MitchTheFielder

The Real Jesus?

2011-12-04T21:00:00.000-05:00

I grew up in going to church every week (Sunday, Wednesday, special events, etc.). I also went to a Christian junior college and a Christian university. During which time I have realized that there is a subversion of Christianity in many churches today. There is also a spiritual sub-culture alive and well in the churches today. We have seemed to create a more “marketable and consumer friendly” Jesus, and as a church we have removed the real Jesus and replaced him with our versions that allow us to do what we choose.

"We (the church) have created a phenomenal subculture with our own media, entertainment, educational system, and political hierarchy so that we have the sense that we're doing a lot. But what we've really done is create a ghetto that is easily dismissed by the rest of society." Bob Briner, Roaring Lambs

My challenge to you is to do an image search on Jesus and see how many different versions pop up. Even a few years ago a new Jesus made it on the news, it was the “homeboy” Jesus. However in most churches we have a picture of an effeminate Jesus hanging in the “Sunday School” classrooms.
The most disturbing image that I came across was “The Republican Jesus.” What is sad is that this is the way most church goers view Jesus. In fact the Jesus pictured to the right seems to give a thumbs up for you to sit in the pew and judge.

This “Republican Jesus” tells you to focus on your needs and wants. Are you being fed? What is the church doing to serve you? Are there enough programs for you and your family? Is the music too old or too new? Do I like the way this pastor speaks, is he too liberal or conservative? WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?

So now with this Jesus you can live quit comfortably in suburbia, and God forbid anyone make any changes to the worship service you like. You can live in suburbia, play church, go to the programs and never worry about the needs of those around you or around the world.
“Church Marketing” and our consumerist attitudes are killing the church from within. We took the real Jesus out a long time ago, and we keep replacing the real Jesus with the Jesus we can live with for the moment.

"It is my contention that the church is almost a nonentity when it comes to shaping culture." Bob Briner, Roaring Lambs

So I challenge you, since we are celebrating Christmas, what does your Jesus look like? Who’s birth are you celebrating this month?

There is a passage in Revelation that is almost always used out of context. It is Revelation 3:20. For those who do not have it memorized the passage says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. . .” If you read the entire passages he is talking to the church, specifically The Church in Laodicea. Most of the time we paint the picture of Jesus getting the attention of the unbeliever, but this is talking to the church. Read these words and tell me that you do not see a different picture painted.

¹⁴"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. ¹⁵I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. ¹⁷You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. ¹⁸I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. ¹⁹Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. ²⁰Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. ²¹To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. ²²He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." Revalation 3:14-22

So the question remains, why is Jesus knocking on the door of the church? Is he knocking on the door of your church? Are you going to let him in or keep him locked out? How did you get him outside anyway?
So again, which Jesus’ birth are you celebrating this month?

The Jesus that I read about and know has a bleeding heart, he loves everyone, every race, every creed, everybody! The Jesus I read about is anti-establishment and anti-bureaucratic, he spent time with people that most of us would shun, he had radical and strange ideas. He lived in the culture and affected culture. He was everything that the church in Suburbia America hates, he would make most of us uncomfortable.

Random Thoughts on the Christmas Season

2011-12-02T13:42:00.000-05:00

Whew! You made it through Thanksgiving and that busy first weekend of shopping. How was it? Looking ahead you now only have 3 weeks until Christmas. So how do we make it through this season and get the most out of it? Here are some random bits from my head, think of it as an early Christmas present.

Random Bits From My Head to Yours

1. If you find yourself arguing with your spouse, you could be arguing about money. Most arguments in marriage seem to stem from finances. This is heightened during the holiday season. The reason is because a lot of us are spending money that we simple do not have, and the dreaded credit card bill will tell us that in January. A simple solution is only buy what you can afford and do not use credit cards. Make a budget for what you want to spend for Christmas. Need help starting a budget? Go to Dave Ramsey’s website where they are offering the Gazelle Budget Lite http://www.daveramsey.com/tools/budget-lite/

2. You are not responsible for the happiness of the other people around you. It may be time that you start letting your spouse, family, extended family, and friends take responsibility for their own happiness. You are responsible for you and they are responsible for them. Don’t get caught up on trying to do everything in the world to make others happy. You can never make 100% of the people in your life 100% happy 100% of the time.

3. That brings me to this: Do not confuse giving and pleasing. We too often associated giving with physical presents this time of year. However, there are many more opportunities to give this time of the year and during the rest of the year. You give out of the kindness of your heart, you give your time, money, resources or other gifts. It feels good because you did it and it was yours to give, something that you had been blessed with that you are sharing. When you try to please others (see Random bit #2) you begin chasing what will make that other person happy. That can be quite elusive. In the process you lose a piece of yourself and some of your time. You become resentful and you do not feel the same way as you do when you truly give. When we are attempting to please someone it usually has to do with our personal self-esteem. We think if we can please someone it will make us loveable.

4. Spend more time with friends and family, because those experiences can’t be bought and they will last. I can remember a few gifts here and there, but I can’t say that that was a great Christmas because I got this gift. In fact, Christmas day is the icing on the cake for the season. The experiences that you have with friends and family will last a lifetime (unless your memory gets wiped or you become senile, but I digress) and you will think back to those times and remember, the gifts will become secondary and fuzzy.

5. During the season you need to plan special experiences and events. On Thanksgiving this year I got to take my wife to see the lighting of Macy*s Great Tree in Atlanta. It was her first time to see it in person and it will be a memory that we’ll have forever. You need to see what is going on around you and plan special experiences. It can be as simple as filling a mug with hot cider or cocoa, bundling up, and walking through the neighborhood to look at the lights.

6. Don’t have money to buy the latest electronic gift? Make a sentimental gift instead. Make something special that will mean something more than the universal remote that controls the lights, TV, DVD, Apple TV, etc. Get creative, make a picture calendar of the family. It will last longer and mean more in the long run.

7. A personal favorite of mine is to cook more. For some people this just adds more stress, for others it’s fun and relieves stress. This also can create an experience that will last forever. Make candy cane cookies, make an apple pie, make chocolates, and do it with someone you love. You will create something together and you will make a memory.

8. Be more giving. We all should be as generous all year round, but the season is the best time of year to learn how to be a cheerful giver. Give of your time, give more of yourself, if you have the resources give to someone in need. You will begin to learn that you can never out give God.

9. Smile more, give out more hugs, tell those you love that you love them. Again, no better time to get into a new habit. Hugs, smiles and I love yous relieve stress as well.

10. Begin practicing random acts of kindness, generosity, and pay it forward. Let that person have that parking spot even though they put your name on that spot. Give the server at the restaurant an extra big tip. Pay for the person’s latte behind you at Starbucks. You know that sort of thing. You will never know this side of life what impact you may have had.

So my approach to the “Most Wonderful Time of the Year?” Don’t shop as much. Don’t give into the hustle and bustle that is created at the malls every weekend. Stop shopping all the time and start giving more and creating memories that will last. You will be surprised at what happens, you will have the merriest and happiest Christmas of all. “You can never out give God.” Memories and your generosity are cherished. . .the newest gadget will be outdated next year.

Steve Jobs Seven Rules For Success

2011-10-18T10:00:00.000-04:00

I have alwayslooked at Walt Disney as an inspirational figure in my own life. Walt Disneywas innovative and his dreams and ideas still shape culture and entertainment.For a while now I have compared Steve Jobs to Walt Disney. Funny thatPixar would not be here if it was not for Steve Jobs and Walter Elias Disney.

Steve Jobs has hada major impact on our lives and most everyone feels his impact daily. Heimpacted computers, movies, music, TVs, and your mobile phone.

The cornerstone toSteve Jobs' success was what is called “Steve Jobs 7 Rules forSuccess/Innovation.” Here is my take away from his principles and hopefullythey can be used to unlock the dreamer in all of us.

1. Do What You Love. Passion in life is everything. If you arenot passionate about what you do you are wasting your time. Steve Jobs said,“People with passion can change the world for the better.” Jobs also once saidthis, “I would get a job as a busboy or something until I figured out what Iwas really passionate about.” Passion is that important and I address that inthis blog post

2. Put A Dent In The Universe. Vision is crucial. Without vision a people die. There is one thingthat you can never loose sight of, and that is a clear vision. Steve Jobswanted a computer that could be used personally everyday, which spurred thecreation of The Macintosh. I am currently writing this from a MacBook. Neverloose vision.

3. Make Connections. "Creativity is connecting things.” -Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs believedthat people with a broad set of life experiences can and will see things thatno one else does. Jobs believed that you shouldn’t live in a bubble, that youcan connect ideas from different fields. Did you know that Steve Jobs took acalligraphy course? What would seem to have no practical application wouldactually spur creativity on the Macintosh, the first computer with beautifulfonts!

4. Say NO to 1000Things. This is two fold. Say no to over expanding yourself and do what you cando great. When Jobs came back to Apple in 97 the company had 350 products. Intwo years they would only have 10 products and the best talent could focus onmaking those things great. Jobs also said no to clutter and wanted simplicity.Simplicity is what makes Apple products so popular. On an iPad there is onlyone button on the front and there is no built in keyboard on a iPhone. Anythingthat would clutter the user experience was eliminated.

5. Create InsanelyDifferent Environments. When hefirst came up with the concept for the Apple Stores, he said they would bedifferent because instead of just moving boxes, the stores would enrich lives.Everything about the experience you have when you walk into an Apple store isintended to enrich your life and to create an emotional connection between youand the Apple brand. The Apple Stores make more moneyper square foot than most any other retailer including many luxury brands andthey’re packed morning to night. The average stores sees 17,000 visitorsa week!

6. Master The Message. You may have the best idea,best product whatever. If you cannot communicate your ideas it really doesn’tmatter. Like Walt Disney, Steve Jobs was a master storyteller. Instead of simply delivering a presentation like mostpeople do, he informed, he educated, he inspired and he entertained, all in onepresentation.

7. Sell Dreams, Not Products. An ideathat Walt Disney and Jobs share. Jobs and Disney captured our imaginationbecause they understood the customer. Jobs knew that if a tablet was toocomplicated we wouldn’t buy. Thus we have an iPad, so simple a toddler coulduse it. Customers don't care about products. They care about themselves, theirhopes, their ambitions. Jobs and Disney taught us that if you help yourcustomers reach their dreams, you'll win them over.

To sum it up, DREAMBIG! See genius in your craziness, believein yourself, believe in your vision, and be constantly prepared to defend thoseideas.

The Butterfly Circus

2011-10-13T14:46:00.001-04:00

"The greater the struggle, the greater the triumph!"

Protest to Praise

2011-09-22T21:57:00.001-04:00

"I knew the times would come and now the times have landed,

With stinging abrasion As ready as I seem to be
It's never like I planned it."

We have all gone through times where things didn't go our way, or they didn't go the way we planned it. However, God uses these situations to grow us and to show us a little more of who He is. Our timing is not His timing, our thinking is not His thinking. Sometimes God will not make any sense to us. In those situations it is important to cry out until you go from "Protest to Praise."

Beyond Anything I Can Conceive

2011-09-14T15:26:00.000-04:00

Today marks the birthday of my grandmother Bonnie Fielder, lovingly called Maw Maw by all of her grandchildren.

A while ago in college someone told me that losing a loved one to death is something that you never get over, you learn to cope. That was told to me the Spring before my grandmother left us after a Chadasha concert in Dickson, TN.

At that time I never imagined that I would learn what that meant in just a few short months. Yes, I am living my life and have learned to cope. There are times however when those feelings feel fresh and every bit as real as they did when I learned that I would be loosing my grandmother.

I would be lying if I said , early on, that I wasn't mad at God. It hurt and I could not imagine why God would take my grandmother from our family. There are things that I will never understand on this side of heaven. That's where my faith kicks in, a faith that was evident in my grandmother and has been passed down to her kids and grand-kids.

My feelings still to this day are echoed in these lyrics:

"God, I know, it's all of this and so much more

But, God you know, this is what I am aching for

God, You know, I just can't see beyond that door

But in my mind's eye I can see a place

Where your Glory fills every empty space

ALL THE CANCER IS GONE

Every mouth is fed

And there's no one left in the orphan's bed

Every lonely heart finds there one true love

And there's no more goodbye

And no more not enough

And there's no more enemy

No More

God, I know it's so much more than I can dream

It's far beyond anything I can conceive

So God, You know, I'm trusting you until I see

Heaven in the face of my Maw Maw."

-Taken from Heaven is the Face by:Steven Curtis Chapman

I will always have questions here. I learned of God on flan-o-grams in church as a kid, but God is much different than that. God has become so much more real now, but so much more mysterious. I find life to be much harder than I planned sometimes, like when I had to say goodbye to my grandmother. How could a God that is so good and strong, let my family feel so much pain. I knew He was there, He never turns His head. I know that He knows my heart and I know that He cried a thousand more tears that my family has cried and I genuinely get confused by the mystery surrounding my God. However, it gives me comfort in knowing how deeply He cares.

For reasons I can't understand right now, my Father knows best. I pray that when I feel these feelings and remember the pain, that He breathes His life and love in me. . .and at that moment all the great memories of times with my Maw Maw come flooding back. I know that she is in a better place now and I begin to look at the legacy that she has left in the face of her children, grandchildren and now a great-grandson.

