JANUARY 2016

5 MEMORABLE MOMENTS (DECEMBER 2015)

1. Delivered $8000 of Be Generous checks to people in our church community with financial needs.
2. Enjoyed a memorable appreciation dinner with Pastoral and Ministry Leadership Teams.
3. Released our very first EP! "A MOVEMENT CHRISTMAS"
4. Ran 19.5 miles. Wrote 17 blog posts. Read 4 books.
5. Embraced my identity as a runner, writer, reader, and leader!

4 GOALS (JANUARY 2016)

1. Meet with tax guy.
2. Launch new version of www.themovement.us.
3. Launch re-branded podcast for theMOVEMENT.
4. Re-design and re-release The Process.

3 HABITS

1. Read Bible everyday.
2. Write/Post 200 words everyday.
3. Run 2 miles everyday. 

2 SACRIFICES

1. No shopping.
2. No fast food.

1 COMMITMENT

1. By February 1, 2016, I have a meeting with a tax guy.

#422 - I REFUSE TO APOLOGIZE FOR THIS

I have never been more aware of how undeserving I am of the blessings that I am currently privileged to enjoy. I am truly undeserving because I know for a fact that I have not earned or merited what I am currently experiencing. In fact, if I've contributed anything to the good things I'm surrounded by, it's reasons for disqualification from these good things!

There are many days when I don't work as hard as I should, when I don't follow through like I intend to, when I don't do the things that I say I am going to do; days when I simply, drop the ball. Yet God determines to bless my life anyways. Undeserving.

But as undeserving as I know I am, I have decided to be unapologetic for these blessings. Though I may not deserve my beautiful wife who loves me unconditionally, I will not apologize. Though I may not deserve the awesome family that provides for me a firm foundation, I will not apologize. Though I may not deserve the selfless, skilled, and supportive team that I am privileged to serve with, I will not apologize. Though I may not deserve to pastor a church that is reaching people far from God and making an impact in the city, I will not apologize. Though I may not deserve the opportunities that are being made available to me to use my gifts and extend my influence, I will not apologize. 

For reasons far beyond my comprehension, God in His infinite grace and wisdom sees it fit that in this season of my life, blessings will abound. To apologize for them would be to believe that He has made a mistake for bringing these good things into my life. Well, I don't serve a God who makes mistakes! Therefore, I will not apologize. Unapologetic.

UNDERSERVING BUT UNAPOLOGETIC.

This is the approach to life I have decided to take and I encourage you to join me! When we are aware of how undeserving we are of God's blessings, but simultaneously unapologetic for them, He gets the glory! He gets the honor! He gets the praise! 

I will be unapologetic for undeserved blessings because I refuse to apologize for the character of my God. GOD IS GOOD TO THOSE WHO ARE BAD! And for that, I am thankful. 

#421 - THE MOST VALUABLE, FREE GIFT YOU WILL EVER GIVE

In a world filled with so much cynicism, criticism, and discouragement, affirmation is a precious gift, and during the Christmas season, I encourage you to give it.

Most everyone I know, myself included, has doubts, fears, and hesitations about where their life is headed and who they are becoming. Like a delicate vase, our self-esteems are so fragile and can be broken by the words of others in an instant. And they have been. 

Most of us have had words spoken over our lives that have absolutely crushed us. Parents, friends, relatives, bosses, co-workers, teachers, and complete strangers are all capable of uttering words that are hard to recover from. Words that leave a scar on our lives that cannot be removed. Words that give us nightmares. Words that cause us to lose all desire to try something new. Words that leave us wounded.

But in the same way that criticism can destroy a life, affirmation can restore it!

Affirmation of gifts, talents, and abilities, Affirmation of progress made. Affirmation of victories achieved. Affirmation of success experienced. Affirmation of character traits displayed. Affirmation of goals accomplished. Affirmation of potential recognized. There is so much we can affirm in others! 

AND TO GIVE IT COMES AT NO FINANCIAL COST TO YOU!

All you need to do is invest your awareness - Who do you need to affirm? Your thought - What do you need to affirm in that person? And your energy - When will you do the affirming?

Please, I encourage you to give the gift of affirmation this Christmas season. This may seem extreme to you, but my belief is this: someone's personal joy and belief in themselves may be depending on it.

#420 - MY THOUGHTS ON THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS...SERVICE

In a little over 12 hours theMOVEMENT will hold its' Christmas Service for 2015. As I make my final preparations for the message, though I am excited and anticipating a great service, my mind is also filled with thoughts of doubt and angst.

Questions like: Will the service be well attended? Will my message be impactful? Will people give generously to our Be Generous giving initiative?  

Regrets like: We could've done so much more to promote for the service. We should've done Facebook advertising. We didn't create invite cards for our congregation to give to their friends! 

Worries like: I'm crossing my fingers that we don't have any major technical difficulties. I pray it doesn't rain too hard. I hope people wear their ugly Christmas sweaters!

STOP.

I MUST NOT ALLOW THESE QUESTIONS, REGRETS, AND WORRIES TO STEAL THE JOY OF THE OPPORTUNITY I'VE BEEN GIVEN!    

Tomorrow, a community will gather to celebrate the birth of their Savior! Tomorrow, a congregation will worship the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords! Tomorrow, a collective will hear the life-changing message of the gospel! And I get to participate. 

Though I may have fallen short in my preparation. Though I may not have done everything I could've done to ensure a well attended service. Though everything might not turn out like I hoped or planned...

Whether the "house is packed" or whether the attendance is few, tomorrow, I get to play a small part in advancing the Kingdom of God in the city of Oakland!

And this is a blessing, a privilege, and an honor that I do not deserve!

So with a proper perspective change made, I am committed to enjoying being with my church family, worshipping my Lord and Savior, connecting with people who may be visiting for the first time, and preaching like it's the last time I'll ever have to do so!

