It will never be convenient.
To forgive.
To exercise.
To create art.
To eat healthy.
To save money.
To pursue dreams.
It will never be convenient.
Achieving greatness is never convenient.
Being extraordinary is never convenient.
Becoming world class is never convenient.
So quit making inconvenience your excuse.
If I’m going to sing like someone else, then I don’t need to sing at all. Billie Holiday
Variety of pursuits.
Variety of passions.
Variety of personalities.
There is beauty in variety.
Variety of concerns.
Variety of conditions.
Variety of convictions.
There is beauty in variety.
Variety of styles.
Variety of methods.
Variety of approaches.
There is beauty in variety.
So what does this mean to you?
Stop defending your obvious originality.
Quit avoiding your perceived peculiarity.
Cease despising your interesting individuality.
Your uniqueness makes the world a more beautiful place.
Embrace it.
It is my hope that this series has encouraged you to be more intentional about pursuing your full potential in the areas of your life that have room for growth.
But if it hasn’t…
I must forewarn you that there does exist…consequences of complacency.
If you’re convinced you’ve already “made it,” a life of boredom awaits you.
Boredom with work.
Boredom with relationships.
Boredom with living.
Avoid boredom, pursue “The Next Level.”
If you haven’t any “new heights” to attain, a life of selfishness will be your reality.
Your community is filled with so much pain, how can you be complacent?
Your state is filled with so much so much need, how can you be complacent?
Your world is filled with so much suffering, how can you be complacent?
Avoid selfishness, pursue “The Next Level.”
If you are content with a life void of pursuit, isolation will be your prize.
No one wants to be around a person who is apathetic.
No one wants to be around a person who is uninterested.
No one wants to be around a person who is indifferent.
Avoid isolation, pursue “The Next Level.”
In light of the consequences listed above,
I believe “The Next Level” should be pursued by everyone.
But if you don’t agree, that’s fine.
Just don’t be surprised if a day comes when the words boring, selfish and isolated are the primary adjectives you use to define your existence.
The high destiny of an individual is to serve rather than rule.
Albert Einstein
So you seek to go to “The Next Level?”
A place you feel you deserve?
Well the path to take is before you:
Simply choose to serve.
Serve those you see around you.
Serve those you see in need.
Serve those you know are hurting.
Serve those you’re blessed to lead.
And after a season of serving has ended,
You’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Though you didn’t see it coming…
“The Next Level” will have arrived.
When we treat man as he is, we make him worse than he is; when we treat him as if he already were what he potentially could be, we make him what he should be. – Goethe
I’ve been waiting for you.
But I’ll assume you’ve neglected to attain me, because you don’t know what I’m all about.
So let me take a few moments to explain:
I am a place where deep joy is found.
I am a place where a great contribution is made.
I am a place where much satisfaction is experienced.
Though pain will be required to reach me, pleasure will be your reward.
Though fear must be overcome to obtain me, fulfillment will be your prize.
Though sacrifice will be required to find me, significance will be your delight.
So who, exactly, am I?
I am Your Potential.
And I am pleading with you to stop ignoring and avoiding me.
Because the truth is…
Until pursuing me becomes your priority, mediocrity will be your reality.
Setting an example is not the main means of influencing another, it is the only means.
Albert Einstein
Very few will pursue
What they were put on this earth to do
Until they can, for themselves, view
That it can be done by you.
Apathy is the glove into which evil slips its hand.
– Bodie Thoene
Quit being a coward.
For far too long you’ve been aware of the problem.
For far too long you’ve been burdened by the issue.
For far too long you’ve been frustrated by the situation.
But apathy has taken over.
You stopped loving – because you were hurt.
You stopped caring – because you thought it didn’t matter.
You stopped fighting – because you thought it wasn’t worth it.
Well I’ve got news for you.
It’s worth it.
Your relationship with your boss is worth it. He deserves to know how you feel.
Your relationship with your friend is worth it. She deserves to know what happened.
Your relationship with your child is worth it. He deserves to know why you’re frustrated.
Understand…
Your inaction is not protecting anyone, instead, it’s hurting everyone.
Don’t you get it?
If you don’t say it, who else will?
If you don’t bring it up, who else will?
If you don’t take a stand, who else will?
Nobody.
The responsibility is yours. You’re the leader.
So,
Go. Handle business. (View this blog post as the permission you were waiting for.)
Don’t wait another day.
Evil has no place here.
90% of everything is crap. – Sturgeon’s Law
What a thought.