I didn't plan on writing this post today. I began to write and this is what came out.

MitchTheFielder. . .Returning

2011-09-12T18:10:00.000-04:00

Admit it. . .you thought that I gave up blogging. Nope, I'm back. After a much needed break I am back. During the time I have had time to reflect, read, write, and grow. So I am back to blogging, I hope you enjoy the postings.

Somewhere we know that without silence words lose their meaning, that without listening speaking no longer heals, that without distance closeness cannot cure – Henri Nouwen

Discontentment

2011-04-22T08:30:00.000-04:00

Can discontentment be good? Can discontentment be bad? What happens when we are discontent because we don't have enough stuff? What if we are discontent because what we make is never enough?

What Leadership is not About

2011-03-23T11:44:00.002-04:00

Leadership Isn’t About A Title

A lot of times people wait to lead because they believe they are not in a leadership role. Companies and organizations do a lot to foster this type of thinking, calling certain positions leadership roles. Most people believe that with position comes power and people will begin to listen what you have to say. Truth is, leadership at its core is the ability to influence others to convince them to follow you. A title may force people to obey what you say, but it doesn’t make you a leader.

“Most people who want to get ahead do it backward. They think, ‘I’ll get a bigger job, then I’ll learn how to be a leader.’ But showing leadership skill is how you get the bigger job in the first place. Leadership isn’t a position, it’s a process.” – John Maxwell

It’s Really Not About Being Liked

The people that you lead like to change their minds A LOT. If a great leader bases his decisions based on popular opinion you’ll have to change course every time the wind blows. Leaders have to make difficult decisions and do things that are not popular for the greater good of those who follow. Leaders must be willing to make difficult decisions.

“I've never found an important decision made by a great organization that was made at a point of unanimity. Significant decisions carry risks and inevitably some will oppose it. In these settings, the great legislative leader must be artful in handling uncomfortable decisions, and this requires rigor.”—Jim Collins

It is way more important to be respected instead of liked. Anybody with any type of pleasant disposition can get others to like him or her, if you’re a leader you need to be more concerned about earning respect.

It’s Not About Being A Dictator

When you choose to ignore the advice of others, and you choose to ignore the concerns of the people you lead you are a dictator. You cannot always lead with your gut instinct. If you do this you will make the right choices a handful of time, but your stubbornness will catch up to you.

You as a leader cannot go it alone. You have to surround yourself with people that can give you valuable insight and wisdom. If I have learned anything it’s that a leader doesn’t always have answers, but they do know where to find them.

It’s Not About Success

It’s about your failures and how you handle them. We often overlook leader’s failures and focus on their successes. In reality being a leader is risky business. Every decision has the ability to change things for the worse. When a leader makes a decision they need to remember that failures are a much better teacher than success. A great leader will point out their successes, but they will recount their failures as a defining moment that helped them grow.

“A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to

profit from them, and strong enough to correct them. “ –John C. Maxwell

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Get Balanced

2011-03-22T12:15:00.002-04:00

New Day, New Year

2011-01-01T09:00:00.000-05:00

It’s the first morning of 2011. There you are sitting in front of your computer, sipping your favorite brew, and catching up on your social networking. It really hasn’t hit you that today is the first day of the new year. It hasn’t quite sunk in that time is up on the “New Year’s Resolutions” that you made last year. In fact, you may not have even realized that you have not accomplished one of those pesky resolutions. The intentions were there, but the effort was not. The thoughts and dreams were there, but the motivation was not.

So now you are getting a little angry thinking about resolutions. The thought goes off in the back of your head, “This year will be different, I will make this year count.” You dream those dreams, you have goals and things you would like to accomplish. You know this year you will get the motivation to do the things you say you are going to do. Maybe this year. . .

We have all been there, we have all made “New Year’s Resolutions.” We just know at the beginning of every year that this will be the year that we will soar to new heights. Odds are, you are making the same resolutions and setting the same goals that you did last year. At the end of 2010 you will make the same resolutions and goals again. What’s wrong, where’s the drive and the motivation.

I know, some of you are saying to me that life gets in the way. Unexpected curves get in the way. Yes, life does happen and we fall down. In Batman Begins, Thomas Wayne tells young Bruce Wayne, “Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves up.” So, we fall, we get up and we learn.

The problem is that most of us get frustrated and stop. Some curve ball comes our way and we want to get out of the batter’s box. Charles Swindoll says it this way, “I believe the single most significant decision I can make on a day-to-day basis is my choice of attitude. It is more important than my past, my education, my bankroll, my successes or failures, fame or pain, what other people think of me or say about me, my circumstances, or my position. Attitude keeps me going or cripples my progress. It alone fuels my fire or assaults my hope. When my attitudes are right, there is no barrier too high, no valley too deep, no dream too extreme, no challenge too great for me.”

I hope that at the dawn of this new year, you take to heart that, “If you can dream it, you can do it.” (Walt Disney) God created you to be a dreamer, He created you to take risks. As I have to keep telling my self; when you step out, you will either find a place to step or He will teach you to fly. Each day is a new beginning, you can choose to change everyday, not just at the beginning of the new year.
Happy New Year everyone!

What We Should Be Thankful For

2010-11-20T07:21:00.000-05:00

It’s Thanksgiving again, I posted this last year and I thought I would re-post it again this year.

I think Thanksgiving has become a day to feast and watch football. So I am going to do my best in this post to talk about what I am most thankful for. No, I am not going to get all sentimental and cheesy. Stay with me and you may like this post.

What I am most thankful for in my life is my marriage. My marriage means so much and teaches me truths I would not have known unless I was married.

What I love most about my marriage is how simple it is. Stay with me and I will explain.

So Mitch, how is marriage simple?
Saying how simple my marriage is sounds strange and may even be kind of an oxymoron. Our marriage did not start simple and it has never lacked complexity. However we get better at marriage every year that we are together. We have simply realized that we only have so much time and energy in each day. We have only been trusted with a certain amount of money as well. It is important to us how we budget and spend the resources that God has trusted us with. That was a simple reality that has changed the way we live our lives together and in the real world.

But life is so hectic sometimes and it’s hard to find balance.
Life can be hectic and can quickly find its way out of balance. You have to work to get things back into balance. During our first year or so of marriage we worked hard and did not have as much time together as we would have liked. My wife and I work outside of the home and both of our jobs can sometimes cause us to work longer hours than normal. However we’ve learned to make it a point to spend time together and put it on our calendars.

We also have different personalities, but a lot of the same interests which make spending time together so enjoyable. We both love cooking together, music, travel, sports, great food, and we love talking about things that matter to each of us. Our values also align, which is so important, and we still make each other laugh and smile.

What’s so important about marriage that your are writing a whole post on it?
What is important about a marriage is it is the only relationship in the world that can show the love between God and His bride. We all can look at marriages and learn. We have the ability to explore the mysteries of God in marriage.

One thing that I have learned in marriage, that I hope other people can learn, is that marriage is not always equal (you give 50%, I give 50%). Sometimes one partner will be carrying a heavier load than the other. Sometime you will carry a heavier load. The point is to be a support for your spouse and to sometimes make sacrifices for your spouse. Sometimes you will have to give 90% of yourself. But you know what? You bring out the best in each other, and your support and giving love is the way to do that.

If you are giving of yourself and your spouse is giving of themselves, you will begin to model a “how-to” do this thing called marriage and not a “how-not-to” to your kids and grandkids.

All that to say this:
As we enter the Holiday Season, be thankful for your loved ones and your marriages. Even if you are not in a marriage, every relationship gives you chance to be thankful and a chance to give of yourself to them.

It’s important to realize that your life does not belong to you. It belongs to the one who gave the ultimate sacrifice, and you are here to give of yourself and leave your mark. You were given gifts and talents to give of yourself.

It is important to give of yourself. It is important to have relationships and to give selflessly to those relationships. It is not possible to have a fulfilling life without having open arms to give to others. If you close up and decide not to give of yourself (which is pretty selfish), and you decide to go it alone, you will find anything that you get from life will be meaningless.

You and I were made for relationships. We were made for God and for each other. We need each other. So remember what you should be truly thankful for this Holiday Season, the relationships with your husband/wife, your children, your family, your friends.

All this because when you give, you will have so much more to be thankful for. That’s how simple it really is!

The Problem With Your Thinking

2010-08-25T10:47:00.003-04:00

It has been a long while since I have posted on MitchTheFielder. Most of why I have not posted is because of my new career path and I have not had much time to write. Most of my free time I used to spend with my wife. So I will begin to post again, but I will probably take a break from writing again sometime in May of 2011.

This year has been quite an adventure to say the least. My wife and I took the biggest risk that we have taken during our five years of marriage. It has been rewarding and very challenging at times. We have had times where we have learned hard lessons to trust the plan of the One who has brought us this far. We are still learning those lessons. It may even sound cheesy given the industry that I am in, but this year has been a “roller coaster” ride with many up and downs.

Yesterday got me thinking about all that we have been through, all that I have seen. I thought about where I have been, where I am now, and where I am going. There is a problem with the way that I think when I am in the middle of a situation, as there is a problem with the way you think in the middle of a situation.

The problem with the way we think is when we are in a good situation we think that it is better than it really is, when we are in a bad situation we think that it is worse than what it really is. You can see this in our current economic state. During the good time we built a housing market and we thought buying real estate was a sure bet and you could never go wrong buying real estate, thus we created the “Housing Bubble.” We did the same with the “Tech Bubble.” Now in the recession people think recessions last forever, the don’t. People are so scared and letting fear control their every move.

That’s the problem with the way we think. Fear is a motivating factor and we let fear control us. “For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jer 29:11 NLT).

I have seen many people get on roller coasters for their first time. They start up that lift and are scared to death. When they come back they want to do it again. Why? Because they enjoyed the journey, they enjoyed the ups and downs. They learned that the long climb to the top was a part of the journey that they must take.

Enjoy the journey, enjoy the miracle of the moment. Know that where you are now is not permanent. Keep on keepin’ on.

When It’s Done, It’s Done. . .

2010-04-20T09:33:00.000-04:00

What do you do when you look back in the past and then have regrets? Why do you look back and say “What if or if only?” Looking at the past with regrets makes you inefficient, it is not what you were made for. Look forward, remembering the past and what you learned. Life is like a race. If you look behind in a race you cannot see what is in front of you and you could fall down. You also loose efficiency in running if you look behind you and someone could pass you.

It’s true that you could have spent more time on things that were more important. It’s true that you could have done more things that mattered, but that is not where you were then. Focus on the future and make a plan and follow that path. You grow with each day, different things are revealed each day.

“When a thing is done, it's done. Don't look back. Look forward to your next objective.”
-George C. Marshall

As Dave Ramsey says, that is the difference between children and adults. . .adults formulate a game plan and execute it.

KEEP MOVING FORWARD, time is not waiting on you.

The Night is Darkest Before the Dawn

2010-03-31T09:00:00.000-04:00

In our culture we seem to be fed lies and we seem want to ingest more and more of the lies that are spilled each day. We seem to believe if we just have the right faith and pray the Prayer of Jabez we will live fully blessed and rich lives. We will get that front row parking spot because we “have the faith.” We will be given promotions and riches because we have the right faith.

I hate to admit it, but at times I ingest the lies, especially when it comes to my personal success. I seem to get hung up on the past and compare it to where I am right now. I think that when there is a period of no growth, or I feel like I am moving backwards, that I do no have the right faith. I must not be praying hard enough. I seem to think that every open door will lead to something I perceive as better than before.

What I have experienced in life is contrary to what is being marketed to the world. I will walk through a door and it slams shut behind me only to find the next door is locked. So I then sit there, in the dark room reminiscing about the days gone by. Somehow my mind makes those memories better than they were. Then I begin lying to myself and I begin to wonder where God is in all of this. I begin to wonder why he is not “blessing” me.
PAY ATTENTION
If I’d only paid attention to the real stories in the Bible. The Israelites were constantly wondering the same thing that I wonder sometimes. You only have to look to the Exodus to see what I am talking about. The Israelites were freed from Egypt, but time and time again they felt lost and abandoned. Even Moses got frustrated and started whining with the rest of the Israelites:

“Moses said to God, "Why are you treating me this way? What did I ever do to you to deserve this?” Numbers 11:11 (The Message)

You see, God had used Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt to their new home. However, they weren’t in Egypt anymore and they were not at home either. They were wandering in the desert.
Even when Israel finds its home, they still have periods of exile and silence from God. They cry out and wonder where God is. Is he on a lunch break? As The Fray puts it in “You Found Me”, is he on a smoke break?

Flash forward to when God sent Jesus. It was a time of hopelessness and darkness for the Jews. The Jews had been waiting for this for thousands of years.

Sometimes when we find ourselves in a waiting room with the door locked, it feels like God is out to lunch. We may be exactly where he wants us. We have reminders of what He has done in the past, we are shown what He is doing around us.

I continuously have to keep reminding myself that the story is not finished. My life story is not finished yet either. However, sometimes, God may be trying to finish the chapter in my life, but I want him to keep writing the chapter. I have got to learn to let him start writing the new chapter and let go.
Louie Giglio said in his “Hope of Glory” talk that, “God does not help people that are at the end of their rope, He helps those that let go of the rope.”

“Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new.”
Isaiah 43:18-19 (The Message)

The Fray - You Found Me (official video)
by thefray
"You Found Me" asks the question, "Where were you?"

Life. . .It’s a Series of Problems

2010-03-30T09:30:00.001-04:00

I really hate that phrase, mainly because I have heard it since I was introduced to the “word problem.” I hated word problems and I hated math in school. Time and time again my math teachers would say, “Life is a word problem.” I didn’t like that one bit, in fact I did not even want to be reminded of my math classes the rest of my life. However, the more I am alive the more I realize that life is a series of word problems.

Often we think of a problem being bad, or something that we hate. However, problems can be looked at differently. Take Walt Disney for example, Walt said, “Man needs a new set of problems to pull his mind away from the old ones.”
So what do you think about life being a series of problems?

I was in my car the other day listening to Dave Ramsey (sorry if it was another radio host, but I believe it was Dave Ramsey) and he quoted Rick Warren about problems:

“Life is a series of problems. Either you are in one now, you’re just coming out of one, or you’re getting ready to go into another one.
The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort. He is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making it happy.
We can be reasonably happy here on this earth, but that is not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ’s likeness.” –Rick Warren

So does it seem to you that you are constantly facing adversity, are you in one difficult situation followed by another? Maybe we need a perspective change. . .

It's Gotta Be Like Fallin' In Love

2010-03-17T10:19:00.001-04:00

This song pretty much sums up my thoughts and feelings on my faith. "It's gotta be more like fallin' in love." "All religion ever made of me was just a sinner with a stone tied to my feet, it never set me free."

Did You Know 4.0

2010-03-16T11:30:00.002-04:00

I've Made a Mess of Me

2010-02-25T13:28:00.000-05:00

Can I Trust My Dreams and Passions?

2010-02-10T14:00:00.001-05:00

Well, we have officially begun a new decade. Crazy to think where we all were 10 years ago. Some of us had been panicking about Y2K, all of our technology crashing, bringing the world to a crashing halt. Some of you may still have your Y2K Survival Kit ready to go. Things have changed drastically in the technology world (change drastically to exponentially). Things have probably changed in your life too. Some changes were probably good, while others not so good. If you have been in a rut, 2010 is the year to change that. It is time to start getting some traction.

"There are two kinds of success. One is the very rare kind that comes to the man who has the power to do what no one else has the power to do. That is genius. But the average man who wins what we call success is not a genius. He is a man who has merely the ordinary qualities that he shares with his fellows, but who has developed those ordinary qualities to a more than ordinary degree." ~THEODORE ROOSEVELT

Now on to the real stuff. . .
Several months ago, Michael, a nice looking 26 year old friend wanted to talk to me about life, wanting to know if he was on the right career path. He had graduated from a reputable university 3 years ago (he took the 5 year plan) and had started a career in the meetings/events/hospitality industry. He was actively involved in a great industry organization and everyone seemed to like him. However, Michael was bored and stressed out beyond belief. It was actually putting a stress on his home life. I asked, “Why did you choose to go this route? Why are you doing something you are not passionate about?” Michael replied, “You know I had a wonderful college experience. I came to the university to pursue my passions and dream, I even discovered what I really wanted to do while I was there. However, when I graduated I did nothing to pursue my passion. It was time for me to grow up, get a “real” steady job. I needed to stop pursuing “fun” and “unrealistic” dreams.”

I smirked, and said, “I too went to your university and a few years ago I was at a leadership dinner at the university. The speaker said that you need to do what you are ENTHUSIASTIC about, what EXCITES you. He explained that enthusiasm comes from the Greek word ENTHEOS which means God in you, God breathed God inspired.” He told me that he had been at that dinner too, but that never clicked until now.

“What do you enjoy doing the most? If money was no object, what would you be doing? What would you spend your time on? When does time fly by the most for you? Does the same answer to these questions keep coming up? Did someone tell you that this was unrealistic or not a “real” job?” I asked Michael. Michael replied, “But what I want to do is selfish, it is self-centered, God probably would not be happy with my decision to change careers.” Oh contraire!

If you noted, earlier I told Michael about enthusiasm being ENTHEOS, God in you, God breathed, God inspired. To often when we pursue our passions and dreams they are shot down, or we feel that we are being selfish. So that would mean that God would be uninterested in our personal lives and careers.

God created us with hearts and minds. We have emotions, passions, loves, and enthusiasm. I do not believe that those attributes are by accident. I believe that we were CREATED in His own image. My God is a creator and a passionate lover. That means that I am a co-creator and a passionate lover. Why would God create me and you to have vivid imaginations and passionate dreams only to crush them and say, “You must be practical and get a “real” job!”

Consider what the ENTHEOS is saying inside of you. That inner voice that is pushing towards your dreams and passions. Consider the possibilities if you acted on your passions and dreams. Imagine taking action on those dreams and stepping out on faith. Think about the possibilities. . .

Walt Disney- Mickey Mouse, Walt Disney Studios, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Imagineers. . .
Truett Cathy-Chick-fil-a, The Dwarf House, Winshape Camps and Foundation, The Chick-fil-a Bowl. . .
Ray Kroc- McDonalds Franchises, Ronald McDonald. . .
Angnus G. Wynne, Jr.- Founder of Six Flags Over Texas, Six Flags Over Georgia, Six Flags St. Louis. . .
Dave Ramsey- The Dave Ramsey Show, The Lampo Group, Inc., Financial Peace University, Total Money Makeover. . .

The list could go on and on.

I leave you with this. . .
The guy in the story named Michael is me, MitchTheFielder. That was an actual conversation that I had with myself in August of 2009. Now you will be able to find me realizing my dream, working at a Theme Park. That’s right, I changed direction and acted on a dream and a passion that has been stirring for years.

It’s time to understand that the voice inside of you is God’s voice. He is longing for you to act on the passions and dreams that He put inside of you. When you move towards what aligns with your dreams and passions, you will be more fulfilled spiritually and you are on your way to what God created you to be.

$$$Don’t Be Normal $$$

2010-01-23T12:23:00.001-05:00

Let’s face it, money is important. Some of you say that it is not, but it is. If you are married and have a family you know that finances have a key role in your relationship and family. If you are not married, you still know how much finances affect your daily life. Why is money important? It is what provides your quality of life, it is what provides security. Many of us think of money as just money, but it is a resource. The way you spend that resource directly reflects upon your lifestyle right now, and it will determine the lifestyle of your future and future generations.

Money is very important. In fact you should look at it as a resource that God has put in your hands to manage. If you think of it as God’s and that you are managing His money, it changes the way you look at money. God has given you a life, talents, time, and money to manage. It is what you do with those resources that are important. Someone once said, “Show me your check register and I will show you what is important in your life.”

I am not saying that money is the center of life and that finances should be a huge burden. I am actually saying the opposite, financial success is really simple. Yes getting your finances under control can be tedious at first, but the rewards are worth it. It is about following simple principles, sticking to your budget, and making good choices.

Last year my wife and I took Financial Peace University by Dave Ramsey. If you have not taken the class, I urge you to find a place that is offering the class. You will learn more than just how to pay off your debt and the class more than pays for itself in your personal finances. You will learn sound financial principles that will dramatically change the way you handle your finances and life. In fact you can pretty much kiss financial arguments in your marriage good bye.

So here are some basic principles that we learned that can really help.

YOU NEED A BUDGET

Why do so many households run without a written budget? Yes, I know that it is not fun to sit down and write out what every penny is doing, but it is worth it. Knowing exactly how you are going to spend your paychecks before the month starts gives you a peace. If there is to much month at the end of the paycheck, then you know you have either an income problem or a spending problem. Both of those can be fixed. If you write down a budget you will begin to see where you are spending money, You will learn your habits and you will not be so stressed when those bills show up in your mailbox.

If you are married you need to have a budget meeting and figure out the budget together. If you make the budget you both must stick to it. This is such a valuable tool in the marriage. One, it removes financial stress and arguments. Two (most important), it opens up true communication within the marriage. You formulate a plan together, you begin to trust each other especially when you both adhere to the budget you made together.

MARRIED COUPLES SHOULD NOT HAVE SEPERATE ACCOUNTS

When you married your spouse you became one. One unit, one team, etc. You do not need separate accounts. I think that this just dooms a marriage. What is so important about having separate accounts? Is it trust? Are you hiding something? If those are the case you probably have more issues than finances.

You must trust each other and you must budget together. Husbands and wives do not need separate accounts. You need to put unity in your finances, remember that you are supposed to be on. This will continue to open up communication and build trust. Financial success will feed other areas of your relationship as well.

DEBT IS BAD! STAY AWAY FROM THE 4 LETTER WORD!

You probably think that debt is a part of life, but you still hate that 4 letter word. Don’t you hate going to the mailbox and seeing that Citibank has sent you a bill. Don’t you just love sending in that car payment? Student loans? Side note: Let me just say I hate Sallie Mae. It is absolutely horrible and draining to know that a majority of your income (“Your most powerful wealth building tool”-Dave Ramsey) is spoken for by your creditors before the paycheck ever hits the bank. If you hate debt and hate making those payments, why do you stay in debt?!?!?!

It is all a mindset and it is all what you believe. If you believe that you will always have a car payment, you will. If you believe that you will always be paying on that Sears card, you’re right. If you believe you are always going to stay in a dead end job, or better yet unemployed, you will! As a great financial philosopher once said, “Poor is a mindset, broke is I’m just passing through.” (Dave Ramsey). You can be debt free and you can pay those bills off and never have them again.

If you do not want debt ruling your life I highly suggest reading The Total Money Makeover and taking Financial Peace University. Get that 4 letter word out of your vocabulary for good.

DO NOT DO ANYTHING WITH YOUR MONEY THAT YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND

Too many of us fall victim to putting our money in investments and other things that we do not understand. There is a good chance that many of you believe Whole Life Insurance is a good thing. Of course if you researched Whole Life Insurance vs Term Life Insurance you would realize that Term is the better choice.

Some of you believe that putting your money in one stock is a good idea. Well we saw what happened last year in the stock market. . .that’s all I have to say about that. It is important to be diversified—mutual funds.

If you want to understand how to invest your money well, and if you want to understand it, I suggest looking up one of Dave Ramsey’s Endorsed Local Providers. These providers have a wealth of knowledge and the heart of a teacher. They will make sure you understand what you are doing with your resources before you invest. There are ELP’s for investments, real estate, insurance and tax services.

LIVE LIFE WITHIN YOUR MEANS

You have budgeted, so now you know how much is being spent and where it is being spent. You are learning to live within your means. Too many Americans try to keep up with the Jones’ and impress everyone, all the while they are drowning in debt. What may be a nice facade will probably look different once you scratch the surface.

The key is to live on less that you make. I know that is hard to take in for most of us, but it is true. That new Camaro may be very appealing to me, but it would put a huge strain on my marriage and life all because of a stupid car. Buying nice things is not bad and that is not my point. When you have budgeted, saved, lived within you means, then by all means buy some nice things.

My point is that you do not need a lot of money to be financially successful. It is living within your means and being content with what God has blessed you with. It is the responsible management of your valuable resources. I hope that you make a lot of money and I hope that you enjoy your work that brings that income.

We need to quit placing importance on material things and trying to maintain an expensive lifestyle. When you focus on God, your family, simple pleasures, etc., the need to impress that guy at the red light with your new BMW goes away. That need to live in the best neighborhood to impress your friends goes away.

GIVE, GIVE, GIVE

I believe one of the primary reasons that God blesses certain people with wealth is because of what they do with their money. Yes there are those out there that are wealthy and squander their wealth, but there are those who unselfishly give.

The giving lessons start early. When you get your finances under control you give back to your spouse, family, friends. It has an immediate impact with your spouse, you give peace and security to a marriage and family. You set an example for your kids, which will change the family tree for generations. When you wean your self from debt addiction and the dependence, you eliminate fights about money and set the stage for financial success for your family and for generations to come. You have reshaped your family tree and will make an impact on this earth far beyond your lifespan.

When you have managed what you have been given and then God gives you more, it is important to be a good steward of that and help change other’s lives. Give like no one else, share what you have been given. There is a secret economy at play and it is God’s economy. Sometimes things will happen when you adhere to the principles of God’s economy and you will not be able to explain what happened, it was a gift that God expects you to use for His good.

“Live like no one else today so tomorrow you can live like no one else.” –Dave Ramsey

Yes this post may not be earth shattering. The principles are pretty simple and they are pretty easy to follow. The problem is that most of us do not follow them. I know that I preach Dave Ramsey, but my life and marriage was truly changed by the message that Dave Ramsey teaches. Yes his “Baby Steps” may be simple principles, but it’s the message of hope, the message that you have the ability to change your life and to turn your finances around. I invite you to check it out and join the revolution. . .

Fielder’s Friday Five—1/22/2010

2010-01-22T12:26:00.001-05:00

1. Dan Miller asks “Who are the Black Crabs in your life? How can you avoid them or move on?”

“There’s a whole new world up there. If I could just get my foot up over the edge, I could get out, get my freedom and explore the world in my own way.”

2. Seth Godin challenges our natural way of how we reassure ourselves and challenges your normal way of thinking by saying, “No everything is not going to be okay.”