Here's to a great Christmas Service! Hope to see you there!

#419 - GOD IS FAITHFUL

God is faithful. Though we doubt, He's faithful. Though we question, He's faithful. Though we lose hope, He's faithful. 

God is faithful. His hand is mighty. His arm is strong. His will is sovereign. His love is relentless. His timing is perfect. His Word is true.  

God is faithful. To the saint. To the sinner. To the rich. To the poor. To the Black. To the White. To the male. To the female. To the seen. To the unseen.

God is faithful. To encourage. To equip. To empower. To reach. To renew. To release. To discover. To develop. To deploy. 

God is faithful. He will do what He said He would do. He will provide what He said He would provide. He will build what He said He would build. 

God is faithful. Every promise He has made will be fulfilled. Every purpose He has decreed will come to pass. Every plan He has devised will be completed.

God is faithful. His faithfulness cannot be stopped. His faithfulness cannot be prevented. His faithfulness cannot be derailed.

God is faithful. In every season. In every year. In every generation. God is faithful.  

Our primary responsibility is this...

HAVE FAITH IN HIS FAITHFULNESS! 

#418 - MY 26 WORST FEARS

Scared. Afraid. Hampered by fear. Whether legitimate and illegitimate, I have fears that occupy my mind and influence my actions. I have fears that slow me down and trip me up. I have fears that impact me in ways that I am not even aware.

But, after hearing the following two quotes from Yoda in the first 3 episodes of Star Wars, and after watching the negative impact that fear had on Anakin Skywalker's life, I think it would be a wise investment of my time to identify and face the things that I am most afraid of.

"Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to hate. Hate leads to anger. Anger leads to suffering." 

"Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose."

What are the things I fear? What are the things that I'm afraid to lose? What are the things that I hold on tightly to? What are the things that scare me the most? Here's what I've come up with: 

1. Pursuing my desires rather than God's will.

2. Not fulfilling God's purpose for my life.

3. Falling into some sort of sin that would disqualify me from ministry.

4. Not saying what needs to be said.

5. Dying with potential unrealized.

6. Not being disciplined.

7. Living a lie.

8. Not obeying God's leading in my life.

9. Allowing success to inflate my ego. 

10. Not developing others to realize their full potential.

11. Letting my parents/siblings/family down. 

12. Not becoming the husband my wife deserves. 

13. Misplacing my priorities. 

14. Not getting out of debt.

15. Losing my athleticism.

16. Not preaching accurately and boldly.

17. Losing my ability to communicate clearly.

18. Not experiencing the full measure of the Holy Spirit's power in my life.

19. Being abandoned by my team.

20. Not leading the church well.

21. Mishandling the church's finances. 

22. Not ever experiencing the joy of raising a child. 

23. Seeing my wife's full potential go unrealized. 

24. Not being a good friend.

25. Seeing people I love fall into sin that ruin's their lives. 

26. Not being respected by my peers (other pastors).

I could probably think of more things, but this is definitely a good start. I'm not quite sure what to do with this list, but I do know that the act of writing it out was a very healthy exercise. At the very least, by writing my fears down and by facing them on a page, I am declaring that I will not fear my fears!

I encourage you to invest some time thinking through and identifying your fears. Fear unrevealed is fear that cannot be healed. Fear not understood is fear that cannot be overcome.  

#417 - THE FIGHT I'VE DECIDED TO NO LONGER FIGHT

When receiving feedback about our work, attitude, or performance it is so easy to interpret it as an attack against us. Because our work and how we go about doing our work is very personal we take the feedback very personally. But, often times, this creates problems.

One of these problems being, responding to feedback by attacking back.

Not only have I seen this in others, but I have done this myself and nothing good ever comes of it!

I believe we attack back because subconsciously, during feedback conversations, we are thinking to ourselves...

If I'm going down, you're going down with me.

Because in a feedback conversation we are made to feel less than good about ourselves, many times, our knee-jerk reaction is to make the person providing us the feedback feel less than good about themselves.

Whether we are aware of it or not, when someone gives us feedback, we interpret it as them "scoring a point" against us so we feel the need to attack back to "even the score."

Or, we attack back because we have convinced ourselves that we are the "pride police" and it is our job to humble the person giving us the feedback lest they think too highly themselves. By doing this we actually believe we are serving the person by attacking them back! Crazy human beings we are!

Regardless of the reasons why we justify our "attacking back," the problem with doing so is this: we miss out on the truth in the feedback!

We miss out on the insight. We miss out on the perspective. We miss out on the wisdom. We miss out on the growth opportunity. Instead of growing up we expend all of our energy fighting back. 

With all of this in mind, here is the commitment I'd like us to make the next time we find ourselves in a feedback conversation. EXCHANGE YOUR BOXING GLOVES FOR A NOTEPAD AND A PEN. Instead of looking at these conversations as fights you must win see them as opportunities to be made aware of lessons you must learn.

#416 - MY MAJOR PREACHING MISTAKE

Today I was made aware that, in my message on Sunday, I used an illustration that was insensitive and hurtful to someone in the congregation. Though I did not intend to, in any way, be hurtful, it didn't change the fact that the person (and potentially others) was/were hurt and offended by the comments that I made. Thankfully, this person had enough courage to share how I hurt her so that I could be made aware of my insensitivity and of my blindspots.

Though it grieved me to hear how I had been hurtful, this circumstance does bring up a great learning opportunity for me. It gives me the opportunity to determine how I will respond when I am "called out" for communicating in a way that isn't the best. 

Being that I preach in my local church at least 40 times a year, I preach outside of my local church at least 5 times a year, and I blog daily, this will not be the last time I say or post words that are unintentionally hurtful or offensive to others. But, when this does happen again, I want to be the type of person who takes responsibility for his words. 

