about the questions I had he made this comment (he's really funny and says what is on his mind): "Listen you dodo, you body is eating itself! You need protein, protein and more protein!"

Suffice it to say, class was in session!

The bottom line was that I am not eating to support the caloric output from the running I do. Pretty obvious when I'm losing weight. So, I'm on an eating binge! Let's see if I can keep from dipping under the buck-fitty class!

It all made me think: you can do the right things, the healthy things, and still miss the mark!

I've never ran in my life. Now I do 4-6 miles a day. I never used to watch what I ate. Now I'm very aware of what I eat.

Being concerned about out well-being is good, but we can make some mistakes by having too narrow a focus instead of seeing the bigger picture. We can do the right things, but miss the point.

For example: we can say we are going to spend more time with our kids, but if we are "with" our kids and always on the cell phone with someone else, we've missed the point.

We can do something with the family, but if we don't make it a 'good' time because we are mentally checked out, we've missed the point.

We can tell our spouse that we love them, but if we have taken them for granted for years, we've missed the point.

My friend told me in no uncertain terms, that if I didn't start eating better, my body had no choice but to eat itself. I thought that was pretty gross, so his direct approach has worked!!!! I am seeing the point!

Sometimes it takes someone else to help us see the point and once you do, what are you going to do about it?

MAKE TODAY COUNT!
Mark

ALBERT @ WALLY'S

2008-09-23T08:15:00.000-07:00

Saturday after Kailee's soccer game, we stopped in at Wally's for a burger and shake. We placed our order and sat down at a table. Next to us was a gentleman and he began talking to me. Usually I start talking to someone, but this guy started in. I really didn't feel like a conversation at the time, but I returned in kind.

At first I couldn't determine if he was just 'simple' or there were deeper issues. He loved sports. He loved hunting. His favorite place to eat was Burger King. Some of his words were difficult to understand. And before long, my entire family was engaged in conversation with this gentleman who loved to talk and loved to laugh.

He has a thriving business. Owns his own home. Doesn't have any family nearby (the closest is in Oregon). He is 62 and looking to retire. His highest level of education: 1st grade. We talked and laughed for an hour.

Some people would view Albert as a person to treat with kindness, but not to be allowed to get too close. I found him to be exhilarating! My kind of guy. Some have said I only have a first grade level of edjubakashun, but boy can I connect with those types!!!! Albert told me the street he lives on....I asked him three times to repeat it. Never did understand him.

Albert has a PhD in discernment. He was as sharp as a tack in areas of life that most people with PhD can't get right. Albert is a very bright person. But at first glance, you would not think that.

I want to find Albert. I want to take him to Burger King and just hang out. Maybe you know him. If you do, let me know where I can find him.

Or maybe, just maybe....Albert was an angel that God knew I needed at that moment. Albert made me laugh and made my family laugh in a way that was rich and deep and fun and honoring and decent and healthy and wholesome. It was cleansing.

God knows what you need and he might just bring an Albert along to give it to you. Accept it.

Thanks God for Albert!

NEW AND IMPROVED!!!!!

2008-09-10T07:23:00.000-07:00

I get a kick every time I see a product with the "NEW AND IMPROVED" title. I always wonder: was it old and lousy before? Maybe its been a great product, but great products just come out with a new line or new flavor or new color schemes. I just looked at an email I received from Apple about their new Nano's and their colors.

In life, sorry to say, we are wired to look for the 'new and improved'. There are times it is appropriate as in replacing an unsafe/cash sucking car or updating your lime green/gum soled/suede slip on loafers! There are other times it is not. I don't need a 'new and improved' marriage or family or good/solid friends. If my marriage is not where it should be, well it might require some work. Same with my family and friendships/relationships.

'New and improved' doesn't mean better and more fulfilling/satisfying. Maybe all we need to do is focus upon that which needs some work and put the needed time and energy into making what we already have, bright and bold and beautiful. It's like a car that needs a good wash and wax: it takes some time and effort, but once that takes place, the car looks fantastic and you feel great about the accomplishment.

MAKE TODAY COUNT!

Mark

RELATIONSHIPS

2008-09-03T09:01:00.000-07:00

I've been doing some research on the topic of relationships. We will be talking on the subject this Sunday. It's really made me stop and evaluate how I'm doing in this area. (Nothing like standing up in front of a bunch of people and using the bible to talk about stuff that I need to grow in!!!! YIKES!) Just because I'm married and have some great friends, does it mean that I've mastered the art of relationships. Terms like 'cultivating, developing, growing, investing' all play a part in whether you and I have good relationships.