“It's natural to seek reassurance. Most of us want to believe that the choices we make will work out, that everything will be okay.”

3. Be careful reading this post, because says “There’s A Monster At The End Of This Post!”

“Like Grover, we may find that if we keep turning the pages, WE are in fact the monster at the end of the story. We’re all capable of lust, greed, hypocrisy and deception in the worst way.”

4. Mark Roberts gives us “Something To Think About. . .” in our microwave culture in response to the aid in Haiti and other disasters or emergencies.

“Add the round-the-clock news cycle and the immediacy of the Internet, where communication now can mean a service that conveys rapid-fire information in 140-character bursts, and suddenly you have a generation of people who feel uncomfortable when something doesn’t happen RIGHT NOW. There’s a reason, after all, that the BlackBerry was nicknamed the CrackBerry. . . .”

5. Whether you agree with everything Alan Watts said or not, I really love this lecture on “Life and Music.”

I Have A Dream

2010-01-18T11:06:00.000-05:00

Fielder’s Friday Five

2010-01-15T11:02:00.001-05:00

This is a new feature on MitchTheFielder. Every Friday I will provide links to 5 of the best things I have seen, read, etc. on the internet. Enjoy!

1. On Shlog (Shaun Groves’ Blog) and countless other blogs there is a call out for action to help Haiti. In what may be the worst natural disaster in Western Culture, it is important that we respond appropriately. Our hearts should be broken and we should be the hands and feet of God. HELP HAITI.

The catastrophic earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12 has resulted in unfathomable chaos and devastation for hundreds of thousands of children and families.

Compassion sponsors and donors serve more than 65,000 children in Haiti. At least a third of them live in the areas that were hardest hit.

I am asking you to please send a generous gift today to help precious children and their families, and to encourage others to give to Compassion International through your blog, Facebook and Myspace pages, Twitter account and e-mail. Please utilize every on-line tool you have access to. The people of Haiti desperately need our help and hope.

Compassion International is working rapidly to assess the situation and determine the full extent of damage:

Sadly, we anticipate there will be many deaths.

We anticipate thousands of children and families will have lost everything.

We anticipate many of our church-based child development centers will have been destroyed.

2. Trevin Wax investigates the aftershocks of Tiger Woods’ and Whitney Houston’s decisions. An insightful post that looks at the two incidents at a different angle. It also explores the aftershocks of our decisions.

Sin always affects more than the individual who commits the offense. Whenever we sin, we are consciously or unconsciously affecting those around us. We are robbing those around us of the particular gifts that God has given to us.

3. Brad Ruggles invites us for a time of self-examination and honesty.

I Wish, I Am, I Will Be

4. Seth Godin explores The Lesson From Two Lemonade Stands.

5. Barenaked Ladies have a a new album coming out entitled “All in Good Time.” They have released a single HERE called “You Run Away” for you to listen to. I reco listening to the track.

Just posted "You Run Away," the new single from the upcoming album "All in Good Time" is available now for streaming, listen to it. . .

Compassion International Disaster Relief Updates

2010-01-14T20:31:00.001-05:00

Never A Year Like 09

2009-12-31T13:45:00.000-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! ! ! Enjoy the movie below courtesy of http://jibjab.com

A New Year, A New Series. . .

2009-12-30T12:59:00.001-05:00

I hope that everyone had a great Christmas and I wish everyone who reads MitchTheFielder a very Happy New Year!

After the first of the year I will be posting a series on Batman and The Dark Knight. It will dive into the deeper aspects of the latest Batman movies. So stay tuned. . .

Give This Christmas Away

2009-12-22T11:39:00.001-05:00

In my last post before Christmas I want to remind everyone who reads my blog about what Christmas is about.

Regardless of the date accuracy of Christmas, or traditions that make the holiday, we have chosen this season to commemorate the birth of Jesus.

The story of Christmas is one of hope, promise and a love that is revolutionary and cannot be comprehended.

We all continue to miss that point sometimes. A season that we once took to celebrate the birth of Jesus has now turned into a season of stress. We sit in traffic jams, shop our time away every weekend, drive ourselves mad trying to make it to every party. We make want lists for Santa, and rush through the holiday season like a flying reindeer on steroids.

Then January comes. What was supposed to be a season of joy will now turn into a year’s worth of debt. Some of us will still be paying off Christmas 2009 in December 2010. We will look at the bill and wonder why? We will wonder if that was really worth it. So we missed the point of Christmas, and have debt that will be looming for the rest of the year. Is that what Christmas is all about?

What if this year December were different, what if we gave this Christmas away? What if we focused on what it really was about?

“GIVING pays the highest interest rate, and has the longest term, of any investment available.” - Jeffrey Wilson

“Oh, for the good old days when people would stop Christmas shopping when they ran out of money.” - Dave Ramsey

"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love!" -Hamilton Wright Mabie

"The way you spend Christmas is far more important than how much." -Henry David Thoreau

“The warmth of Christmas, which is love. The belief in Christmas, which is truth. The all of Christmas, which is Christ.” –Wilda English

“A good conscience is a continual Christmas” –Benjamin Franklin

“I have always thought of Christmas time as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely.” -Charles Dickens

Retooning The Nativity

2009-12-19T10:00:00.005-05:00

Because of tradition, we all infuse The Nativity and the Christmas Story with Western ideals. We think that Jesus was white, and born in a stable (barn). We think that on Christmas night there were immediately shepherds and "three kings" at the nativity scene while Josh Groban was singing "Oh Holy Night" in the background and the angels were singing the "Hallelujah Chorus."

Of course we Westerners have taken creative licenses with the story. . .I could go on or you could just watch the clip below.

Lost Generation

2009-12-19T09:30:00.000-05:00

Lost Generation #clc09 #mpi

WW’s-Don’t Buy What You Can’t Afford

2009-12-09T10:00:00.000-05:00

Once and a while Saturday Night Live will do a skit that gives an honest look at American life. This is one of those skits, probably one of the best in a long time. This also falls in line with what I have been sayi ng about the Christmas season. Basically the skit says, “If you can’t afford it, don’t buy it.” Enjoy. . .

Saturday Night Live: Don't Buy Stuff

Bound, Bound, and Rebound

2009-12-05T12:05:00.001-05:00

Wisdom Wednesdays-Creditmas, I mean Christmas

2009-11-25T09:00:00.000-05:00

Ah yes, it’s Christmas time again.

“Oh no, here you go again! Mitch, it’s Christmas, it’s the most wonderful time of the year! What could possibly be wrong with buying presents? I know we are in debt and stuff, but it’s Christmas and. . .”

You’re an idiot. Nuff said.

Ok, yes you can go buy the latest and greatest iPhone for your kid for $199, but let me remind you that you are giving more than and iPhone, you’re giving the gift that goes on and on. Debt, stress, credit card payments, foolishness, selfishness. But it’s all ok because you have a live Christmas tree that smells really nice, Christmas cookies, Christmas lights. Ah, the memories that will be made. Memories that those credit card bills will not soon let you forget.

I will give it to you. It is not like Apple advertises gifts under $50. Target and Wal*Mart really don’t advertise gifts under $30 either. They are single handedly raising the expectation levels for Christmas, so you have to give in don’t you? However, I believe you still have a brain and a free will. This means you do not have to be an idiot and stand in line to get the latest and greatest on Black Friday (or trample other idiots to get it).

I know, I know. Generations before you way overspent on Christmas gifts. I know that when you grew up there were always tons of gifts under the tree. It was so pretty, so great, so exciting and you think that is the way Christmas is supposed to be.

You know what? So what? Is it worth it?

Christmas is not supposed to be about you going out and buying stuff you can’t afford. I am very sorry, but it just isn’t. I know that you may be a parent and you may feel guilty for not spending hundreds on your kids. You may feel guilty because you can’t buy expensive gifts for everyone. So what? Get over it and grow up! Tell them you don’t have the money for it, they’ll understand, and you will still have a great Christmas.

And what, you’re in debt? Well how did that happen? Do we need to call Haratio Caine to investigate?

I bet I know what happened, you bought a bunch of stuff you couldn’t afford and had no business buying. Maybe you should stop it, maybe you and the rest of America should stop buying crap you can’t afford. It’s you that have cheapened the holiday, it’s you that has turned it into a spending frenzy. So maybe Christmas just really isn’t that special anymore. We have just made it into an excuse to overspend, go further in debt (which we yell at our Congressmen/women for). It’s become another retail holiday and you get to swipe that plastic card.

“Okay Mitch, I get it, but everyone at my kid’s school gets great gifts and shows them off. They get iPhones and stuff.” Question for you, are you in debt? “yes, but. . .”

No buts, sorry lame excuse.

“Mitch, it is just not fair and it is just not reasonable to spend only $25 per person for Christmas.” Why is it not fair and reasonable. "”It’s just not! Come on Mitch!”

Stop acting like a baby, stop pitching a fit like a 2 year old in a candy store.

If you don’t have the money for something, it’s simple, you don’t buy it. Don’t go acting like you’re kid needs a DREX Interactive Dinosaur either. It has nothing to do with them and everything to do with you! In your head you have this perfect Christmas where your kid gets the perfect toy (when he/she may rather play with the box it came in). You have to have this perfect day because you will feel guilty if you don’t. You have some type of insecurity like your kid won’t love you anymore, you and Target helped set expectations, and well it’s just about you.

“But Mitch, didn’t the 3 kings, wise men, the little drummer boy bring fancy stuff to Jesus. They gave Jesus gifts and that’s why. . .” Excuse me, these guys were royalty (the Drummer Boy is a nice story and song), they were wealthy and I don’t believe that they used a MasterCard to purchase a “priceless” memory.

"Mitch, Christmas is in the Bible and everything. . .”

Actually the holiday is not in the Bible, we picked the 25th to celebrate the birth of Christ.

I am all for presents. And of course I LOVE getting presents. I love buying people presents. I love finding something that I think will fit them perfectly, or getting them something I know they wanted, but couldn’t afford (of course it all deals with ME again, because it feels good). But is it worth it?

Christmas is not about the presents and you racking up huge amounts of debt, but that is what it has become.

I personally believe that if we are going to celebrate Christmas, then we need to celebrate what it’s about. It’s about Jesus coming to the world at just the right moment in history and giving us a gift we didn’t deserve. Christmas is about that and it’s about love, family, togetherness. It’s enjoying being with your loved one, your family, your friends, enjoying the life and freedom that was given because of Jesus’ life.

Christmas is also about tradition. It’s about playing Christmas music, putting up a tree, hanging Christmas lights, it’s about stealing a kiss underneath the mistletoe. It’s about making Christmas goodies with loved ones and having one too many eggnogs at a Fog Nog party. It is about the nativity scenes. It’s about putting out cookies and milk for Santa. It’s about lighting Christmas candles and caroling. It’s about trying to get the little kids to sleep, but they are just to excited to close their eyes.

It’s about Jesus, it’s about spending time with loved ones, it’s finding peace and finding rest, it’s a time to be thankful for having what none of us deserve. But you know what? You don’t have to go in debt over it, that’s not what it’s about.

Stop buying crap you can’t afford and blaming it on Christmas! Nuff said!

What We Truly Should Be Thankful For

2009-11-24T11:03:00.001-05:00

It’s Thanksgiving again. However I think it has become a day to feast and watch football. So I am going to do my best in this post to talk about what I am most thankful for. No, I am not going to get all sentimental and cheesy. Stay with me and you may like this post.

What I am most thankful for in my life is my marriage. My marriage means so much and teaches me truths I would not have known unless I was married.

What I love most about my marriage is how simple it is. Stay with me and I will explain.

So Mitch, how is marriage simple?

Saying how simple my marriage is sounds strange and may even be kind of an oxymoron. Our marriage did not start simple and it has never lacked complexity. However we get better at marriage every year that we are together. We have simply realized that we only have so much time and energy in each day. We have only been trusted with a certain amount of money as well. It is important to us how we budget and spend the resources that God has trusted us with. That was a simple reality that has changed the way we live our lives together and in the real world.

But life is so hectic sometimes and it’s hard to find balance.

Life can be hectic and can quickly find its way out of balance. You have to work to get things back into balance. During our first year or so of marriage we worked hard and did not have as much time together as we would have liked. My wife and I work outside of the home and both of our jobs can sometimes cause us to work longer hours than normal. However we’ve learned to make it a point to spend time together and put it on our calendars.

We also have different personalities, but a lot of the same interests which make spending time together so enjoyable. We both love cooking together, music, travel, sports, great food, and we love talking about things that matter to each of us. Our values also align, which is so important, and we still make each other laugh and smile.

What’s so important about marriage that your are writing a whole post on it?

What is important about a marriage is it is the only relationship in the world that can show the love between God and His bride. We all can look at marriages and learn. We have the ability to explore the mysteries of God in marriage.

One thing that I have learned in marriage, that I hope other people can learn, is that marriage is not always equal (you give 50%, I give 50%). Sometimes one partner will be carrying a heavier load than the other. Sometime you will carry a heavier load. The point is to be a support for your spouse and to sometimes make sacrifices for your spouse. Sometimes you will have to give 90% of yourself. But you know what? You bring out the best in each other, and your support and giving love is the way to do that.

If you are giving of yourself and your spouse is giving of themselves, you will begin to model a “how-to” do this thing called marriage and not a “how-not-to” to your kids and grandkids.