I don't know if I did so well doing this today when I spoke to the person that I had hurt, but I hope from this day forward I can keep the following things in mind when I am made aware of a mistake with my words:

1. LISTEN. DON'T EXPLAIN.

When I have made a mistake with my words, I need to listen carefully to the person correcting me. I need to hear out exactly how what I said was particularly hurtful, offensive, or insensitive. Early on in the conversation I must put the emphasis on listening how I was hurtful and not on explaining why I said what I said.  

2. EMPATHIZE. DON'T EXCUSE.

After hearing and understanding how what I said was not the best, I need to empathize deeply with the person's pain or concern. I need to put myself in their shoes and let them know I can see and understand how they could be hurt or offended by what I said. At this point in the conversation I must put the emphasis on validating their feelings not on excusing my behavior.  

3. APOLOGIZE. DON'T ESCAPE.

When I am clear on how I have failed someone with my words and the person who I have failed is clear that I understand them, I must apologize sincerely for my actions. I must take complete responsibility for my mistake and ask for the person's forgiveness. By the end of the conversation, the emphasis must be on me apologizing for what I said and not on avoiding the consequences for my behavior.  

In addition to this unfortunate circumstance giving me the opportunity to reflect upon how I intend to handle situations like this in the future, it also made me thankful for a congregation who is patient with a sinful, flawed, pastor like me! To be loved and appreciated not only when you "succeed" but also when you "fail" is a gift from God. I am so humbled by the privilege I have to lead our church, and I hope that in the coming months and years I can lead in a way that is more edifying and encouraging to the people and more pleasing and glorifying to God.

#415 - THE STAR WARS POST - EPISODES I-III

In preparation for the release of Star Wars Episode VII - The Force Awakens, today (my day off), I re-watched episodes I-III. They are such fascinating films for so many reasons, but one of the things I appreciated most about them is the abundance of wisdom found in its' many "tweetable lines!"

Master Yoda definitely is the wisest and most tweetable of all the characters, but a line by Count Dooku at the very beginning of Episode III was particularly insightful. In speaking to Anakin Skywalker just before their fight, he says:

Twice the pride, double the fall.

 This line is so rich with both tremendous wisdom and warning. 

The wisdom in the line is that prideful people fall. The warning in the line is that the more pride you have, the harder your fall will be. 

It was absolutely devastating to see Anakin's pride, slowly but surely, lead to his demise. Though in his mind he was making his decisions for the peace of the Republic and the love of his wife, it was ultimately his selfish pride that drove his decision making process.

Though Star Wars is just a movie, the way it represented how the power of pride can lead to a person's destruction is reality. Everyday we see men and women in sports, politics, business, Hollywood, and in our own workplaces and families have their lives fall apart as a result of pride.

Unfortunately, these films leave me with more questions about pride than they give me answers. But, they are questions that, for my own life and for the lives of the people I love, I am determined to discover the answers to. These questions include:

1. What makes pride so powerful?
2. How can one avoid the pitfall of pride?
3. Why is pride so hard to see in our own lives?
4. Why does pride cause us to so easily distort reality?
5. Why can't we, even when we get the sense that we should, stop ourselves from proceeding down the path of pride?  

Not only do I look forward to sharing some of the answers I come up with to these questions with you in upcoming blog posts, but I also look for to writing a "Star Wars Post" after re-watching episodes IV-VI! But until then, may the force be with you!

#414 - WHERE I'M BELIEVING GOD TO DO THE IMPOSSIBLE

In the Christmas story, shortly after Mary, a virgin, is notified of the fact that she will be giving birth to Jesus, the angel Gabriel also communicates to her that her relative Elizabeth, though she is old in age, will also be giving birth to a son. After telling Mary of these two seemingly impossible circumstances, the angel Gabriel states,

With God northing is impossible.

I am very encouraged by this truth, and going into the new year, I want to believe God to do the impossible in my life like never before. I want to increase my capacity for faith and expect God to do the impossible in the following 3 areas of my life:

1. MY PREACHING

I want to see God take the preaching that I do week in and week out and use it in ways I never thought He would. I want to believe that God will take my preaching to "impossible" people, in "impossible" places, to free them from "impossible" circumstances. What I think is impossible to be accomplished by my preaching, I pray that God would make it possible.

2. MY WRITING

I want to see God take my commitment to writing and empower me to create content that I currently view as "impossible." I want to believe that God will give my writing an "impossible" depth, breadth, and focus that would reach an audience that I never thought was possible. What I think is impossible to be accomplished by my writing, I pray that God would make it possible.

3. MY LEADING

I want to see God take my leadership ability and do with it what I never thought He could do. I want to believe that He will guide me to navigate leadership challenges that seem "impossible." I want to trust that the type of person that I think is "impossible" to lead, He will give me the ability to lead them. I want to see God multiple my leadership ability in the lives of others at an impossible rate. What think is impossible to be accomplished by my leading, I pray that God would make it possible.

In what areas of your life to do you want to commit to believing God for the impossible?

#413 - HOW I'M PREPARING FOR PROGRESS

This is an exciting time in my life. Just this past week, I had a meeting where a conversation was started about how I could expand the reach of my teaching ministry and the visibility of the church I am privileged to lead in a significant way!

I don't want to go into too many details here because, frankly, nothing may even come of it at all. But, with this exciting, potential opportunity on the horizon, I did want to take some time to process how I want to posture myself when opportunities for increased influence are presented, extended, and experienced. 

It's important that I do this because both you and I have, too many times, seen success absolutely ruin people's lives. It's so easy to develop an inflated sense of how important you really are! And once that happens, disaster! Pride. Greed. Cockiness. Hubris. Selfishness. Because I am prone to display some of these characteristics now, these three "mantras" will prayerfully prevent me from further developing these negative traits in the future!