We don't need to go through life and be lonely. If we've been burned before in a relationship, it doesn't mean that we cease and desist from developing new ones. We're not talking about marraige, we're talking about relationships with individuals that add value to our days and meaning to our existence.

Whether you like it or not, whether you believe it or not, we were made to have other people in our lives. We are better together. We can accomplish much more together.

Life is fuller when we have a few solid relationships in our lives.

If you need to grow in this area, like me, check out the talk on this Sunday. I'm learning a ton about the stuff I have to work on in my relationships!!!!

Have a great day!!!!

MTC!
Mark

RITES OF FALL

2008-08-30T09:08:00.000-07:00

School starting.

School supplies.

School clothes.

New schedules, classes, teachers, friends.

Sometimes a new school location.

Weather change.

Football.

Soccer.

Hunting.

With school beginning, there is a basic understanding that, even though we have 'done this before', things are new and fresh and a certain level of excitement is in everybody...students and parents alike! Appropriate change is good and healthy. A new school year brings that...for the students. But what about us who are done with the 'going to school' process?

I'm encouraging myself to take this RITE OF FALL season and change and tweak some things in my life that would be positive and helpful and healthy. As the kids face the new challenges of another year, what am I challenging myself with that will grow and develop me?

Maybe you could do the same. Maybe we all could establish as a new RITE OF FALL, some areas that we want to adjust and change and grow in that will deepen us as an individual, family member, and member of our communities.

Pack your lunch and don't be tardy!!!!

MTC!

Mark

BOOKS, BOOKS, AND MORE BOOKS!!

2008-08-27T07:37:00.000-07:00

Over the years and running the course of undergraduate and graduate degrees, I've acquired a few books. Like, too many books. Now, I'm not against books at all. In fact, I really have to be careful because I can fall into the trap of acquiring getting books like Mrs. Marcos and her shoe problem.

I've come to the conclusion that, as fond as I am of many of them, they need to go. They serve no purpose for me now. Yes, that is correct. No purpose. For example: COUNTERPOINT TECHNIQUES.... what in the world am I going to do with that? We're not talking leadership or counseling techniques here, we are talkin' how to write music in a contrapuntal style utilizing the appropriate techniques akin to the style. I'm no Bach!! Enough said. The book is gone.

Now, multiply that by boxes of books that were appropriate then, but insignificant now, and we need FREE THE BOOKS!!!

Besides, if I really need to find something that is of intellectual integrity far beyond my means, I have the internet. (no arrogance intended there, more of a jab at self) It's alot more compact than boxes an boxes of books.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE BOOKS. I love research. But, let's face it, things change and our culture changes and we need to be fluid in that culture.

So for now, the books from the degrees and books that have no real impact are gone! There are books that have tremendous value to me and I still utilize, theywill stay. They've made the cut! But for the other four large boxes of books...they won't even make the practice squad!!!

MTC!
Mark

I GOTTA BRAG!

2008-08-24T19:20:00.000-07:00

I have been blessed with an awesome privilege and honor: I get to pastor an absolutely AMAZING group of people!!!!! What a thrill!

Today we did a deal we call FUNSUNDAY! We did church outside without any service, well, there was lots of service, but what I mean is that I wasn't up infront of everybody flappin' my piehole. Of which, I'm certain, the entire lot of Designer's were ecstatic!!!!

This FUNSUNDAY! deal was all about giving out free backpacks and school supplies as well as jump houses, free food, and lots of fun! Here's where I gotta brag: the awesome, fantastic, amazing, and phenomenal folks of DCC stepped up and drove it out of the park...a grand salami.

We had over 350 people today and you should have seen the wonderful interaction of the DCC crew as they served people and made people feel welcome and just plain served them. I WAS/AM STOKED!!

I am so proud of these awesome people. What a fantastic honor it is to be associated with them!

Thanks for the opportunity to brag!!!!

MTC!
Mark

EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS

2008-08-20T06:47:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we downplay the little bit we do for someone else and I actually believe that in our society, that type of thinking actually keeps us from doing something. We think, "Well, I could do this or that to help, but it's not that much." And we back away from doing something and we do nothing.

There will always be needs. There will always be someone who could use an extra little bit of help. There will always be those who are dying for someone to actually take time and talk with them and let them know they are significant. Every little bit helps.