All that to say this:

As we enter the Holiday Season, be thankful for your loved ones and your marriages. Even if you are not in a marriage, every relationship gives you chance to be thankful and a chance to give of yourself to them.

It’s important to realize that your life does not belong to you. It belongs to the one who gave the ultimate sacrifice, and you are here to give of yourself and leave your mark. You were given gifts and talents to give of yourself.

It is important to give of yourself. It is important to have relationships and to give selflessly to those relationships. It is not possible to have a fulfilling life without having open arms to give to others. If you close up and decide not to give of yourself (which is pretty selfish), and you decide to go it alone, you will find anything that you get from life will be meaningless.

You and I were made for relationships. We were made for God and for each other. We need each other. So remember what you should be truly thankful for this Holiday Season, the relationships with your husband/wife, your children, your family, your friends.

All this because when you give, you will have so much more to be thankful for. That’s how simple it really is!

New Moon’s Bite is Hard to Handle

2009-11-23T10:49:00.001-05:00

I consider myself one of the luckiest guys in America. I have a wife that is just as dumbfounded by the Twilight hysteria as I am, and believes “The Dark Knight” is a far better movie. However it seems that there are millions of other women out there that have differing opinions.

So “New Moon” did it, it broke the pre-sale record and crushed “The Dark Knight” on opening day ($72 million compared to $67 million). However “The Dark Knight” still remains supreme for opening weekends, and had more staying power that “New Moon” will have.

So what we have now is “The Dark Knight” in between Star Wars prequels and a Twilight sequel for best opening days. What this says is that women go to the movies, and they go in droves together. Unfortunately the top grossing films that appeal to women is “Sex and the City” and the Twilight films. I don’t believe that all women love these films, but I believe a majority of women that are going to watch these films are lonely or hungry for love. They can escape into a fantasy with Edward on the big screen.

I have talked this obsession over with my wife and we both believe that the obsession over Twilight and Edward is quite ridiculous. The other fact that I find ridiculous is married women’s obsession with Edward. They are going to the Twilight films because, let’s face it, they “love” Edward. I think it’s hypocritical. I asked my wife if I was to go to a movie just because Sandra Bullock was in it, and I was completely infatuated with her, would it be ok. Of course the answer was no, but it seems to be ok in the case of Edward in the Twilight series.

Men you are just as guilty. Let’s be honest, you didn’t go to see Transformers II because it was a great movie. (There was a certain actress that all the men wanted to see)

Let’s admit it. We American’s can be pretty stupid at times. I will go as far to say that the phrase “#1 Film in America” should never be used again. With Transformers II, Sex and The City, Twilight, etc. claiming those titles it really has undervalued that phrase. We are all a bunch of American idiots sometimes. That is the only reason you can explain that “New Moon” has the best opening day and “Two and a Half Men” get 18 million viewers every Monday.

No, You Don’t Need a New Car. It’s That Stupid.

2009-11-21T11:46:00.001-05:00

**MitchTheFielder’s disclaimer*** (This post is not directed to anyone in particular. I am not sure why you would be offended in the first place, but anyways, just in case.)

Guess what? You don’t need a new car. Nope you don’t ever need a new car. Never ever.

“But my car is getting up there in miles, and I really need. . .”

Nope, you think you need it, but you don’t. What will that new car do? It will add stress to your family, it will add stress to your marriage and will create problems that were not there to begin with.

“But I drive a lot of miles. And what about driving the family around town, it is cheaper than maintaining an old car and it’s safer for my family to be a new car. They have “Cash for Clunkers,” and there is like 0% financing.”

Keep selling yourself on the new car and you might actually start believing yourself. Who needs a car salesman when you can pitch it yourself.

It is not cheaper than saving $3,000 and buying an older Honda. It’s not. You don’t have to have a car payment. For some reason we have been conditioned to believe that paying $464/month for a car that is continuously dropping in value is part of life. You choose to have a car payment, no one is making you do it.

“You are just jealous because you don’t have a new car and you’re being resentful that I have one. There is nothing wrong with me having a new car.”

Stupid argument. MitchTheFielder never said it was wrong to have a new car. Heck, there are people out there that can pay cash for a new car, but it’s because they saved and did not have car payments to begin with. They can afford it. You don’t need a new car, you want a new car and you are choosing to put your family further in debt because you are choosing that route.

Of course I would love to have a brand new 2010 Chevrolet Camaro with a convertible. I can just see me and the wife driving through the hills of Middle Tennessee with the top down and cool sunglasses on. We would look great impressing people we do not even know. But you know what, I don’t need the new car. You don’t need it either. So if you made the choice to have a new car, but are complaining because you and your wife have to work so much, just know that you chose that.

So let’s get realistic. You could afford that brand new 4 Runner and your family would have more room and your family would look pretty good pulling up to the soccer field in that SUV. You know what that would mean though. . .more stress on the family. Why would you want to put more stress on your family? Why are you going to deplete another $464 a month from your budget just to have a new car? Looking good in that SUV will have a price bigger than the $464.

How cool are you? How great are you? Look at that new SUV, you should be so proud of yourself. You are now a proud owner of a $464 car payment. But how childish, how selfish, how vain are you? You are so concerned about what the community thinks, you have to look good at that traffic light and impress that person sitting next to you in traffic that you will never see again. You did all of this at the expense of your wife and children?

“You don’t know me or my family. My wife wants and deserves a new car. We deserve a new car.”

Shut up! You don’t deserve anything! So you will go out, make a stupid decision because your wife wants a new car or you deserve a new car. What leadership, way to step up to the plate. Way to put your family in debt. I am sure you couldn’t use that extra $464 anyway (for some with two car payments take that figure up to $928).

Guess what? You Can Drive an Old Car! You don’t have to have a car payment! Think about a life with no car payments. Think about what you could do with that extra cash every month. I know that an ‘02 Honda may not be good enough for you, but I say GROW UP!

You can change your family for the good right now. If you change things you can start living like no one else. Just watch the video below. . .sheesh!

MitchTheFielder’s 2009 CMA Predictions

2009-11-11T17:12:00.001-05:00

Here I go trying to predict the awards show. Here goes nothing, we will know in a few hours how my predictions stack up.

2009 CMA Awards Predictions:

Entertainer of the Year- Brad Paisley

Female Vocalist of the Year- Carrie Underwood

Male Vocalist of the Year- Brad Paisley

New Artist of the Year- Darius Rucker

Vocal Group of the Year- Lady Antebellum

Vocal Duo of the Year- Brooks & Dunn

Single of the Year- “People Are Crazy,” Billy Currington

Album of the Year- Fearless, Taylor Swift

Song of the Year- “I Told You So,” Randy Travis

Musical Event of the Year- “I Told You So,” Carrie Underwood & Randy Travis

Music Video of the Year- “Love Story,” Taylor Swift

Musician of the Year- Mac McAnally

Feel free to comment, disagree or give your own predictions below.

I Must Have Missed Something in the Debate. . .

2009-10-31T11:36:00.001-04:00

Yesterday I was listening to a radio show on my way to work. A lady called in about Healthcare Reform and the current Congress. It all started out normal as she stated that she was against bigger government and healthcare.

The all of a sudden she got upset and began to raise her voice. She said, “This is a battle for our nation’s soul, this is spiritual warfare!” Then the radio show host hung up on her.

Really? ? ? Spiritual Warfare over healthcare? I laughed, but it’s sad.

I Do Not Choose to Be a Common Man

2009-10-31T10:16:00.000-04:00

It is my right to be uncommon--if I can.

I seek opportunity--not security. I do not wish to be kept a citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me.

I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed.

I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existance; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia.

I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any master nor bend to any threat.

It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to think and act for myself, enjoy the benefit of my creations and to face the world boldly and say, "This I have done."

By Dean Alfange

*Originally published in This Week Magazine. Later reprinted in The Reader's Digest, October 1952 and January 1954.
*Printed in Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University Workbook in 2008

Wisdom Wednesdays-Exorcising the Jack-o-lanterns

2009-10-28T17:54:00.002-04:00

Disclaimer: I have decided to begin offering advice to no one in particular. These advice columns may sound like the rantings of a mad man and may not be intended for you, so do not take offense.

I am starting a new feature on MitchTheFielder, Wisdom Wednesdays. It will not be every Wednesday, just the Wednesdays that the world needs some wisdom that seems to be lacking. So I decided to start with Jack-o-Lanterns and Halloween.

Why Halloween, have you not heard? It’s Satan’s big day. It really is. October 31st was just an ordinary day not too long ago (made by God), but Satan came and took over that day. In fact, someone gave me a pumpkin to put on my desk the other day and I threw it away, because they are owned by the devil too. The person was shocked so I told them that I do not celebrate Halloween and they should not dress their kid up to go trick-or-treating because it is an evil day. If the fun-sized candy has Halloween wrapping, it is sin-sized candy, do not eat it or you are living in sin!

So instead of teaching your kid about having fun, or redemption, grace, etc. just freak them out and make them scared of Halloween.

“Why are you acting this way?” you ask. Because Halloween is Pagan. You see if you go to Wikipedia and research like me you will see that Halloween has pagan roots and we should not be a part of that.
So let’s go with that line of thinking. . .

Let’s start by throwing out Christmas Trees. Did you know that Christmas Trees and greenery have pagan roots? What’s worse is that some churches have a “Hanging of the Green” service. That is just not right, they ought not to live like the pagans. Christmas Lights have to go too.

I have stopped recognizing the month of June (Juno). Did you know that they made a movie about a pregnant teenager name Juno? Not only that, Juno is a Roman god.

And Disney, don’t get me started. Do you know they have a wicked witch in their very first full length movie? That is EVIL.

EVIL, that reminds me. If you add D to Evil you get Devil. If you take the D off you get Evil. You take the E off you get Vil as in Vile. If you take the V off you get Il as in this and Halloween make me Ill!
So I recently learned that anyone born BC would not be called a Christian. In fact even after Jesus was born it would be more than 30+ years before anything would be considered “Christian.” That means that if they were no Christians that they were not regular attenders, they did not have accountability partners, they were not plugged into a small group.

NEWS FLASH! ! ! Satan really doesn’t care about Halloween, nor does he even care if you believe in him. What he wants is for you to believe in you. He wants to you worship yourself and think that you are all powerful, think that equality with God is something to be grasped. He wants you to think that you have control over the weather. He wants you to be consumed with your judgments, your problems, drama, rules, legalism.

It’s all about you anyway. You’re so special and so important. The world will fall apart without you and everything God is doing will stop without you.

So as a call to end all pagan rituals I say we get rid of Jack-o-laterns, Christmas Trees and lights, birthdays, and all the gifts and treats that come with those holidays!

Can you do me a favor though? Can you please, just please, wait until next year? I want to have one more Halloween, Christmas and Birthday. I know after all the evidence, but please? Thank you.

*This post was for all of you that take yourself and live too seriously. Yes I do have fun on Halloween (Pumpkinfest, dressing up, Halloween parties), no I do not care about where Christmas Trees and lights came from (because I love Christmas), and I enjoy a good birthday party. It's fun. Stop YOUR rules, and lighten up*

Safe

2009-10-28T15:40:00.000-04:00

The other day I was on my way to work when I heard this song for the first time. I must have been exactly 3 minutes and 45 seconds away from work when it cam on because it ended when I pulled into the parking lot. It is amazing how music and lyrics together can speak to a person.

Be faithful in the things that you can be faithful in and God will take care of the rest. I have heard that so many times this year, and for some reason I keep needing to hear that message. This song really drove it home. It also paints a picture that only a song can paint.

Verse:
To the one who's dreams are falling all apart
And all you're left with is a tired and broken heart
I can tell by your eyes you think your on your own
but you're not all alone
Have you heard of the One who can calm the raging seas
Give sight to the blind, pull the lame up to their feet
With a love so strong and never let you go
oh you're not alone

Chorus:
You will be safe in His arms
You will be safe in His arms
'Cause the hands that hold the world are holding your heart
This is the promise He made
He will be with You always
When everything is falling apart
You will be safe in His arms

Verse 2:
Did you know that the voice that brings the dead to life
Is the very same voice that calls you to rise
So hear Him now He's calling you home
You will never be alone

Bridge:
These are the hands that built the mountains
the hands that calm the seas
These are the arms that hold the heavens
they are holding you and me
These are hands that healed the leper
Pulled the lame up to their feet
These are the arms that were nailed to a cross
to break our chains and set us free

Congress in the BCS? ? ?

2009-10-28T14:04:00.001-04:00

You see it everyday. We are in a recession (the worst since The Great Depression), healthcare reform debates, two wars over seas and not to mention our federal deficit. Our Congress has so many important things to work on. The list is long, they have their work cut out for them. I know that you wouldn’t be surprised to know that Congress is concerned about College Football.

Senator Orrin Hatch (R) from Utah asked the President, "Mr. President, as you have publicly stated on multiple occasions, the BCS system is in dire need of reform," in a 10 page letter! However President Obama did mention “throwing his weight around” when asked about the BCS system just right after the election.

Why? Why? Why? The last thing that Congress and the President need to be worried about is the BCS System. Yes it is complicated and even I don’t understand it. I even think the system is unfair, but life is unfair.