1. IT'S NOT ABOUT MY FAME. IT'S ABOUT GOD'S GLORY.

At the end of the day, the reason I preach, the reason I write, the reason I lead, the reason I push people to pursue their God-given potential is so that people can experience the beauty, majesty, wonder, and love of the Almighty God. If my influence is not, ultimately, leading people to worship the only One worthy of our praise and adoration, I have failed miserably. I am not the destination. I am only a sign.

2. I DIDN'T CREATE THIS OPPORTUNITY, GOD DID.

The moment I believe that I am the one who should be credited for the opportunities being extended to me, I am not properly positioned to take advantage of them. I must always remember: God paved the way. God opened the doors. God made this possible. God divinely orchestrated the opportunity, I simply accepted it. God is the generous Giver. I am the humble recipient.  

3. MY GIFTS ARE A GIFT FROM GOD.

Because God is generous, gracious and good He decided to gift me with gifts. Before I was born, God decided what gifts I would have. When I was born, God placed them within me. After I use them, God is the one who gives them power and authority. In a moment, my ability to speak could be taken away. In a blink of an eye, my ability to write could vanish. In an instant, my ability to effectively communicate could cease to exist. Everyday I have to exercise my gifts is a privilege. I am entitled to nothing.

What beliefs, convictions, and "mantras" will keep you humble as you become more successful and influential? I encourage you to identify them before your next opportunity comes your way. I am convinced that, like stakes in a tent, they will keep you grounded when the winds of success come your way!  

DO THE WORK BY STEVEN PRESSFIELD

"On the field of the Self stand a knight and a dragon. You are the knight. Resistance is the dragon."

Orientation: Enemies and Allies

ENEMIES

1. RESISTANCE - "Rule of thumb: The more important a call or action is to our soul’s evolution, the more Resistance we will feel toward pursuing it."
   
   "Resistance aims to kill. Its target is the epicenter of our being: our genius, our soul, the unique and priceless gift we were put on this earth to give and that no one else has but us. Resistance means business."
    

2. RATIONAL THOUGHT - "When an artist says “Trust the soup,” she means let go of the need to control (which we can’t do anyway) and put your faith instead in the Source, the Mystery, the Quantum Soup."
    

3. FRIENDS AND FAMILY - "The problem with friends and family is that they know us as we are. They are invested in maintaining us as we are."

ALLIES

1. STUPIDITY - "Ignorance and arrogance are the artist and entrepreneur’s indispensable allies. She must be clueless enough to have no idea how difficult her enterprise is going to be—and cocky enough to believe she can pull it off anyway."

2. STUBBORNESS - "We will sink our junkyard-dog teeth into Resistance’s ass and not let go, no matter how hard he kicks."

3. BLIND FAITH - "Our mightiest ally (our indispensable ally) is belief in something we cannot see, hear, touch, taste, or feel."

4. PASSION - "When we conquer our fears, we discover a boundless, bottomless, inexhaustible well of passion."

5. ASSITANCE

6. FRIENDS AND FAMILY - "Only two things will remain with us across the river: our inhering genius and the hearts we love."

Beginning

"Start Before You’re Ready Don’t prepare. Begin."

1. STAY PRIMITIVE - "Conception occurs at the primal level. I’m not being facetious when I stress, throughout this book, that it is better to be primitive than to be sophisticated, and better to be stupid than to be smart."

2. SWING FOR THE FENCES - "If you and I want to do great stuff, we can’t let ourselves work small. A home-run swing that results in a strikeout is better than a successful bunt or even a line-drive single."

"Start with the theme. What is this project about?"

Middle

"Get to THE END as if the devil himself were breathing down your neck and poking you in the butt with his pitchfork."

"The inner critic? His ass is not permitted in the building. Set forth without fear and without self-censorship. When you hear that voice in your head, blow it off. This draft is not being graded. There will be no pop quiz. Only one thing matters in this initial draft: get SOMETHING done, however flawed or imperfect."

"Ideas come according to their own logic. That logic is not rational. It’s not linear. We may get the middle before we get the end. We may get the end before we get the beginning. Be ready for this. Don’t resist it."

"Act, reflect. Act, reflect. NEVER act and reflect at the same time. In writing, “action” means putting words on paper. “Reflection” means evaluating what we have on paper."

"Our job is not to control our idea; our job is to figure out what our idea is (and wants to be)—and then bring it into being."

"A work-in-progress generates its own energy field. You, the artist or entrepreneur, are pouring love into the work; you are suffusing it with passion and intention and hope. This is serious juju. The universe responds to this. It has no choice."

"How much time can you spare each day? For that interval, close the door and—short of a family emergency or the outbreak of World War III—don’t let ANYBODY in. Keep working. Keep working. Keep working."

"I ask myself, again, of the project: “What is this damn thing about?” Keep refining your understanding of the theme; keep narrowing it down. This is the thorniest nut of any creative endeavor—and the one that evokes the fiercest Resistance."

"Have that meeting twice a week. Pause and reflect. “What is this project about?” “What is its theme?” “Is every element serving that theme?”"

THE BELLY OF THE BEAST

1. Principle Number One: There Is an Enemy - "This recognition alone is enormously powerful. It saved my life, and it will save yours."

2. Principle Number Two: This Enemy Is Implacable - “It will kill you. It will kill you like cancer.”

3. Principle Number Three: This Enemy Is Inside You - "Resistance is not a peripheral opponent. It does not arise from rivals, bosses, spouses, children, terrorists, lobbyists, or political adversaries. It comes from us."

4. Principle Number Four: The Enemy Is Inside You, But It Is Not You - "No moral judgment attaches to the possession of it. You “have” Resistance the same way you “have” a heartbeat. You are blameless. You retain free will and the capacity to act."

5. Principle Number Five: The “Real You” Must Duel the “Resistance You” - "On the field of the Self stand a knight and a dragon. You are the knight. Resistance is the dragon".

