i’m back (sort of)

It’s been a long week.
I was really sick and fell off my writing schedule, hence the relationship week pause.

While I’ve been off, I have had time to think (or re-think) about my mission in life.
After being a great husband and father, I want to be one that always tried to help others be a success in life.
I want to help others reach the potential that God has for them.
Too many people are living their life far below the possibilities that God has designed for them.

Stay tuned next week for a different (but the same) vibe from me.

peace

relationship week: COMMUNICATION


Today on this blog we will start what I like to call RELATIONSHIP week.
Many people are not enjoying being married as much as they should.
Some are not enjoying it at all.

What we want to do is start a conversation that will help those who are struggling and encourage those who are on the right path.

COMMUNICATION

Communication is NOT a one-way street.
You can not expect your spouse to listen to you talk and never have the opportunity to express themselves.
If that’s the kind of relationship that you want, get a dog!

To have effective, productive communication you MUST respect the other parties opinion.
This doesn’t mean that you have to agree with everything that was said.
It just means that who they are is more important than what was said.

In terms of respect, husbands and wives should be able to express their thoughts without the fear of being put down or made to look stupid for having an idea.
Nothing can put a relationship or marriage in jeopardy quicker than making someone feel inferior or insignificant.

No one should have to guess or assume what you mean.
You should never rely on “silent communication”.
Ask. Ask. Ask.

I believe that communication is one of the most vital parts to a marriage.
After all the sex and physical intimacy is gone (sorry, it WILL happen) all that will be left is communication.

Take some time out everyday to have meaningful communication with your spouse.
It’s an investment that will reap a tremendous return.

Tomorrow: FINANCES

funky faith friday

Here are a few things that I am believing God for:

1. God is firing up my vision to impact the city of Joliet. There are so many needs but I want to focus on the youth and young families (single parent and married couples).

2. A Major move toward serving in my city. It’s time to get out the pews and from behind the pulpits and get our hands dirty.

3. More focus on my writing. I am getting ideas from everywhere. I just need to focus more : )

Next week is Relationship Week on my blog.
Stay tuned!

They need US!


“A vision is always a solution to a problem” (Andy Stanley)

To re-state the problems in our cities is to point out the obvious.
The main issue is to do something about it.

Statistics on teenage pregnancy, drop-out rates, and violence don’t seem to bother most of us.
We have gotten numb to the numbers.

The youth of our cities need us.

They need us to care when they are struggling.
They need us to listen when they want to talk.
They need us to guide them when they don’t know the way.
They need us to correct them when they are wrong.

We, as adults, need to come together and find solutions to the issues that continue to plague our communities.

Work programs
Recreational opportunities
Life-skill classes
Trade school programs

There are many ways that we can impact this current generation.
There are multiple outlets that can be developed.

It’s up to us to put it together.
Not the government.
Not the superstar athlete.

You.
Me.
Let’s GO!

soul vitamin

“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”

Winston Churchill

Cross the line to action


A lot of conversation has been going on lately about some issues in my city.
I was at a funeral of a young man last week who lost his life tragically from a gunshot.

Lots of talking.
It’s my fear that after a few weeks people in the community will forget all about this incident.

It’s not enough to just talk.
It’s not enough to have town hall meetings
It’s not enough to have conference calls
It’s not enough to shout from a pulpit
It’s not enough

When young men are killing each other like animals in the street.
When young ladies sell their bodies and their souls for dollar bills and shouts of affirmation.
When less teens are going to college than are going to jail.
When pregnancy is a T.V. driven fad as opposed to a God-given responsibility.
When excellence is an afterthought.

It’s certainly good to have some dialogue about the issues that our society faces.
But when all we do is talk about what we have already talked about, what good is that?

When we complain but never make a move for change, what good is it?

Enough talk, let’s cross the line.
Let’s ACT!!

word of the year

Taking a cue from my guy, David Trotter, I have come up with my word for 2011

Connect

For this year I am making it my business to:

1. Connect people to the real possibilities of life. You don’t HAVE to live unfulfilled and lost.

2. Connect my dreams to the real world. It’s time to get things out of my head and off a sheet a paper.

I am one used to be of the biggest procrastinators out there.
I have seen so many people who are hurting and need to know that it’s possible to Connect the pieces again.

I am EXCITED about this year!
CONNECT

reflective burden

As I reflect on starting a new year, I think about all the things that I am grateful for:
health
family
job
love

I then begin to think about all of the people in my community who don’t have these things.

There are so many young people who don’t have what I had growing up.
Many of them don’t have 2 loving parents in the home.
Lots of them don’t have a dad to show them the way.
Lots of them don’t even know of a man who is trying to do things the right way.

It is my prayer that God grant me favor in the process of rebuilding the walls of my city.
The children are depending on us.

rebuild the walls


I attended a funeral yesterday for a 14 year old young man who was shot to death in my city last week.
There were many things that I observed that caught my attention.

1. I have been to a lot (too many) funerals in my lifetime but I have never seen a combination of black, white, hispanic, old, young, and very young in attendance. This young man really impacted a variety of people. Amazing!

2. I noticed a lot of grown men who were crying. It is my opinion that men only cry at their Mothers funeral. This also let a huge impression on me.

Overall, I was reminded of how much work there is to do in this city.
It is easy to complain about the crime and the violence but who is willing to initiate change?

Just like Nehemiah was burdened for his country, I am burdened for my city.

It’s time to rebuild the walls.