I came across this “law” yesterday, and at first I found it quite offensive. But after taking a few moments to consider the validity of the statement, I was convinced of its’ truth.
We are surrounded by crap.
Crappy food. (It’s unhealthy)
Crappy music. (It’s degrading)
Crappy marketing. (It’s pushy)
Crappy websites. (They’re ugly)
Crappy advertising. (It’s deceitful)
Crappy products. (They’re useless)
Crappy companies. (They’re irrelevant)
Crappy relationships. (They’re abusive)
So with this in mind, I have to lovingly ask you,
Are you a part of the solution or are you a part of the problem?
My encouragement to you today is this: Don’t add to the crap.
Instead…
Create art worth sharing.
Create products worth buying.
Create relationships worth building.
Create experiences worth remembering.
Create beautiful things.
Create excellent things.
Create magnificent things.
Refuse to create crap.
So much of it already exists.
I’m selfish.
I think I know it all.
I assume I’m experienced.
I’m over confident in my abilities.
I’m convinced that I have all the answers.
I’m sure that I can do what you do, but I can do it better.
But because the above statements are true…
I commit to ridding myself of all unnecessary forms of pride.
I commit to waiting patiently for my opportunity to come.
I commit to honoring those who have gone before me.
I commit to learning from everyone around me.
I commit to humbling my attitude.
I commit to following well.
I am a young adult, and this is my commitment.
Find a job you enjoy.
Do work that you want to do.
Pursue a 9-5 that you’re nuts about.
Engage in employment that excites you.
Why?
Because pretending to love what you do…
is exhausting.
Not every hit needs to be a home run.
This is some great advice.
Especially for people as ambitious as you and me.
Not every song…
Not every video…
Not every script…
Not every picture…
Not every sermon…
Not every blog post…
Not every creative idea…
Not every presentation…
Not every performance…
Not every___________________ (fill in the blank with what you do)…
needs to be a “home run.”
It doesn’t have to be a huge success.
It doesn’t have to be the talk of the town.
It doesn’t have to win the hearts of the masses.
How do I know this to be true?
Because the greatest home run hitters in baseball, of all-time, only hit home runs one time every fifteen at-bats yet they made/make millions of dollars!
A home run only 7% of the time means greatness!
Be encouraged.
Do what you do with heart.
Do what you do with passion.
Do what you do with excellence.
Do what you do with consistency.
If you can “hit a home run” just 7% of the time, there is no telling where your passions, art and creativity will take you!
God is more interested in me than He is in my dream.
– Rick Warren
This is a very important post. Please read it carefully.
Though attaining your goals is very valuable.
Though fulfilling your purpose is extremely necessary.
Though achieving your dreams is absolutely important.
There exists a greater concern.
Though the purpose of this website is to inspire you to passionately pursue the specific purposes for which you were created, I have to be very honest with you.
God has a greater concern.
God is concerned with more than just your dreams, goals and purposes.
God’s greatest concern is…You.
More than anything else,
Your Heavenly Father desires that you know Him.
Your Heavenly Father desires that you pursue Him.
Your Heavenly Father desires that you prioritize Him.
Your Heavenly Father desires that you have an intimate relationship with Him.
So it is with that in mind that I must communicate this very sobering truth:
If what you’re doing for God comes at the expense of your relationship with God…You. Have. Failed.
Worried about your finances?
Concerned about your family?
Apprehensive about your future?
You are not alone.
Over the last month, I too have found myself questioning how various areas of my life were going to work out. I have doubted whether certain outcomes would turn out for my good.
But it doesn’t have to be like this.
You and I don’t have to be so worried.
You and I don’t have to be so concerned.
You and I don’t have to be so apprehensive.
How do I know this to be true?
Because over 2,000 years ago, the Old Testament prophet Isaiah penned these very encouraging words…
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all those whose thoughts are fixed on you. – Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)
Simply stated: As you develop perfect trust, you inherit perfect peace.
A perfect peace that eases your pain.
A perfect peace that calms your nerves.
A perfect peace that surpasses all understanding.
Perfect peace comes from perfect trust.
Therefore, on this day, put your complete trust in your Heavenly Father.
He loves you.
He cares for you.
He holds your life in the very palm of His hand.
Trust Him.
Perfect peace will be your prize.
You’ve gotta’ stop holding back.
For quite some time now,
You’ve wanted to share an idea.
You’ve wanted to send a message.
You’ve wanted to start a conversation.