6. Principle Number Six: Resistance Arises Second - "It means that before the dragon of Resistance reared its ugly head and breathed fire into our faces, there existed within us a force so potent and life-affirming that it summoned this beast into being, perversely, to combat it."

7. Principle Number Seven: The Opposite of Resistance Is Assistance

ESISTANCE TWO TESTS

1. How bad do you want it?

2. Why do you want it?

"The only items you get to keep are love for the work, will to finish, and passion to serve the ethical, creative Muse."

"A crash does not mean we are losers. A crash means we have to grow."

"When we experience panic, it means that we’re about to cross a threshold. We’re poised on the doorstep of a higher plane."

In the belly of the beast, we remind ourselves of two axioms:

1. The problem is not us. The problem is the problem.

2. Work the problem.

END

"Because finishing is the critical part of any project. If we can’t finish, all our work is for nothing. When we ship, we declare our stuff ready for prime time. We pack it in a FedEx box and send it out into the world. Our movie hits the screens, our smart phone arrives in the stores, our musical opens on Broadway. It takes balls of steel to ship."

"A perplexed person stands before two doors. One door says HEAVEN. The other says BOOKS ABOUT HEAVEN. What makes us laugh, I suspect, is that all of us feel the pull to pick BOOKS ABOUT HEAVEN. Are we that timid? Are our huevos that pocito? When we’re offered a chance at heaven, what diabolically craven force makes us want to back off—just for now, we promise ourselves—and choose instead heaven’s pale reflection? Fear of success is the essence of Resistance."

"When we ship, we’re exposed. That’s why we’re so afraid of it. When we ship, we’ll be judged."

"Here’s one thing I can tell you—and you can take this to the bank: Slay that dragon once, and he will never have power over you again."

"Take the rest of the day off. Take your wife or husband out to dinner. Pop some champagne. Give yourself a standing ovation. Then get back to work. Begin the next one tomorrow. Stay stupid. Trust the soup. Start before you’re ready."

#412 - A KEY COMPONENT TO CONSISTENT CREATIVITY

Creatives create. But how? How does one consistently come up with new melodies, paintings, screenplays, blog posts, lyrics, ideas, poems, books, and recipes? The reality is, there are many ways.

But today, I heard an idea that I thought was so poignant and timely. If you've been reading the blog over the last several days, you know that I am going to take writing more seriously than I ever have before. I'm turning pro! I've committed to writing at least 200 words a day, but what scares me about that is: where will I come up with content to write each day? Here's the thought that I think will help me:

"You don't get to create great stuff if you don't curate great stuff." - Jon Acuff

If I want to be a continual creator, I must be a consistent curator. A curator of thoughts, ideas, questions, and quotes. To think that I can arrive at a blank page each day without a "well" to draw from is absurd. I must curate.

I've decided to consistently create both new blog posts and sermons (my two primary creative outlets) by committing to curating from books, blogs, and podcasts. Consistently feeding my mind from these three sources has and will continue to drive my creative productivity. Curation before creation. 

With this idea in mind, from where will you curate? From where will you be motivated to create? From where will you be inspired to act? 

Decide to be a curator. Choose where you will curate from. Make a commitment to curate each day.

Your next work of art is depending on it.  

#411 - THE BIGGEST CHANGE I'VE EVER MADE

Over the last couple of years, I have identified sacrifices that I wanted to make in the upcoming year in an attempt to live my life in a more self-controlled manner. In 2013, I totally eliminated eating fast food (except Chick-Fil-A!). And in 2014, I decided not to purchase any new clothing for the year (that only lasted till about June!).

This year, I am going to attempt to make the biggest lifestyle change I have ever made. I have decided to limit my wardrobe (excluding underwear and socks) to 35 items. 

Before 2016 begins, I will pack up all my other clothes, jackets, and shoes, put them in the garage, and only allow myself to wear clothes from the items listed below. (There are only 29 items listed, but I'm allowing myself to add a maximum of 6 more.)

On the outset, this may seem silly to you, but here are the three primary reasons why I've decided to live my life in this way during the upcoming year. 

1. Eliminate Clothing Purchases

I have been quite frustrated with how easily I am convinced that I "need" a particular item of clothing or pair of shoes. By limiting myself to wearing only the 35 items listed below, it is my intention that I will break free from the delusion that purchasing more clothes is necessary. I have enough. It's time my spending habits reflected this reality.

2. Simplify Decision Making

Because I have identified myself as a professional runner, writer, reader, and leader, in the upcoming year, I want the majority of my brain energy to go towards making sound, solid decisions in those areas of my life. With only 35 items to choose from, I look forward to spending very little mind space (if any) on what I am going to wear! 

3. Reduce Image Concern

In the Social Media driven world in which we live, it is very easy to get overly caught up in how you look. With that said, I have found myself unnecessarily pursuing an image that I, frankly, no longer want to keep up with! By choosing only 35 items to wear throughout the year I am intentionally deciding to not place the value of my image on having a varied, extensive wardrobe. 

With my reasons for this decisions stated, here are a few closing thoughts. Firstly, these are my convictions for this upcoming year. This post was not written to condemn or criticize people who choose to live their life differently. For the last 33 years of my life I have not lived my life like this so who am I to judge!

Secondly, I am going to try this out for a year and see how it goes. Once 2017 arrives, I may decide to expand my wardrobe like never before, I may decide to continue with what I did in 2016, or I may choose to do some combination of the two! Regardless, this is not a lifelong commitment, but it is a one year test.

Finally, I would like to challenge you to ask yourself, "How can I live a more self-controlled life in 2016?" I encourage you to really invest some time reflecting on sacrifices, adjustments, and commitments you can make in 2016 to exercise a greater degree of self-control in your daily life. My assumption is that whatever you decide to do will serve you and the people you love very well!

Now, for the list...  