We need to move away from the thought of being the end all and begin to think one thought: my small investment into that person or situation is multiplied over and over again when others do what I am doing!

I'm really excited for Sunday. We are doing a really fun deal and giving away backpacks to the first 400 kids that come. No talk. No church. Just free food and free backpacks with free school supplies and free bounce-houses and games, because we truly believe that every little bit helps!

THE THRILL OF TEAM

2008-08-19T16:34:00.001-07:00

Life really stinks when you have to do it alone!!! Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a bit of down time from people even though I'm a people person. But to do life or to do ministry or to do a job all by your lonesome, well, it registers a zero on the 'fun' scale!

I was talking to a friend today, Dustin, and we were talking about a new position he has and there are 14 people on his team....everyone a winner!!! He was saying how awesome it is to have great people all going the same direction. No wonder they get so much done! Great teams get great results!!

We were laughing about another time and place where he was trying to do it all by himself and it was really tough. Now he has a great team and the team is accomplishing much!

No matter how talented we are, no matter how gifted we might think we are, no matter how much we read our own press, we still get more done with a team!

I get the greatest thrill from working with teams and seeing the team accomplish more than any one individual ever could dream of accomplishing by herself/himself. We truly are better together!

GO TEAM!!!!

MTC!
Mark

IT HAS FINALLY HAPPENED!

2008-08-12T15:55:00.000-07:00

Demoted. Bumped. Removed. Ejected. Rejected. Rebuked. Denied.

It has finally happened.

I am no longer welcome in the front seat of the car(s). The oldest now has her driver's license and I am relegated to the back row. The view stinks and the air is stale. The two in the front seat are having way too much fun. They get to make all the decisions on what music we endure and what temperature feels good...in the front. I can't hear what they are talking about, and when I ask for a repeat of the last jumbled sentence I get the "Never mind" and the conversation resumes...IN THE FRONT!!!!!

Man, I hate the back seat. I hate not driving. I hate not playing with the knobs and pre-sets. I'm losing control!!!!!

You know what I need, I need grown up sized baby seat. Padded with side dealios so that I can fall asleep and my neck won't get whacked out. They can toss me some cheerios when I start to get cranky and hand me a sippy cup when I whine. No...not filled with wine. I'm getting some clarity here! I need to mellow out and enjoy the ride. Sleep. Wear a diaper. Wait...too much regression on that point. You get the idea.

Anyway, I'm in the backseat for the rest of my life and reverting back to being what they once were won't solve a thing, so I better just kick back and enjoy the ride!

MTC!
Mark

SWEET 16

2008-08-11T11:03:00.000-07:00

I knew this day would come, but not this fast. Come on!! I don't consider myself to be old or getting old or any of that nonsense! So how in the world is my baby, 16 years old today????? Are you kidding me?

What a fantastic, phenomonal, talented, gifted, bright, hard working, God loving and God fearing, gorgeous young woman you are. I'm so proud of you, babe. I can't believe you are 16 today, but I can't deny it either. You make your mom and dad so proud. You inspire me and motivate me to be a better person. You are a tremendous encourager and a very, very strong individual. That was obvious from a very little girl on. You freaked me out when, as a 3 year old you would look at me and say, "Dad, I don't love you." You'd grin as I would try to coax out of you a different response and you would just stare me down with this little, well, Joker grin on your face. Messed me up and you knew it. I love that about you. You are tough. You are tender. You are amazing. You are my baby!!

Happy Sweet 16, babe. I love you more than I could ever say or write.

Dad

LEADERSHIP AND LEARNING

2008-08-08T07:41:00.001-07:00

I've been attending a two day conference in Tacoma on leadership. Willow Creek Association puts it on and simulcasts it around the world. It's called: THE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT. Excellent and qualified speakers from all walks of life and all types of organizations. It is a very challenging and soul searching event.

We wrap it up today and once again I'm reminded of how important leadership is and how important learning is. I need to lead better and learn more. Once we thing otherwise on those two subjects, I believe, we will run into some trouble in life and or the families and companies we lead. If we as individuals can always learn to lead better and to always be learning new things, we will have a much larger impact when we input into the generation below us and our peers around us.

MTC!
Mark

LESS THAN 100%

2008-08-07T07:28:00.000-07:00

This past week I have battled allergies on a grand scale. They have been driving me crazy!!! Tired. Itchy eyes. Scratchy throat. Difficulty in sleeping. Waaa, waaa, waaa!!