If the system needs to change it will. We do not need a “federally mandated” college football playoff. If the outcry is loud enough, things will change.

You see Congressman Hatch, you like your Democrat counterparts, like to expand the reach of government where it shouldn’t be. Just another reason why we need some big changes in DC. Mr. Smith, are you out there? ? ?

Don’t Curb Your Enthusiasm

2009-10-17T10:27:00.002-04:00

The '”fear of the unknown.” You have probably heard that phrase your whole life, and odds are you have used that phrase as an excuse not to do something. As children we explored and were curious about the unknown, but now as adults we are afraid to take the risk for “fear of the unknown.” To get right down to it, many of us do not have the courage to take the risks that were put in this life’s design.

In every stage in life there are unknown variables.

Life is full of choice. All risks are not as big as they seem. A risk may be deciding that one parent is going to stay home with the kids, they down size to have more family time. A risk is deciding to start living below your means so you can begin to live a debt free life one day and take away money stresses. A risk is when a person finds their “calling” working a normal job so they can spend more time with their family and do the activities together that they really enjoy.

My Dad took a risk as an entrepreneur and started his on business and was able to do more for our family and spend more time with us. It is taking a job that may pay less and gives you more free time, but you don’t have to work 50-60 hours a week where your free time is spent sleeping, eating and exercising.

Life comes down to risks and the choices that you make. We have freedom to maker our choices and to pursue happiness. “You are now free to move about the country.” It doesn’t mean that you have to make high dollar amounts and live a life of luxury to be the envy of your friends. It is about being able to live the life that you choose.

One resounding truth that I have heard over and over is that if you do not like something in you life, make a plan to change it. Life is too short to be doing something that you hate or don’t like. The consequence of doing something that you hate drains the life out of you and your family gets the leftovers.

One thing is critical though, do not make a decision based on the fact that it will make you happy. Happiness is elusive, it is an emotion. We are not promised happiness. In the Declaration of Independence we are promised the “pursuit of happiness.” No where in the Bible are we promised happiness, and anywhere you read it is more concerned with your character (Prov 22:1).

The reason you do not do something based on a “happy” feeling is because what we like and dislike change so much. A simple illustration is Top 40 music. We here a song and we say it’s the best song, but a month down the road we turn the station when we hear that song.

So what do you base your decisions on?

A few years ago I was at a leadership dinner at Belmont University and the speaker said that you need to do what you are ENTHUSIASTIC about, what EXCITES you. He explained that enthusiasm comes from the Greek word ENTHEOS which means God in you, God breathed God inspired.

So spend sometime figuring out what sparks your enthusiasm, what excites you. Write down interests. What would you do if money wasn’t an object? Where would you live if you could? What trips would you take? What charities touch your heart? The more you uncover, the more you will learn about what God has inspired within you and what He has breathed into you.

So slow down, discover yourself and discover your passions. Figure out where you are before you begin to move forward. Get your life GPS out.

Also, figure out your values. Write down your values, write a mission statement for yourself, this will be your compass/GPS. Is what you are doing right lining up with your values and mission statement? Does the decision that you are about to make line up with your values and mission statement.

“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”- Walt Disney

Did You Know? 4.0

2009-10-07T12:34:00.002-04:00

What Cross Country Taught Me

2009-09-10T17:30:00.000-04:00

Recently I decided to put my running shoes back on and begin training to run 5K’s. I used to run everyday and I used to be on the Cross Country team in high school, but since my 3rd year and college running really to a back seat. Hard to believe, but 6 years ago I moved to Nashville, and running was not that important to me and now it shows. I thought by stop running I was saying goodbye to hill runs, intervals, hard distance runs forever, but that was false.

Now that I have began to run and train again I have learned that being on that Cross Country team taught me a lot of life lessons. As I am running that hill, I can hear Coach Wood pushing me on saying that I have it in me. As I am doing that interval run I look at the next lamp post in my neighborhood and I know if I take a few more steps, I’ll be there. As I was running the other day I remembered the life lessons Cross Country taught me and here they are:

When you think you can’t, you can. If you listen to runners or athletes you will hear about something called a second wind. We all hit this point when we are running when we get to the point where you just want to stop. That’s the point when you push through. If you can get through that quitting point, you will make it to the end of your run. It’s in that moment that you take that pivotal next step and then you will learn that you can go a lot further that you thought you could. So when you feel like giving up in the moment that you are in, just say, “It think I can, I think I can, I think I can.”

Resting is just as important as your hard work. When you run or workout you interchange hard days with lighter days. When I ran Cross Country we would have a “hard” day and then an “easy” day. The easy days give our muscles and bodies a chance to rebuild. In life you can have hard days, but some days you need rest. Sometimes you need a vacation. If you continue day after day going at it really hard you will burn out.

Think short term and you will go long. The key to distance running is breaking the distance up. While training I think about running to the next lamp post, before I know it I have made it through my run. It is like that in many facets of life. Say for instance you are budgeting. You think in the month, for the month. Yes you have long term goals, but you deal with your budget in the month for the month. Before you know it you have saved a nest egg and are living like nobody else. Even if you’re backed in a corner, see if you can make that next step and before you know it you will go further than you ever thought was possible.

If you are training, you have to have a plan to achieve your goal. If you want to run a marathon or get a good time in a 5K, you have to have a plan to get there. Effective people and athletes put together a plan, set attainable goals, and then the succeed. It takes baby steps to get where you want to go. Sometimes in athletic training you will make big strides of progress and then you will hit a plateau. The same is in life. You have to make a plan and execute with measurable and attainable goals.

Running down hill hurt more than running uphill. As much as that doesn’t make sense in your head it is true. When you make yourself run uphill it is hard, but it will build muscle and endurance. If you run down a steep down hill, it will hurt. You may not feel it right then, but wait until the next day. Next time you run down hill try to see how much stress is being put on your leg muscles. Just as in life, if you want to take the path of least resistance and coast through life, it will hurt you in the long run. You may not feel it at first, but you will feel it tomorrow.

When you have smarts you can make it as far as people with talent, sometime you will make it further. When I ran Cross Country, I was not the best out there. I barley ran a mile under 6 minutes. However I could beat the guys running around me during the race. I would run behind them most of the race and play mind games with them. With the last stretch I would step it up and pass them because I had exhausted them mentally. The same is true in life. Sometimes people have more talent, but you have perseverance and can pass them when they become lazy.

Getting Embarrassed is not a valid reason to give up. There are many obstacles when running Cross Country. One is that you do not run on flat paved surface. You will occasionally hit a rock or root and fall flat on your face. People are watching, you can’t give up because you are embarrassed. Those moments may be embarrassing, but eventually they will be memories that you can laugh at. You begin to learn to have better footing and to watch where you are running. The same is true in life. “Why do we fall, to learn to pick ourselves up.” –Thomas Wayne, Batman Begins.

Opening Scene, Chariots of Fire

Well He/She Is Nice. . .

2009-09-02T15:00:00.000-04:00

I have always hated the phrase, “He/She is nice.” Maybe some people want that said of them, but I thought of it as kind of an insult. Here is what nice is:

You are a “Yes man/woman.” Sure you are dependable, but you just can’t seem to use the word “No.” No is not in your vocabulary, so you end up doing a lot of things you don’t want to do. You also end up taking time away from what is important to you because you said yes one too many times.
You’re a pleaser. You couldn’t possibly handle it if you upset someone because you disagreed with them. So in the mean time you end up doing things you really don’t want to do. You get coffee at the corner gas station because you didn’t let anyone know that you would really like the coffee from Starbucks.
You are afraid of offending or irritating people so you never voice your opinions. You agree with someone and back down even if you don’t agree. You just want to be nice and please everyone.
You say things you don’t mean. You tell people that their new outfit looks great even if it doesn’t.

I know there have been times in my life that I have been known as “nice,” but being nice really covers up who I really am. It hides who I am, hides my opinions, and nobody gets to see who I really am. I believe if you live as a “nice guy/girl” that you can miss out on some great opportunities and relationships because no one knows the real you.

I am not saying to be selfish and live a self-centered life, I think being nice is selfish because you keep your true self from the world. If you live as the “nice guy/girl” you may never get that opportunity you have been looking for. If you cover yourself up by playing nice you may find yourself unhappy and resentful, because no one knows you. It will take you a while to realize that.

Be Real

I spent a lot of time in my life, mainly my high school years, trying to be a “nice” guy. I had no idea that at points it was making me unhappy. A lot of people that know me know that I always like a good debate and I am a pretty original character, but for the most part that is not what most of the world saw. I began to realize that the “nice” guy act was not helping, people want to know the real you and not an act.

When I am gone from this earth, I do not want to be remembered as nice. In fact, if I leave here like that, no one except my family will remember me. People would say, “I didn’t know him that well, but he was a really nice guy.”

When people remember me I want them to know who I was and what I stood for. I want them to know what I was passionate about and that I lived for a purpose. I hope people know that I cared, and that I was deeply rooted in my faith. I want people to know that I valued my marriage over any other relationship (personal or business) on this earth. I want people to know that I loved Disney Theme Parks and Disney Movies. I want them to know that for some reason I really like Batman. I hope they know where I stood on political issues whether or not they agreed with me.

For a politically correct world, that may sound strange or uncomfortable. However, they will respect me because I wasn’t someone that I was not. I didn’t hide under the guise of being a “nice guy.” We need more people that aren’t afraid to “Live Out Loud.” That is how you find your purpose, because your start living your passions.

The point is simple. We are here for an adventure. We are not here for ourselves, we are here to be guides. We are here to help people find their purpose and guide others along the adventure. We are to take them on the ride so they can learn to take others on the ride. That’s why you need to be real instead of nice. “Live Out Loud” and live out your passions and purpose. You were created for more than being nice.

Life Means So Much

2009-08-26T15:00:00.000-04:00

Time is a precious gift that we are all given. Time actually is a currency. We have 24 hours in our bank account every day. How we spend and budget our time is up to us and no one else. The thing about the 24 hours, is that you have to spend every bit of the hours in your account before the end of the day. Then you get more time deposited at 12am.

Most of us spend at least eight of those hours at work. Another eight hours are spent sleeping or laying in bed, which leaves another eight hours to spend. Some of that time is spend commuting. So what do you do with what’s left over? How do you spend the time?

It got me to thinking what is the motivations behind me spending time working and commuting. What is the motivation behind me hitting the daily grind? Is it to make money? Is it to find purpose and meaning?

In Batman Begins, Rachel Dawes tells Bruce Wayne that, “It’s not who you are underneath, but what you do that defines you.” At first glance, that is how most Americans see themselves. They need a position, a job, power, and that will define them. However, underneath, the quote is much deeper.

Yes you have a job, maybe you have won awards. You may be powerful in the bubble in which you live, but it’s what you do with what you have been given that defines you. It boils down to integrity, what you are doing when no one else is paying attention.

I have realized that my motivations for having a career have changed. Of course I want to do what I enjoy, but where do I draw most of my happiness? It’s in my home life and personal life. I do what I do for my wife, and to have freedoms to do what I enjoy and minister to those around me. I work hard so one day I can live like nobody else and give more of myself to my wife, family, and to give more.

Time is a valuable resource that I have to use. The time will soon be gone, it’s what I do with the time that I have been given that defines me.

Chris Rice "Life Means So Much"

Change. . .The Social Media Revolution

2009-08-19T10:50:00.001-04:00

Social Media Revolution

Echoes of Eden

2009-08-13T09:00:00.002-04:00

I was born on September 20, 1982. A significant day for me, because I was born. On May 25, 1984 something happened that would change my life forever that I would not realize until 21 years later. Rebecca was born on that day. 21 years later I would ask for her hand in marriage. God had created my companion and best friend, but I had not a clue. “God demonstrated this goodness by creating us male and female. . .who were made to be together and to find ourselves as we give ourselves away.” (Justin Taylor)

I believe whole heartedly that a great spouse is not found accidentally without guidance from God. You see a great spouse is a gift from God and does not come, as some imagine, in answer to our planning and sizing up. (Paraphrased from Martin Luther) From day one we see that God purposefully creates Adam and Eve for each other, perfectly suited for each other. Which lets me know that if God made my wife, Rebecca, he must be in love with me.

What is interesting in this thing called marriage is that we truly find ourselves when we give ourselves away completely. Completely and unselfishly we are to give ourselves to each other. For a marriage to work it has to be all or nothing. Thomas Howard explains in the mystery of love, as God planned it, “No one can ever figure out who is doing the giving and who the receiving.” Real lovers, “know that giving and receiving are a splendid and hilarious paradox in which, lo, the giving becomes receiving, the receiving giving until any efforts to sort it our collapse in merriment or adoration.”

So giving, receiving, being unselfish, what does it means to echo Eden? I can't really explain the mysteries of marriage and love, but I have a hint of what the echoes of Eden include. It includes what I have written above and so much more.