Casual Apparel

1. Black Nike Sweats

2. Black Nike Sweats

3. Dark Grey Nike Sweats

4. Black Nike Short-Sleeve Shirt

5. Black Nike Short-Sleeve Shirt

6. Black Nike Short-Sleeve Shirt

7. Black Nike Short-Sleeve Shirt

8. Black Nike Long-Sleeve Shirt

9. Black Nike Long-Sleeve Shirt

10. Black Nike Long-Sleeve Shirt

11. Black Nike Pullover

12. Black Nike Rain Jacket

13. Black Nike Air Max 2015 Shoes

14. Black Nike Free Run 5.0 Shoes

Business Casual Apparel

1. Black Express Jeans

2. Dark Blue Express Jeans

3. Black Express Long-Sleeve Collared Shirt

4. Black/Grey Express Long-Sleeve Collared Shirt

5. Black Air Jordan 1 Shoes

Exercise Apparel

1. Black Nike Running Shorts

2. Black Nike Running Shorts

3. Black Nike Short-Sleeve Running Shirt

4. Black Nike Running Pants

5. Dark Grey Nike Running Pants

6. Black SF Half-Marathon Long-Sleeve Running Shirt

7. Dark Grey SF Half-Marathon Long-Sleeve Running Shirt

8. Black Oakland Half-Marathon Short-Sleeve Running Shirt

9. Black San Jose Half-Marathon Short-Sleeve Running Shirt

10. Black Nike Flyknit Lunar 2 Shoes

Note: Because I will be officiating at least 3 weddings this year, I will also make available my black suit, my dress shirts, black ties, and black dress shoes!

TURNING PRO BY STEVEN PRESSFIELD

Book One - The Amateur Life

"The thesis of this book is that what ails you and me has nothing to do with being sick or being wrong. What ails us is that we are living our lives as amateurs. The solution, this book suggests, is that we turn pro."

"The difference between an amateur and a professional is in their habits. An amateur has amateur habits. A professional has professional habits."

"When you turn pro, your life gets very simple."

"Resistance hates two qualities above all others: concentration and depth. Why? Because when we work with focus and we work deep, we succeed."

Book Two - Self-Inflicted Wounds

"The amateur fears solitude and silence because she needs to avoid, at all costs, the voice inside her head that would point her toward her calling and her destiny. So she seeks distraction."

"The payoff of living in the past or the future is you never have to do your work in the present."

"The sure sign of an amateur is he has a million plans and they all start tomorrow."

"Each individual is so caught up in his own bullshit that he doesn't have two seconds to worry about yours or mine, or to reject or diminish us because of it."

"The essence of epiphanies is the stripping away of self-delusion. We thought we were X. Now suddenly we see we're minus-X. We're X divided by infinity. There is great power in this moment. We've lost something, yes. A cherished self-delusion must be abandoned, and this hurts. But what we have gained is the truth. Our bullshit falls away. The scales drop from our eyes. In that moment we have two options: We can reconstitute our bullshit. Or we can turn pro."

"Why is shame good? Because shame can produce the final element we need to change our lives: will."

Book Three - The Professional Mindset

"The professional does not wait for inspiration; he acts in anticipation of it."

"The professional is happy to teach. He will gladly lend a hand or deliver a swift kick. But there's a caveat. The professional refuses to be iconized. Not for selfish reasons, but because he knows how destructive the dynamic of iconization is to the iconizer. The pro will share his wisdom with other professionals — or with amateurs who are committed to becoming professionals."

"When we do the work for itself alone (I know how easy that is to say and how hard it is to do), we're like that Marine who sleeps in a foxhole in the freezing rain but who knows a secret that only he and his brothers and sisters share."

"When we convene day upon day in the same space at the same time, a powerful energy builds up around us. This is the energy of our intention, of our dedication, of our commitment."

"The professional trusts the mystery. He knows that the Muse always delivers."

Five Principles:

1. Work over your head.
2. Write what you don't know.
3. Take what the defense gives you.
4. Play hurt.
5. Sit chilly.

#410 - WHY I'M STARTING MY NEW YEAR TODAY

There are 23 days remaining in 2015, and many of you have decided that your new workout regimen, your new eating plan, your new hobby, your new commitment, your new discipline, or your new approach to life will begin in 23 days. I get it. This is what most people do.  

But I am not most people, and if you are reading this post there is a great chance that neither are you. My new year starts today. The focus. The commitment. The approach. It all starts today. It all starts today because I've had an epiphany, and to explain what I mean, this brief excerpt from Steven Pressfield's Turning Pro should help:

The essence of epiphanies is the stripping away of self-delusion. We thought we were X. Now suddenly we see we're minus X. We're X divided by infinity. There is great power in this moment. We've lost something, yes. A cherished self-delusion must be abandoned, and this hurts. But what we have gained is the truth. Our bullshit falls away. The scales drop from our eyes. In that moment we have two options: We can reconstitute our bullshit. Or we can turn pro.

I've decided to "turn pro." 

No longer will I live under the self-delusion that my current level of commitment and discipline is going to cut it. No longer will I think to myself, "Well compared to everyone else at least I..." No longer will I be satisfied in performing like an amateur. 

Sure I've run a few miles. Sure I've written some blog posts. Sure I've read a good amount of books. Sure I've done a decent job leading in my home and on my job. And though I have been appreciated and applauded for the results that I have produced in these areas thus far, the truth is, I've done all these things like an amateur. And that's not going to cut it for me anymore. 

I've got more in me. A deeper commitment to my health. A more consistent output of creativity. A greater hunger for learning. A more inspiring and empowering approach to leadership. Overall, a more disciplined life. I've got it in me. 

I have chosen to "go pro" in four areas of life. And for clarity for both myself and yourself, this is what "going pro" in each of these four areas looks like to me. 

I AM A RUNNER.