You know, when we are not feeling 100%, it puts a bummer on the day. My little allergy spell will go away, but it makes me think about the people who suffer everday, all day long, with physical ailments. They won't get better. They will be in this condition for the rest of their lives...unless God heals them.

Makes me quit complaining and helps me to focus on how wonderful life is and healthy I am. I know I take my health for granted sometimes and I shouldn't. But all it takes is for me to dip below the 100% bar and I really focus on how God has blessed me with great health.

Maybe take a moment and thank God for your great health AND pray for someone who is battling a tough physical condition!

MTC! (make today count)
Mark

STUNNING

2008-08-04T09:22:00.000-07:00

We were at my cousin Brian's wedding last night. What a blast!! Their wedding was an outdoor deal at The Golf Club at Newcastle. It could not have been a nicer day!!

Having never been to the Club, I was unaware of the view. Talk about a view. Cloudless sky. From the Club house you can see the tower at SeaTac Airport, you can see Seattle's skyline, Bellevue's sky line, Lake Washington snake along from Renton to Kirkland, and this was the most amazing thing: you can see the entire range....from the north end to the south end...of the Olympic Mountains. I'm still stunned!!!!

The wedding was spectacular and the view was God crafted!!!! Unbelievable. The sunset was nothing short of perfect. I have never seen this before, but as the sun finally crept behind the Olympics, the last itzy, bitzy part of it as it went down was this intense light....like a laser. Pretty cool stuff.

If you ever get a chance to take a drive on a sunny day or evening, head up there...the view is outrageous!!!! God sure does nice work!

Have an awesome day!!!!

MTC!
Mark

WHAT A WEEK!

2008-08-03T07:17:00.001-07:00

Ok, so here's the deal, last week went like this:
Wednesday- friends in town from Minnesota
Friday- friend in town from Greece
Saturday- cousin's wedding (awesome wedding Meredith and Tommy!); hadn't seen one of my cousins for the past 12 years and was able to re-connect with him (he's lived in Hong Kong for the past two decades), met his wife and stepdaughter.
Today- friends in town from Sacramento and later today, another cousin is getting married!!

I love it!

Have a great day! I'm going to!!!

MTC!
Mark

A GOLDEN GOPHER, GREEK FISHERMAN, AND A CALIFORNIA EYE DOCTOR...

2008-08-01T08:12:00.000-07:00

Sounds like one of those goofball jokes, doesn't it?

What they all have in common is that they are all fantastic friends of ours and they will all be with us this week at different times. What a blast!!!

These exquisite friends are all fantastic people that have impacted my life and the lives of my wife and kids in tremendous ways. I haven't seen the Golden Gopher (Minnesotan) for eight or nine years...the Greek commercial fisherman almost 10 years...and my dear eye doctor friends for over two years.

They have all been in churches we have served and they are some of the finest people God ever made.

So, needless to say it has been culture week at our home and we have laughed ourselves silly!

Thank God for life-long friendships!

Have a super day and stay connected with the important people in your life!!!

Make Today Count! (MTC!)

-Mark

BATTER UP!!

2008-07-28T09:25:00.000-07:00

What a riot!!!

If you don't know this, our church is only 10 months old. We have a great mix of people and one of the guys thought we should have a church softball team....jack and jill! So James put it all together. He coached it. Designed the jerseys. Called practices. The whole nine yards! James, you did an outstanding job, bro!!!!

I was the second oldest player on the team. There were five of us over forty, two guys in their thirties and the other eight players were in their twenties!! We had a blast.

Laughing at each other was mandatory. Encouraging each other was necessary. And winning, well, we played better than .500 ball!

The experience was very fun and quite entertaining. My wife played as well and she had a great time!

I think the best line of the season came from our post 40 year old pitcher as a grounder came rolling by him just out of his reach and I heard him holler: "If that was a cookie, I would have got it!"

That's just beautiful!!!!!!!

MTC!
Mark

Just a little more effort

2008-07-24T16:11:00.000-07:00

In the 100 breaststroke in 2004, as Puyallup's golden girl and two-time Olympic champion Megan Quann, she was out-touched at the wall by rival Tara Kirk of Bremerton to finish third by 11-hundredths of a second at the trials, missing the Olympic team.

Four years later, at the trials earlier this month, Jendrick eked out an Olympic berth by one one-hundredth of a second, beating none other than Kirk.