The echoes of Eden are apparent when I kiss my wife and I still get weak in the knees, it's her touch, her smile that picks me up and gets me through. It's that gleam in her eyes. It's the slow dances, the candle light dinners. It's when I am away I miss her, it's when I feel down because she is down. “These are the echoes of Eden, reflections of what we were created for, hints of the passion and freedom, that awaits on the other side of heaven's door.” (Steven Curtis Chapman)

True echoes of Eden come when you are completely and unselfishly committed to the one you love. That is where the passion and freedom comes from. It all amounts to this, “The quality of life does not consist in the number of experiences on has, but in the depth of commitments.” (Ben Patterson)

Then

2009-08-12T14:15:00.001-04:00

4 years ago tomorrow I said “I do.” 6 years ago in December I asked my wife if we could exchange vows, and on January 1, 2010 it will be 7 years since our first date. Those seven years have been the absolute best years of my life, because I have spent them with my best friend.

I remember the first time I said “I Love You!” I really thought I loved my wife then, but I had no idea the love I would feel today. I had no idea that if you let it, love will grow and be unspeakably more that you can even imagine. Of course we have ups and downs, which make me love her even more.

For the next couple of days I am going to make posts on marriage in honor of our anniversary. So for my first post, things I wished I would have known then. . .when I got married. These are things that no one seems to tell you.

1. When you are at your rehearsal, wedding, wedding reception people seem to have all sorts of advice on how to live “Happily Ever After.” I then realized that a lot of these people are not happily married themselves, some were not even married (divorced, never married). Some of there advice worked, most did not.

2. Have a bad experience with a roommate in college, heard horror stories? Well, some days in marriage you will experience the worst roommate ever. I find this especially true for the women. Trying to change a man’s habits and trying to domesticate him can be pretty hard. Remember that they used to leave cereal bowls out all day, clothes and underwear in the floor, and cleaning the bathroom? It works both ways. You can’t get rid of this roommate and the beauty is that you learn to love each other for who you really are.

3. Most wedding arguments early in marriage is because neither one of you know anything about money. You run up debt, so then you argue because you’re stressed about debt. May a suggest Financial Peace University (early in your marriage or before)? http://www.daveramsey.com/fpu/home/ After that, most arguments will be about being loved and adored. If you do not have to worry about debt and finances, most arguments are about not feeling loved or adored.

4. Marriage is constantly practicing patience, acceptance and compassion (kindness), not being jealous, not being prideful, not being rude, selfish, easily angered. And the tough one. . .you do not keep score, no records of who wronged who. See love is not that feeling you get, it is actual love, practicing all these things. That’s a tall order.

5. Your spouse doesn’t think like you and you do not think like them. Neither one of you can read minds. You both should complement each other. The art is studying your spouse to understand them better. You study what is important to you, you should take time and observe.

6. When you say “I Do” your primary relationship is to your spouse and no one else. You have now started your own family. Even when you introduce children your primary relationship should be with your spouse.

7. Marriages will never outgrow a need for romance. Both need it and want it. Make time every week for a date night alone. You need to get away and really talk and concentrate on each other and nothing else. You need to make time for intimacy, it is very important. If it wasn’t so important there would not be a whole book in the Bible about it. (Song of Solomon)

8. It is ok to read books about marriage and improving marriage. Some of the best conversations in our marriage has come from our spiritual journeys together. It's like uncovering treasures buried when you read books from people that know about marriage and have been there.

9. One of the greatest gifts you can give is happiness. It really zaps the energy out of the marriage if someone is always negative. You can change your spouse’s whole day and yours if you can be happy even when they are not.

10. If something else is taking your best energy, you marriage will begin to suffer. If you have a demanding job, save your best energy for your spouse. The excuses of having no energy at home will get old and the feeling loved and adored will go. Keeping your best energy away from your marriage will put a distance between you and your spouse. Having energy will spark love, passion, romance, intimacy.

Do What You Gotta Do

2009-08-08T10:53:00.001-04:00

If there is anything that I have learned on my time on this Earth is that no one is ever going to do it for me, if it has to be done I have to do it. Sometimes I may make a mistake that lands me flat on my back, but I have learned that I have to get up and try harder. It may be painful and it may take a lot of time, but “sometimes you just have to do what you’ve gotta do.”

When the fires get hot, that is when you need to keep pressing on. It is like a refiner’s fire. Each time the refiner turns up the heat on a precious metal, the metal gets a little more pure. When the flames get hot, it is not the time to turn around. It is not a time to sit down and take a break, you have got to push yourself and make it through. Walk through that fire and come out more refined.

I know that in this current economy that people will tell you, “It’s just no use, there are no jobs, you shouldn’t do that, you are going to loose.” People will tell you whatever you’ll listen too. If you believe it, they will keep telling you lies.

Of course the economy is in a rough spot. We can point fingers and blame others, but what are you going to do about your life? You can blame Wall Street, The President, Congress, but what about your life? Are you going to move forward?

The truth is that nobody is going to do it for you. You may think that the government can help you, but they won’t. You may think someone else will help you, they may. If you want to move from the place you are in right now, you are going to have to do it. “There ain’t nobody in this world that’s gonna do it for you, do what you gotta do!”

Miracle of the Moment

2009-08-07T16:35:00.001-04:00

One of the greatest gifts that any of us have is the gift of right now. We have right now, we do not know if we have the next moment or the next day. We cannot go back to the last moment or yesterday because it’s gone. So what are we doing with right now? Are you enjoying the miracle of this moment?

It really is time to let go of the past and grasp the right here and the right now. What you do right now have a profound impact on the next moments in you life. Will you stir up anger, is it worth it? Will you stir up love? What will you do with the asset that you have been given called time?

Sometimes I hear people say, “If I could only do that over.” So if I had a time machine, and you could go back in time and correct that moment, would you want to? What kind of impact would that really have on right now? The mistakes you made in the past are only mistakes if you learned and picked yourself up. The mistakes became failures if you stayed there in self-pity and did nothing about it.

Now is not too late to start enjoying the “Miracle of the Moment.” Every moment and every day you have the choice of your actions. Everyday you have the chance to start over, because “mercies are new every morning.”

Let go of yesterday and enjoy the “Miracle of the Moment”

100 Years

2009-07-29T11:00:00.000-04:00

If you are reading this blog, you have between 1-100 years to live. Some of us will have a shorter time here on Earth and others of us will be here longer. Most of us see life rushing by so fast, but why is it rushing by so fast? Why does it feel like the years keep speeding up, moving faster and faster? A lot of times it has to do with what we fill our days with. We are so busy all of the time filling each minute of the day with activities, and wishing that we were at another time in life.

When I was 15 I could not wait until I was 16 so I could drive, but when I turned 16 I couldn’t wait until I was an upperclassman. Then I couldn’t wait until I was in college. . .and the vicious cycle continued on and on.

I still do that, I look forward to the future and say that I will have arrived when. Why is it that we cannot enjoy where we are at and enjoy the moments we are in? We quickly loose the moments in our lives and they are gone forever, you will never get them back.

There is no harm in looking forward, but it is the longing to get there too fast that seems to speed up our lives. We miss those moments that are right in front of us because we want to get from 25 to 26 so fast. One day you will look back and think, “Where did the time go?” You will look back at yourself at 15 and say, “There is still time, enjoy the moments, enjoy where you are at right now. Set goals and work at them daily, but don’t speed your life up!”

Don’t get hung up on yesterday and do not get hung up on tomorrow. We have goals, and you work towards them in the day that you have. Yesterday was yesterday, it’s gone and it’s not coming back. Tomorrow hasn’t happened yet and it may not happen. However it is hard for us to think in those terms.

In America the symbol for success is having “stuff,” but you are not taking it with you when you come to the end of your life. Society keeps pushing us to want more stuff and to accumulate more stuff. There is nothing wrong with having stuff, but it seems to start driving us. That’s what makes us want to get to the next year in life, to have more, to be more, and to have more power. Stuff keeps our minds off what is important. If you focus on what’s important, the rest seems to fall in place.

So what, we only have like 100 years to live? “Every day's a new day...15 there's still time for you, time to buy and time to choose. Hey 15, there's never a wish better than this, when you only got 100 years to live.” (Five For Fight, 100 Years)

I Think a Change will do you Good.

2009-07-28T11:36:00.001-04:00

When I was really young I hated change. I liked my routine, I liked my surroundings, I liked the traditions. I did not like change because I wanted everything to stay the same and to stay the way I liked it. However, I had to learn a hard lesson in 1995-1996, the only thing certain in life is change.

In 1995 my parents made the decision that we would be moving. We were not moving from state to state, rather across to the other side of the city. That may not seem to be a big deal to you, but I was being moved out of my “bubble” and into a place that was very unfamiliar to me. I was going to have to make new friends, go to a new school not knowing anyone. I resisted this change as hard as I could, however I had absolutely no control over the situation.

When I arrived to my new home, I actually liked it, but I was still scared to death of starting a new school. I would be in 8th grade all by myself, and then the very next year I would be a freshman in high school! I had a decision to make right then and there. I was either going crawl in my shell and hide, or I was going to step out on nothing and see what was there. I decided to dive head first into this new endeavor and make the best out of this new challenge. I decided I would run for student government my first semester at my new school. Although the odds were against me, and although I didn’t win the election, people knew my name.

That move across the city proved to be the best thing that could have happened to me. It opened my heart and my mind to new opportunities. It took me out of my safe “bubble” and forced me to grow and learn new things. Five years later I went to college (close to home), but two years into college I decided to move to Nashville where once again I would be all alone in a new city and a new school.

Now change doesn’t always come in the form of moving to a new location. Sometimes it comes in more unpleasant forms, sometimes the change is welcomed. Change is the only inevitable part of life. It is hard to embrace change when you loose someone or something that is important to you, but that change is going to happen. As the song Everything Must Change says:

“Everything must change
nothing stays the same
everyone will change
no one, no one stays the same

the young become the old
and mysteries do unfold
for that's the way of time
no one, and nothing goes unchanged

there are not many things in life one can be sure of
except rain comes from the clouds
sun lights up the sky
hummingbirds fly

winter turns to spring
a wounded heart will heal
oh but never much too soon
no one, and nothing goes unchanged

The young become the old
and mysteries do unfold
for that's the way of time
no one, and nothing stays unchanged.”

Change will come, but it is how you react to that will define your life and who you are. “The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. . .we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you. . .we are in charge of our Attitudes.” –Charles R. Swindoll

Move Forward. . .Change the World

2009-07-10T10:00:00.002-04:00

As stated in the post before this one, I am changing what MitchTheFielder is. I believe in being a square peg in a round hole. If you believe that you can change the world and you try, you will. We are all interconnected, we are designed to help each other. Below is a video that will be the theme of MitchTheFielder.

I do not believe in change for change sake, I believe in change to help those who depend on you. I believe if you feel something that is deep and heart felt you should act on it. This blog will be my attempt to motivate those who read it to change their world.

MitchTheFielder Moving Forward

2009-07-01T10:33:00.001-04:00

If you read the quote at the top of this site it says “I can never stand still.” The quote is from Walt Disney, one of my heroes. However my most favorite quote is, “Around here, however, we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things… and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” (Walt Disney)

MitchTheFielder is going to “move forward and open new doors and do new things.” Since the start of my blog what has been posted is a hodgepodge of random thoughts. The blog is totally random and would probably drive someone with ADHD bonkers.

I will be keeping the look and feel of the blog, but will be changing the content. I am focusing my efforts and branding MitchTheFielder, so when you hear MitchTheFielder you will know what you are getting. So some posts will be removed that do not fit into the “brand.”

Thanks for reading!

STAY TUNED. . .

Purpose

2009-05-11T10:32:00.000-04:00

Yesterday at The People's Church Rick White said in his message, "The two greatest days of one's life are the day you were born and the day you figured out why you were born." -unknown

Let that sink in for a moment. Are you doing what you were born to do, or are you just going through life with no passion and no drive. "If you enjoy what you do, you will never work another day in you life."

Did You Know? (3.0)

2009-04-02T14:51:00.000-04:00

I posted this 4 months ago, but I think it bears repeating. We are living in exponential times. . .

Play At Your Own Risk

2009-03-31T12:59:00.001-04:00

A few years ago Toby Mac had a song that was released called “Extreme Days.” In that song one of the lyrics that has stuck with me is “Show me risk and you'll get my attention.” A lot of people are scared of taking “Risks” and stepping out into the unknown. Starting out with a black canvas scares some people to death. Most people would rather “paint by numbers” and get the highly predictable results instead of starting with a blank page.

I believe deep in my heart that we were created to create. We have a desire in us to do something more than the “Status Quo.” If I have a picture of Mickey Mouse and it is a color by numbers, I know what it is going to look like before I ever start. Walt Disney already created that masterpiece on a blank canvas.

A lot of us enjoy painting by numbers for some reason. We graduate high school, go to college, get a job, buy a SUV, invest, get two weeks paid vacation and we get highly predictable results. That may be good, but it really isn’t that amazing to you or anyone else for that matter. The only way to see something amazing is to take “Risks.”

You may fail when you take a risk and end up with a mess. The next blank canvas that you start with may end up a masterpiece. Many painters threw away disastrous paintings before the masterpiece. Many song writers write absolutely terrible songs before they write the hit. When you dream something, take action.

I hate the “paint by numbers” picture everyone is working on right now. I turn on the news and what I see is chaos, depression, insecurity, uncertainty. I’m sorry, but if that is safe I am going to take risks. I am not going to play at a county fair, I want to make my own Disneyland.