And as a "pro," I will run at least a 5K everyday. Rain or shine. Busy or not. I will run at least 3.1 miles every. single. day. Running invigorates me. Running makes a positive investment into my overall health. Running satisfies me. I always feel better for having run than for having not run. I am a professional runner and as such I run 100 miles a month.  

I AM A WRITER.

And as a "pro," I will post at least a 200-word blog post everyday. Enthused or confused. Inspired or not. I will post to edwardpaz.com every. single. day. Writing challenges me. Writing forces me to think critically. Writing provides an outlet for me to share my best ideas. I always feel better for having written than for having not written. I am a professional writer and as such I write 6,000 words a month. 

I AM A READER.  

And as a "pro," I will read at least 20 pages of a book everyday. Focused or distracted. Feeling it or not. I will read and pull quotes from my reading every. single. day. Reading relaxes me. Reading expands my vocabulary. Reading inspires me. I always feel better for having read than for having not read. I am a professional reader and as such I read 600 pages a month.   

I AM A LEADER.

And as a "pro," I will lead by serving my wife and my team everyday. Feeling selfless or feeling selfish. Excited or not. I will, through a tangible act of service, lead both my wife and my team every. single. day. Leading invigorates me. Leading multiplies my influence. Leading is my unique responsibility. I always feel better for having lead than for having not lead. I am a professional leader and as such I will complete 60 acts of service a month.

There it is. My decision to "go pro" has been made. And it all starts with these 23 days leading up to 2016. Today I have already run my 5k. These are my 200+ words written for the day. I read 20+ pages of Turning Pro, and immediately after I publish this post I am going to serve my wife and my team. 

My New Year starts today. Because by doing so I will enter 2016 with a priceless possession that if you start today you can have as well...MOMENTUM.

#409 - HOW TO TURN YOUR BURDENS INTO BLESSINGS

Last week during my Thanksgiving break, though it was beneficial and necessary for me to reflect upon my blessings, as I was doing so, it occurred to me how easy it was to do. In light of how much I have in comparison with so many other people around the world, how could I respond with anything less than gratitude and appreciation! 

But then it dawned on me, "Could I be as thankful for my burdens as I am for my blessings?" King Solomon said it best...

"On a good day, enjoy yourself; On a bad day, examine your conscience. God arranges for both kinds of days So that we won’t take anything for granted." Ecclesiastes 7:15 (The Message)

In attempt to express my gratitude for the circumstances in my life that are more difficult than they are joyful, here is a short list of my current "unfortunate realities" that I am thankful for: 

1. WHAT I CAN'T AFFORD

I am thankful that I can't afford to pay off all of my debt. It forces me to learn the tough lesson of being a "slave to the lender." It requires me to develop a plan for getting out of debt slowly which is the method by which most people have to do so. If I was given a large sum of money to pay off all of my debt at once, I would be robbed of the opportunity to develop the disciplines of budgeting and delayed gratification. I am so thankful for what I can't afford!

2. HOW I HAVEN'T SUCCEEDED

I am thankful that our church hasn't reached all the growth projections that I had dreamed of and desired when we first launched over two years ago. There is a purifying of motivations that is taking place as a result of failed numerical goals. There is a re-evaluating of my heart that is happening because of unmet expectations. There is a humility that is developing as a result of not being able to achieve what I thought I was capable of achieving. If the church had experienced all the growth I was expecting, I would be more focused on the size of our church than the hearts of our people, I would have missed out on the intimacy of a smaller community of faith, and I would be more arrogant than I already am! I am so thankful for how I haven't succeeded!

3. WHO I DON'T KNOW

I am thankful that I don't have the connections to influential people that some people have. This requires me to trust in God more than I trust in man. This enables me to invest my time with many people as opposed to having my time monopolized by one person who I feel I need to impress or keep satisfied. This frees me to not live and lead in such a way that caters to one type of person and alienates others. If I had connections to famous, influential people I would probably find my identity more in who I'm known by than in who I'm privileged to serve. I am so thankful for who I don't know!   

I encourage you to take some time to express your gratitude for your burdens. What you'll find is that when you do, your burdens become your blessings!

#408 - THE 4 LEADERSHIP PITFALLS

This morning I read a blog post that included a quote that absolutely stopped me in my tracks. 

Your failure can be as influential as your faithfulness.

Whoa. As a leader, this brutal reality scares me. But, I have seen the truth of it play out in the lives of various leaders throughout the years, and it is devastating to watch. Many times, a leader's failure falls into one of 4 categories my pastor exposed to me years ago, and I will write about them here in such a way that encourages both you and I to avoid them at all costs!

1. SILVER

Are you managing money responsibly? Whether it be your personal finances or the finances of the organization you lead, are you handling finances with integrity? Are you overspending? Are you stealing? Are you getting yourself deeper into debt? Are you making efforts to get yourself out of debt? Are you reporting income? Are you avoiding paying taxes? If I had a video camera on how you were stewarding your financial resources, would there be anything for you to be ashamed of?

Leader, handle your finances with integrity because failure here will surely destroy your leadership legacy regardless of your faithfulness elsewhere. It's not a matter of if, but when!

2. SEX   

Are you being sexually immoral? Whether you are married or not, are you pursuing sexual purity? Do you have a healthy sex life with your spouse? Are you addicted to pornography? Are you developing inappropriate emotional or physical relationships? Are you having sex outside of the context of marriage? Do you find yourself spending time on social media or the internet viewing inappropriate images and videos? If I had a video camera on how you were behaving sexually, would there be anything for you to be ashamed of?    

Leader, pursue sexual purity because failure here will surely destroy your leadership legacy regardless of your faithfulness elsewhere. It's not a matter of if, but when!

3. SLOTH

Are you lazy? Whether you work from home or work in an office, are you working the hours for which you are getting paid? Are you doing the minimum amount that your job requires? Do you look for ways to do the least amount of work in the most amount of time? Are you lying about the work you are actually getting done? Are you constantly procrastinating? If I had a video camera on your work ethic on the job, would there be anything for you to be ashamed of?   