That's the story from a recent article in the Seattle Times on the two local Olympians. When interviewed further, Megan Quann Jendrick admitted that when the training got tough and she would want to ease up, she would remember the narrow loss by 11-hundredths of a second and she would continue to push herself.

How many times do we just plain quit instead of giving it just a little more effort. Maybe in that 'little bit more' we would find the 'win'. Don't stop. Don't quit. Be a Megan. Come back after four years of training hard and win. Just a little more effort is all it might take!!

MTC!
Mark

INCOMPLETE

2008-07-15T07:34:00.000-07:00

Ever take a class and recieve and 'I'? Incomplete. Well, even though I never have, it feels like I'm getting an 'I' on this blog!!!! I haven't written anything for way too long! Some time away. Hectic schedules. Sometimes not feeling like writing anything.

So, today, I'm revoking the Incomplete and turning in some work!

The funny thing about an incomplete is that if it stays that way for too long, it becomes more than that...like just plain failing. Not finishing, quitting, giving up are all incompletes which ultimatley lead to failure. Sometimes taking a break or catching a breather is necessary, but we should all work towards finishing and finishing well!

I hope you have a FANTASTIC day! Turn the incompletes of your life into completes! Do it today!!! You can do it!!

MTC!
Mark

LAUGHING UNTIL YOU CRY

2008-06-27T06:50:00.000-07:00

I read a blog this week about a guy who had a tryout with one of the NFL team trainers. His objective: to be able to write about the typical tryout with an NFL team in areas speed, agility and strength.

As I began to read his blog, it was obvious by his self deprecating humor, that he was a writer and not an athlete. I was in a public location reading away when I started to laugh. The more I read the louder I laughed and then it hit me.....'I've got my headphones on and music playing and I'm really laughing quite hard.' I quick took a check around me and only a couple of people were glaring at me. I turned off the music and took off the headphones!

The blog only got funnier!

It reminded me of one of our friend's grandaughter. We were with them and her little daughter began to laugh. She laughed so hard that after a minute or so of laughing she started to cry. She would laugh and then cry. When everything settled down, we asked her why she was crying she said that her tummy and face hurt from laughing so much!

It's good to at least once a day (better if more), that you bust a gut laughing at something or someone. Be nice, but go for it! Ever notice how laughing is contagious? The bible says that laughter is like medicine. Researchers have noted that people who laugh and laugh often are healtheir than those who don't!

My suggestion: laugh until you cry!

MTC!
Mark

RED SCHWINN WITH THE CHOPPER HANDLEBARS

2008-06-20T12:57:00.000-07:00

For my birthday in 1972, I received from my mom and dad a shiny, brand new, red body, white metallic seat, a big fat slick for the back tire Schwinn bycycle with the big chopper handle bars. I thought I had hit the big time!!!

That bike received major use! It took me to football practice, baseball practice, the local fishing ponds, to my friends and towed home-made hydros made out of plywood that we would drag up and down our street! Too many good times to count and far too many care-free moments to remember.

Today, yes today, I sold it in a garage sale. Kinda weird. Both tires were flat. The seat cracked and torn. The guy that bought it thought he was pulling a fast one by getting such a great deal. He hit the jackpot! I already had.

Getting the bike, for that fella, was a grand coup. But the reality is that there is no way to put a price tag on the years of fun the bike gave me. You couldn't put a price tag on how grateful I am, these many years later, for my mom and dad sacrificing to get me such a cool bike.

I hope the guy fixes it up and makes it look shiny and new once again. Maybe he'll re-sell it and make a few bucks.

The red Schwinn with the chopper handlebars is now history, but the good times on Robinhood Land riding my bike will always bring a smile to my face.

If only everything we possess could bring us that much joy!

Enjoy what you have and make great memories with it!!!!

MTC!
Mark

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!

2008-06-18T09:09:00.000-07:00

School's out! Unbelievable!! Remember how when you were a kid and the school year took forever? Now as parents we understand much better the phrase our parents would say: 'I can't beleive where the time went?'

I believe it now!!!

Time they say is our most precious commodity (well, now that gas is $4.37 a gallon we could debate that one!!). And we all know that once its gone, its truly gone. Things happen in moments. Learning to cherish the moments while focusing on the big picture of the day or week or month or year can at best, be a huge challenge. I'm trying to focus on moments more than the macro image in life. In other words, taking each day and absorbing mentally and physically and emotionally the varied and unique moments versus just looking at the 'to-do' list for today.