I’m not an Environmentalist, I’m a Capitalist

2009-03-12T10:44:00.002-04:00

A year ago the industry I am in was talking about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). A year later we are fighting the media which is bashing our industry because of the current state of the economy. It seems that CSR has taken a back seat, but it hasn’t. I believe now more than ever CSR will be at the forefront of the Meetings, Events, and Travel Industries. As Tim Sanders said last year at MeetDifferent in Houston, Texas, there is a business revolution coming. Whether you are a strong environmentalist or not, it is coming. When this storm in our current economy passes, the CSR Revolution will be there staring us in the face.

We live in a Capitalist society and a Capitalist Economy is one of the best motivations in the world. You either make yourself marketable, you make customers want to do business with you, or you fail. We saw this coming on strong about a year ago with Corporate Social Responsibility. Going green will be one of the most important business tools right now and in the future.

I am a Capitalist and I believe the way to make change is through our system. I have seen hotels, convention centers, airlines, meeting supply companies, etc. make a change to green. They didn’t make the change to green because of the government, they made the change because they need to be green to be marketable. The companies that will survive are those that can make the change and put Corporate Social Responsibility at the top of their list.

The generation currently entering the workforce and those that follow value Corporate Social Responsibility. Take Apple, Inc. for example. One of the main marketing points for their new laptop is that it is the “greenest” computer on the market. Apple knows it has to be green to make money. The Meetings and Events industry realized that it needs to be green to thrive and to grow.

If you want to still be in business 10 years from now, it is time you start thinking about going green. As I stated earlier, the CSR Revolution will still be there when the recession is over. I do not care if you are an environmentalist, capitalist, or if you believe in manmade Global Warming or not, CSR will still be there. The change starts with you. I am excited to see the new innovations that will come to produce cleaner more efficient energy. I am excited to see innovations that will clean our air and I am excited that I will be able to walk through L.A. on a summer day without SMOG. “There’s a great big beautiful tomorrow, shinning at the end of everyday.” (Carousel of Progress, Disneyland and Walt Disney World).

Find out more about Tim Sanders at http://www.timsanders.com/

Find out more about CSR and the Meetings and Events Industry http://www.mpiweb.org/cms/mpiweb/mpicontent.aspx?id=11458

The Only Reason To Have A Meeting

2009-03-03T16:36:00.000-05:00

Is it Success or is it Failure?

2009-02-10T14:47:00.001-05:00

Lately we have been seeing a lot of changes in the world around us. Most of the changes that we have been experiencing are completely unexpected. Some of the unexpected changes has left many people jobless.

The unexpected changes that are occurring today are leaving a lot of people feeling like they have “failed.” Are you really a failure? In Batman Begins Thomas Wayne tells young Bruce Wayne, “Why do we fall? To learn to pick ourselves up.” I think that falling down is a necessary evil to get to success. Walt Disney had many “failures” or set-backs before he was successful and became a household name. Hank Aaron struck-out may times on his way to breaking the Babe’s record. Apple had set-backs before iPod, iMac, OS X and its current success. Do we find the perfect career path without set-backs or even firings/layoffs?

We need to change the definition of “failure.” When we fall down or find ourselves in a valley, that does not mean that we are to loose hope. When silver is being refined the temperature is raised at every step during the process until the refiner can see his reflection like a mirror. Can we learn to embrace “failures” and see them as necessary steps in the process towards success? Napoleon Hill once said: “Failure seems to be nature’s plan for preparing us for great responsibilities.”

“Failure is good. It's fertilizer. Everything I've learned about coaching, I've learned from making mistakes.” -- Rick Patino

The Power of Failure

2009-01-24T12:17:00.000-05:00

Hopes, Expectations, a New Direction Part 2

2009-01-22T17:14:00.001-05:00

Part one of “Hopes, Expectations, a New Direction” was written on Inauguration Day. That day is probably the most non-partisan day of the year. It’s a day when everyone celebrates our republic and celebrates our political process. Now we have come to the second day of a Presidency. The non-partisan talk has been put aside.

For those who have known me for a long time you know that I have always been interested in politics and you have known where I have stood on many issues. For those who know me, you know that my faith is a big part of my life.

Every four years we come to a wonderful tradition in America called the General Election. For the past decade I come to a point in the voting booth where I find myself pausing and rethinking my vote. The reason is very complicated. Mainly because of social issues. For those who believe in God the same issue should probably face you too.

There is a conflict that stirs every four years in me. A lot of that has to do with the attitude of the church as I was growing up. As a kid, you learn that the only way to vote is a certain way. If you do not vote a certain way then people question your faith. This weekend at church, our pastor said that he had heard a statistic that 40% of America wants President Obama to fail and he went on to say that he hopes that that statistic is not true. Why would we want the leader of our nation to fail? I disagree with some of his policies, I agree with others. I disagreed with some of Bush’s policies, and agreed with some. We should never wish our President to be a failure.

A man said on the radio the other day that people had sold out their faith and their country by voting for President Obama. That comment nearly made me sick at my stomach. I am sick an tired of people using their faith as a political tool. I am sick and tired of politicians using faith to get elected. You believe in God, then show us by the way you lead not your rhetoric. I’m tired of people leading us that are not authentic. “Nothing is more transparent than inauthentic expressions of faith. . . some politicians come and clap -- off rhythm -- to the choir. We don't need that.” (President Obama).

“So we all have some work to do here. But I a m hopeful that we can bridge the gaps that exist and overcome the prejudices each of us bring to this debate. And I have faith that millions of believing Americans want that to happen. No matter how religious they may or may not be, people are tired of seeing faith used as a tool of attack. They don't want faith used to belittle or to divide. They're tired of hearing folks deliver more screed than sermon. Because in the end, that's not how they think about faith in their own lives.” (President Obama).

Hopes, Expectations, a New Direction, Part 1

2009-01-21T10:00:00.000-05:00

On the night of the election I could not help but feel a since of pride when the results came in. No matter what your political affiliation or who you voted for, a mile stone had been hit in the United States of America. America had elected its first African American President. A dream that had been fulfilled only a handful of decades after Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” speech. I have believed that we had hit that point outside of politics, but the election of Obama proved that we had hit that bench mark.

Almost a year ago I was at the MPI MeetDifferent Conference in Houston, Texas. It was February and here we are talking about Meeting Different. Here our industry was talking about breaking the mold and changing the world at work. Almost a foretelling of things to come in 2008 and 2009.

While I was at the conference I had a conversation with two dear friends from the Tennessee Chapter of MPI. We talked about how my generation and younger generations see the world. We do not really look at someone and think about their color, we look at someone and see a person. The cultural melting pot has always been part of our life. Now, the future generations, will never know a world where we do not have an African American president.

I am not saying that there are not people in my generation or younger generations that do not feel feel or promote racial tension. There are many places in our country that still teach hate, they do not accept the differences and the creativity of a wonderful God.

Today our nation has something to celebrate. We have elected the first African American President, we have a peaceful exchange of power. We can have 1.8 million people gather on the National Mall in peace. I celebrate with America for that fact. I pray for the success of President Obama and I pray for his family. I thank former President Bush for his service. I cannot imagine leading a country under the circumstances he faced. I cannot imagine taking on the responsibility of president during these times either. No one should want President Obama to fail. We need him to be a successful President. He is my President, I will stand with him when I agree with him and I will disagree with him when I believe differently. We are Americans, not Democrats or Republicans.

Jobless-Broken Spirit

2009-01-13T13:11:00.004-05:00

I think that we all know someone who is jobless or who has lost their job, especially in this economy. Some of those people who have lost their jobs get right back on track while others stay down with their spirits broken. When an individual stays down and goes without a job for a long amount of time there is usually an underlying issue. Yes, even during this difficult time in our economy.

That underlying issue is our spirit or attitude. Our spirit and attitude make a huge difference in our relationships, careers and life. We have to be careful in watching all the areas in our lives when a painful event knocks us off course. If we pay too much attention to that one area all of the areas of our lives begin to suffer.
I know from personal experience that when a door closes in your career another one opens. When you fall down you have to learn to pick yourself up.

Here are some tips that may help if you find yourself jobless and with a broken spirit:

- Now is a good time for you to start a workout routine. Go for a long walk or run. Ollie Johnston, one of Walt Disney’s top animators, used to walk to spark creativity. This will help you also get anger out and increase your creativity. Take time to enjoy the simple things.

- Volunteer your time. You will be making a positive impact and you will making a difference. It will do wonders for your attitude.

- Stop watching the TV and don’t spend so much time on the computer. Begin reading inspirational material for an hour or more each day. Too much TV and internet will do nothing but depress you and keep you from getting out of your slump.

- Invest in your personal relationships. If there is ever a time you need the support of those around you it is now. You never know who may be looking for a great employee like you.

- Get a job. It may not be your dream job or the next big step in your career, but it will get you moving in a positive direction while you are searching. Today I looked on a career site and they listed 1,643 jobs in the Nashville area. So if the statistic is true that only 12% of what’s available is listed, that means there is about 13,600 jobs in the Nashville area.

- Use the tools that you have. Use MPI’s job bank, use your MPI Network. There are so many opportunities out there. Do not limit yourself.

Only you are ultimately responsible for your life. Charles Swindoll said it best, “I believe the single most significant decision I can make on a day-to-day basis is my choice of attitude. It is more important than my past, my education, my bankroll, my successes or failures, fame or pain, what other people think of me or say about me, my circumstances, or my position. Attitude keeps me going or cripples my progress. It alone fuels my fire or assaults my hope. When my attitudes are right, there is no barrier too high, no valley too deep, no dream too extreme, no challenge too great for me.”

The Eagle and the Turkey

2008-12-01T09:48:00.000-05:00

I love this story, I heard it about a year ago and I thought I would share.

Once upon a time in the long, long ago the Eagle and the Turkey were very good friends. Everywhere they went these friends went together. It was not uncommon for people to look up and see the Eagle and the Turkey flying side by side through the air.

One day while flying, the Turkey said to the Eagle: “Let’s drop down and get a bite to eat. My stomach is growling.” “Sounds like a good idea to me,” replied the Eagle. So the two birds glided down to earth, saw several animals eating, and decided to join them. They landed next to the Cow. The Cow was busy eating corn, but noticed that the Eagle and the Turkey were soon sitting on the ground next to her. “Welcome,” said the Cow. “Help yourself to the corn.”

This took the two birds by surprise. They were not accustomed to having other animals share their food quite so readily. “Why are you willing to share your corn with us?” asked the Eagle. “Oh, we have plenty to eat here. Mr. Farmer gives us all we want,” replied the Cow. With that invitation, the Eagle and The Turkey jumped in and ate their fill. When they finished, the Turkey asked more about Mr. Farmer. “Well,” said the Cow, “he grows all our food. We don’t have to work for the food at all.”

“You mean,” said the Turkey, “that Mr. Farmer simply gives you all you want to eat?” “That’s right,” said the Cow. “Not only that, but he gives us a place to live.” The Turkey and the Eagle were shocked! They had never heard of such a thing. They had always had to search for food and work for shelter.

When it came time to leave, the Turkey and the Eagle began to discuss the situation. “Maybe we should just stay here,” said the Turkey. “We can have all the food we want without working. And that barn over there sure beats those nests we have been building. Besides, I’m getting tired of always having to work for a living.”

“I don’t know about all this,” said the Eagle. “It sounds too good to be true. I find it hard to believe that one can get something for nothing. Besides, I kind of like flying high and free through the air. And providing for food and shelter isn’t so bad. In fact, I find it quite challenging.”

Well, the Turkey thought it over and decided to stay where there was free food and shelter. But the Eagle decided that he loved his freedom too much to give it up, and enjoyed the consistent challenge of making his own living. So, after saying good-bye to his old friend the Turkey, the Eagle set sail for the unknown adventure.

Everything went fine for the Turkey. He ate all he wanted. He never worked. He grew fat and lazy. But then one day he heard the farmer’s wife mention that Thanksgiving was coming in the next few days and it would be nice to have roast turkey for dinner. Hearing that, the Turkey decided it was time to check out and rejoin his good friend Mr. Eagle. But when he attempted to fly he found that he had grown too fat and lazy. Instead of being able to fly, he could only flutter. So on Thanksgiving Day the farmer’s family sat down to roast Turkey.

When you give up the challenges of life in pursuit of “security,” you may give up your freedom.

We Are All in This Together--How Can I Help?

2008-12-01T09:39:00.000-05:00

USA Today reports that companies across the country are slashing bonuses, severance packages and pay raises. 40% of surveyed companies plan to reduce the amount allotted for raises in 09 and 62% say they will be giving smaller bonuses than last year. The number of companies holding holiday parties is the lowest in reportable history. American Express just canceled its annual year-end bash. Companies that normally avoid any layoffs are now compiling lists of who will be let go. (We all know Holiday parties affect our industry)

Here is the interesting part of the story. A lot of charities are seeing an increase in giving. Some companies are reporting that employees are skipping the company holiday party and to feed the hungry instead. Justin Greeves, VP of Harris Interactive (a giving tracking organization) says that “in a year when people are having trouble meeting basic needs, giving by individuals usually increases.” Companies decide that instead of a lavish party, they’ll help those in need.

It seems that when we have too much we become greedy and hoarders. But when we are struggling ourselves, we are more willing to help each other out. What are you doing to help out?