Leader, work hard because failure here will surely destroy your leadership legacy regardless of your faithfulness elsewhere. It's not a matter of it, but when!

4. SELF

Are you prideful? Whether outwardly or inwardly, are you aware of your unhealthy attitudes of pride? Can you admit when you're wrong? Are you able to take correction and discipline from others? Are you able to receive direction and guidance from others? Are you able to forgive? Can you sincerely apologize without making excuses? Is your pride something you can swallow or something that you are compelled to protect? 

Leader, embrace humility because failure here will surely destroy your leadership legacy regardless of your faithfulness elsewhere. It's not a matter of if, but when!

Here's the deal. If you find yourself struggling with any of the four pitfalls above the best thing you can do for yourself is this: TELL SOMEONE, AND GET SOME HELP...NOW!

This is urgent. Continuing to succumb to these pitfalls will absolutely end your leadership journey, but more importantly they will destroy your life.

I pray this final blunt statement will compel you to deal with these pitfalls accordingly:

As it relates to certain repeated failures, though GRACE from God is AVAILABLE, DISQUALIFICATION from your position is INEVITABLE. 

#407 - COUNSELING - SESSION #2

After two sessions, I am absolutely sold on the ability of "My Counselor" to add tremendous value to my life. He listens well. He shares from his own experiences openly. He passes on insights from authors I have never heard of. He connects his thoughts to the Scriptures. He admits and is aware of his own brokenness. And he does all this while using cuss words every now and then to provide emphasis when necessary! I love it!

And just like the first session, in our time together yesterday, he encouraged me with several thoughts that will probably take me a while to fully understand and implement into my life! In an effort to have these lessons more firmly impressed upon my heart, I have attached a prayer to each one expressing how I hope God uses these lessons in my life.  

LESSON #1 - "Beg God to make you invisibly visible."

Dear Heavenly Father, as I point people to you, may people see through me to see you. May they not get overly enamored with how I point to you, but instead, be impressed and amazed by YOU! Your goodness. Your mercy. Your love. Your beauty. May who I am and what I do fade to the background as your glory and majesty comes to the forefront. Lord, I know I cannot abdicate my responsibility to point to you, but may all of my pointing lead people to see that, above all else, the point is You.

LESSON #2 - "Rejoice in being nothing."

Dear Heavenly Father, I must first admit there is a deep desire in me to become something. I want to be known. I want to be recognized. I want to have influence. I want to be successful. And though in and of themselves these desires may not be entirely bad, they bring along with them so much baggage. It is with that in mind that, right here and right now, I want to settle in my heart that if you never gave me another ounce of influence or if you took what influence I had away, I would still have a million reasons to praise and worship you!

If no one knew my name, I would rejoice in knowing that I know Your name. If no one heard me speak, I would rejoice in knowing that I have heard You speak. If no one read a word I wrote, I would rejoice in knowing that I have read the words that You wrote. If no one attended my church, I would rejoice in knowing that I am a part of Your church. Lord, give me the ability to rejoice in being nothing because, in You, I have EVERYTHING.

LESSON #3 - "Not new things, but in a new way."

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for creating me with specific gifts to use, innate desires to pursue, and a unique purpose to fulfill. You placed these things within me at birth and over the last 33 years of my life I have become more and more aware of what these things are. Thank you for the "things" you have placed within me! As I approach the halfway point of my life, my desire is not that you would give me "new things," but that I would embrace, approach, and pursue these things in a "new way." 

Help me to steward the gifts you have given me to use with a greater level of humility - realizing that their power comes from you. Help me to steward the desires you have given me to pursue with a greater level of caution - realizing that desire improperly managed can lead to destruction. Help me to steward the purpose you have given me to fulfill with a greater level of faith - realizing that without faith it is impossible to please you! Lord, may I always remember that it is not who you have uniquely created me to be that needs to change, but it is how I approach who you've created me to be that needs to be ever evolving. 

#406 - THE LIE YOU MUST STOP TELLING YOURSELF

You are not what you say, think, or hope you do. You are what you actually do.

I know this isn't what you want to hear, but for the sake of your full potential, it's exactly what you need to hear.

You have been fooling yourself for far too long. You have been making statements about yourself that just aren't true. You have been identifying yourself as someone who you are not. And today, you need to allow the truth to set you free! 

Think about the last 60 days of your life.

If you have not led anyone to do something that they would not have done on their own, you are not a leader. If you have not loved your spouse with practical actions of love and kindness, you are not a loving spouse. If you have not sacrificed as a parent your time, energy, or money, you are not a sacrificial parent. You are what you actually do.

If you have not been generous with your resources, you are not generous. If you have not been kind to your neighbors in word or in deed, you are not kind. If you have not been honest about your life, your fears, and your shortcomings, you are not honest. You are what you actually do.   

If you have not played a sport, you are not an athlete. If you have not written, you are not a writer. If you have not played an instrument, you are not an musician. If you have not created anything, you are not a creative! You are what you actually do.

I do not write these words to condemn you. I write these words to wake you up! 

One of the major sources of disappointment and frustration in your life probably has something to do with the fact that who you think you are and who you actually are is not the same!

With that in mind, the most helpful thing you can do to become the person you desire to be, is first admit that you haven't been who you intend to be. Be HONEST with yourself. 

Then, ACT.

If you say you're a leader, lead someone. If you say you're a writer, write something. If you say you're runner, run somewhere. You are what you actually do.

Don't overcomplicate it. Don't fight back. Don't hesitate. 

I understand that there's a philosophy out there that says, being precedes doing. I agree with it. But I also believe that this philosophy is equally true...

To become someone you have to DO something.

Stop lying and start doing. The world needs who you are going to become as a result of what you do.