I, like my parents would often say, can't believe where the time goes and the end of the school year just seems to highlight that even more. BUT....the good news is that today is here and there will be great things that will happen and you and I need to be ready to seize those moments!!!

So, instead of trying to figure out where the time whent, add up the awesome moments of today!

MTC!
Mark

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

2008-06-14T10:14:00.000-07:00

Hey all you dads out there....HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

Being a dad is one of highest honors we could ever have. What we do with that honor is up to us. We can wear it well or we can misplace it or we can neglect it or we can shine it up and polish it and make it bright and beautiful.

Listen, don't live in guilt if you feel that you have not met the standards you had hoped for in being a father. Rather, START NOW! You can do it! The game isn't over. There's lots of time on the clock. Begin today!!!

If you are doing well in this area of being a dad, right on! Keep going! Don't slack off!!!

Being a great dad has nothing to do with giving your kids all the latest and the greatest, but rather, focusing on them as individuals and helping meet their needs in each area of their lives. As we help our kids grow into potential packed young adults by giving them love and encouragement and boundaries and relationship and a solid spiritual foundation, we will have done well!

Go for it dad!! You are so very important to your kids!!!

MTC!
Mark

HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH

2008-06-12T16:36:00.001-07:00

I bought a new running watch. Totally nuts. The thing has a barometer and altimeter on it. Tells you the temperature outside. It syncs to the computer and in no time flat puts out what you just ran, how fast, how far, heart rate, average heart rate, oxygen consumption, etc.

HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH?

As if I need to know all that (which begs the ? why did I buy it in the first place!!).

The watch is really, really cool. It is a great help in my running. But, man, I can't believe how much stuff is on it. It will take me some time to get the most out of it.

I probably stepped up and out of my league on this one, but I am using it and learning how to use it better and it has already helped in my daily running routine.

What's the lesson here: absolutely nothing, just letting you know about my new watch!!!!!

RELATEABLEVANTCY

2008-06-06T05:53:00.000-07:00

Terminology changes all the time. Phrases become obsolete. Words come in and out of vogue. The word 'cool', was something we said in the '70's and it has been back now for a number of years.

Relate, Relevant are two words that on the surface, may not appear to connect. You hear alot about being relevant. You hear alot about relationship.

In our culture there is a huge need for both: being about connecting in meaningful and positive ways with other people and being connected with what is happening 'now' in the most sensible and positive manner.

The rub comes when relationship and relevance twist and contort into a pressure packed, either or scenario.

When relationships become pressured, they don't work. When someone or some place or some group tries too hard to be relevant or hip, it comes off contrived and superficial.

If we can sing at the top of our lungs each day the phrase "I gotta be me!", and if everyone of us did that, relatability and relativity would rise. Being authentic with self and to life (another word) promote relateablevantcy.

MTC!
Mark

MEASURABILITY

2008-06-05T16:13:00.000-07:00

I read some rather jaw-dropping stats today. Check these out.

Tiger Woods
$111,941,827

Oscar De La Hoya
$55,000,000

Phil Mickelson
$51,256,505

Shaquille O'Neal
$35,000,000

Kobe Bryant
$33,718,750

Between salary/winnings and endorsements, that is what the aforementioned gentlemen made last year.

Interesting. The decimal point is at the end of the numbers. We're talking millions. We're talking playing games and punching someone.

What is the measureable worth of someone to something?
How valuable are you to your kids?
How valuable are you to your spouse?
How valuable are you to God?

I would say your measurable worth to your family and to God is much greater than the numbers listed above. You are worth more than a few hundred million per year. You are irreplaceable, invaluable, and worth far more than any team or corporation could pay.

Players come and players go, but there is only one of you and you are the most important person in quite a few people's lives!

MTC!
Mark

REMEMBERING

2008-05-23T09:04:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day weekend. What big plans do you have? Any? Regardless of whether you are out enjoying the lake or camping or just getting together with friends, take a brief moment and reflect, yes I said reflect, think about those loved ones of your's that have passed away. Remember the good times. Ignore the bad ones. Take the good.

Remembering during this weekend, the tens of thousands who have given their life and their efforts over the decades to preserve and secure our freedoms, is always appropriate. It should never be considered an awkward or 'old school' experience when we pay tribute to men and women who have served our country in the armed forces. It's a matter of respect. Honor. Dignity.