You want to say something.
But instead,
You’ve held back.
You’ve been fearful.
You’ve procrastinated.
This is not acceptable.
And here’s why…
Until you say what needs to be said,
your life won’t move ahead.
Until you express yourself,
You will be anxious.
You will be frustrated.
You will be discontent.
For how much longer do you want to be held captive by your own unspoken words?
Choose the medium that works best for you and…say it.
Have the talk.
Send the email.
Record the song.
Make the phone call.
Publish the blog post.
Do not let another day go by with your thoughts unspoken.
Believe that what you have to say will have an impact.
Trust that what you have to say will make a difference.
Have confidence that what you have to say will be worthwhile.
Say what needs to be said.
The value of your message will not be revealed until the words of your message have been spoken.
No great thing is created suddenly. – Epicetus
Whether you see yourself as a “creative” or not, I am convinced that to accomplish the unique purpose for which you were born, you will need to exercise the creative abilities you have been given.
With this in mind, here is the creative cycle I go through as a writer. In sharing this, it is my intent that you would have a process by which you can bring to life every creative idea within you!
1. Consume
Consume content. Consume culture. Consume life.
Creativity starts with consumption.
Question to consider: What am I consuming?
2. Contemplate
Contemplate lessons. Contemplate reactions. Contemplate feelings.
Creativity develops through contemplation.
Question to consider: Do I invest the time to contemplate?
3. Create
Create art. Create products. Create experiences.
Creativity comes alive through creation.
Question to consider: What am I creating?
4. Contribute
Contribute to family. Contribute to friends. Contribute to the world.
Creativity becomes beneficial through contribution.
Question to consider: What was the last thing that I created that I “shipped?”
5. Critique
Critique the work. Critique the results. Critique the process.
Creativity improves through critiquing.
Question to consider: Do I have a process for evaluating what I create?
6. Continue
Continue the cycle. Continue the process. Continue the commitment.
Creativity is sustained by continuing.
Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. – Jesus of Nazareth
Though your dreams are important.
Though your purpose is key.
Real life can only be found
In the presence of He.
For apart from Christ’s love
No real fruit will you bear.
Of this timeless truth
I hope you’re aware.
Waiting is not wasting when we are waiting on the Lord. God is always working while we wait. – Louie Giglio
Though there seems to be very little results.
Though there seems to be no evident progress.
Though there seems to be few significant victories.
God is working.
Maturing your faith.
Purifying your motives.
Refining your character.
God is working inside of you.
Building the team.
Making the connections.
Preparing the resources.
God is working on behalf of you.
Clearing the way.
Opening the doors.
Determining the steps.
God is working ahead of you.
The principle to remember is this…
While you’re waiting, God is working.
Now, I encourage you to live your life as if that statement were true.
Because it is.
You’ve heard it said before that,
You are what you eat.
But that statement doesn’t only apply to the food you put in your mouth.
These days, you have a whole new appetite.
And it’s being fulfilled by your:
RSS feeds.
Twitter feeds.
Tumblr feeds.
Facebook feeds.
YouTube feeds.
And all the other social media feeds that you enjoy.
Everyday, you are being fed by…
Blogs and Vlogs.
Advice and Gossip.
News and Updates.
Pictures and Videos.
The list goes on and on.
At some point you must evaluate how these feeds are impacting your life.
At some point you must take inventory of the feeds you consume.
At some point, you must ask yourself,
Is what I am “feeding on” healthy?
There is someone.
Someone you can assist.
Someone you can support.
Someone you can encourage.
You’ve had this someone on your mind for quite some time now.
This someone has a need you can fill.
This someone has a gap you can bridge.
This someone has a problem you can solve.
And it’s time you responded to the call.
For a moment, please take your eyes off of yourself.
This someone provides you a unique opportunity.
You can love this someone.
You can serve this someone.
You can value this someone.
I don’t know who this someone is.
But you do.
And the only question is…
Will you respond?
Website hits. Blog comments. RSS subscribers.
Is this how your success is defined?
Tumblr re-blogs. Twitter followers. Facebook friends.
Is this how your self-worth is determined?
Purchases. Attendees. Customers.
Is this how your satisfaction is decided?
Though there is nothing wrong with keeping track of the various categories mentioned above, I am convinced of the following truth…
If you are not following Him, it does not matter who is following you. (1 Corinthians 11:1)
So what, then, is the most important way to measure your success?
By how closely you are following Him.
And who exactly is “Him?”
Your Creator.