Remembering the price others have paid so that we didn't have to, should always be at the front of our mind.

If you know a veteran, tell them thank you. If you have a relative who has served, tell them thank you. If you don't know of anyone, call your local VFW hall and you can get a list of names pretty quick in the city you live.

Remembering and giving thanks keeps life real.

MTC!
Mark

PGF

2008-05-20T14:24:00.001-07:00

We talked on Sunday about THE FOUNDATION OF FIDELITY AND TRUST and how important it is in our families.

You need to listen to it!

So, last night I'm checking in on the score of the Spurs/Hornets game and I swing past Dr. Phil and I hear him say the word 'fidelity'. So I quickly hit the clicker brakes and backed up. Wouldn't you know it, he was talking to a couple about Fidelity and Trust!!!! Maybe you saw it.

I watched for about 10 minutes and was blown away by how jacked up this marriage was due to infidelity and distrust. It made me very sad.

When we PUT GOD FIRST in our lives, everything else works out. Sure, as a Christ follower, we blow it and make mistakes. We're all flawed, but when we attempt to live our lives with God taking priority in our lives, fidelity and trust works and life is much better.

Fidelity and Trust won't resolve every tension in life, but it will make for a home that is filled with live and acceptance. Try it, you'll like it!!

MTC AND PGF!!!
Mark

HERD STATUS AND A DODGE PICKUP

2008-05-19T08:26:00.000-07:00

Herds meander along. Herds run when one starts to run. Herds stop when the one in front stops.

Have you ever noticed how many times you do something just because the people in front of you or around you are doing the same thing? For instance, when you are in a crowd, most everyone just follows the person in front of them. How many times have you been in traffic and you just keep creeping along and then it dawns on you, "The other lane has been going by me quite a bit faster and for quite some time! Maybe I should get out of this lane and move over one."

I saw something this morning that made me think about this whole 'herd status' deal.

In the mornings I travel a certain road and there is always a back up at a certain four way stop (four stop signs). About a mile from the stop sign, I noticed a Dodge pick-up with two high school guys trying to get onto the road I was traveling. I went by and paid zero attention to them. As usual, there was probably a 15 car back up at the four way stop.

When I was about four cars back from the stop sign, I looked at the stop sign on my left and noticed the two boys in their truck taking a left and started down the road I was on!

They didn't follow the herd!

Well done dudes!!!

They veered left when the herd (me included) stayed right. They added two turns to their route, but beat all of the herd by a long shot!!!

It has never crossed my mind to take the other road. Not anymore.

Life is like that. Most everyone follows the herd. The herd defines the status quo. The herd determines what the herd will do, where it will go, what it will accomplish.

Few are the herd busters and status quo smashers.

The four minute mile was unheard of until Roger Bannister broke it and then everybody started running sub-four miles.

Climbing Mt. Everest seemed improbable and ridiculous until Sir Edmund Hilary ascended it.

Think about other areas in life and in human history where people said 'it can be done' while the herd is off talking about how silly the people are who are defying herd status.

Mind over matter. Heart over opinions. The road less traveled.

There are different and better ways to do some things that have always been done a certain way by the herd.

Thank you Dodge pick-up!

MTC!
Mark

WHAT A DAY!

2008-05-17T09:18:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's weather couldn't have been more perfect! It was stunningly gorgeous!

We took in the Mariner's game last night with some kids from the church and even when the sun went down, it stayed warm. How sweet it is! Now, if the Mariners could have played a bit better...

Today is going to be another beauty so enjoy it. Enjoy everything you do today and just imagine if instead of it being sunny and warm, it was 57 and drizzling!

It's ok to sweat.

MTC!
Mark

WHAT A GREAT DAY!

2008-05-12T16:09:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was absolutely fantastic!!!

After having a fabulous morning at church (big crowd, awesome people, loads of fun), we headed up to spend the rest of the day with Karen's mom and later my mom. It was all wonderful!

I was talking on the phone today with one of our leaders and she had mentioned how they had spent the day with their daughter who lives in Seattle and how much fun they had. Another great day!

I talked with a buddy of mine who lives in Cali today and he said yesterday was great as well. Of course 85 degrees and celebrating Mother's Day guarantees a great day!!!

All in all, it was great celebrating moms and then being able to celebrate with my mother in law and my mom made for a great day!!!

Great days are good!!!

MTC!
Mark