Now, I'm not saying it's going to happen... I mean what am I, a psychic? But let's think about it.... you wouldn't surprise a person with a party on the actual DAY of their birthday. I mean, they'd be on to that.... to hard to surprise 'em. BUT, what about a day or two later, still keeping it within the same weekend? That has potential doesn't it? I guess I'll really keep my eyes and ears open for the next couple days.... just in case. I'm not saying it's going to happen. I'm just saying it could be a possibility. Stranger things have happened. You know how important a birthday is to somebody that acts three? Not to mention the fact that you don't turn 54 every day... you feel me? you hear what I'm saying? (I'm relating.....)
Anyway, I had a nice day. Thanks for asking. I've got a friend that likes to do crazy stuff on his birthday. Like, he'll set a goal to bench press 250 lbs like 100 times in one hour. Stuff like that to show a birthday means nothing to him.... he's not aging.
Well, neither am I! I thought I'd do the same thing this year. After all, if he can do it, why can't I? He doesn't have the corner on good ideas, right? So, I decided I'd REALLY get "mad crazy" -- I made myself do one pushup for every......... decade..... I'm not joking, really. Okay, after I did the first five for the 50 years, I went a step further. I started the next pushup and went down.... that was for 4 years... and just didn't come back up. I'll come back up on that one in around 6 years.
My other option was to swim a length of my pool for every......decade.... I'm not joking, really. But I couldn't get my goggles on tight, or my floaties to stay up on my arms well. So I didn't. It's a pretty long pool actually, when you really look at it.....
I'm anxious to see what wild and crazy thing I can think of to do NEXT year....
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Another Birthday coming......
It's my birthday tomorrow. It's easy to remember. You know how? The cards.... they come FLOODING in.... you can't stop 'em. Can you say "Noah"? The mail person says she HAS to deliver them all... it's her job. She'd probably get fired if she held some back....
So far I've been overwhelmed with my first three, and my birthday isn't until tomorrow. The first one was from my dentist office. I didn't realize it, but apparently I'm a special patient. (I try hard to be friendly and courteous when I'm in there, and not cry (too much), but I didn't realize how special that made me...) It looks like all the staff took the time to sign my card as well. That must have been a real hassle for them to have to stop everything to sign my card like that. That DOES give me a special feeling though. I'm assuming they all signed it..... apparently they all used the same black pen.
My second card was from my insurance agent. She asked me to celebrate and have a "wonderful" birthday. I think she also signed this one herself, because the other printing was black and red, and apparently she used a blue pen to sign my card. She runs the entire office and takes the time to sign MY birthday card. It doesnt' get any better than this. And how could there be an ulterior motive? Very soon they won't be insuring my house, as they're pulling out of the state.
My third card, (and I'm assuming more will come pouring in here soon, as my actual birthday isn't until tomorrow..... so I don't even want to TRY and predict the final total....) was from Southwest Airlines. Can you imagine an airline that I've only flown 3-4 times taking the time to send me a card on my birthday? Me neither.
If I have the time (I'm sure you understand), I'll try and keep you updated as more come in.... this is going to be a pretty exciting time around the Steen house for the next couple days....
Oh, and finally, my wife found this cartoon in the paper today, and thought of me immediately. I didn't think it was that funny.....
So far I've been overwhelmed with my first three, and my birthday isn't until tomorrow. The first one was from my dentist office. I didn't realize it, but apparently I'm a special patient. (I try hard to be friendly and courteous when I'm in there, and not cry (too much), but I didn't realize how special that made me...) It looks like all the staff took the time to sign my card as well. That must have been a real hassle for them to have to stop everything to sign my card like that. That DOES give me a special feeling though. I'm assuming they all signed it..... apparently they all used the same black pen.
My second card was from my insurance agent. She asked me to celebrate and have a "wonderful" birthday. I think she also signed this one herself, because the other printing was black and red, and apparently she used a blue pen to sign my card. She runs the entire office and takes the time to sign MY birthday card. It doesnt' get any better than this. And how could there be an ulterior motive? Very soon they won't be insuring my house, as they're pulling out of the state.
My third card, (and I'm assuming more will come pouring in here soon, as my actual birthday isn't until tomorrow..... so I don't even want to TRY and predict the final total....) was from Southwest Airlines. Can you imagine an airline that I've only flown 3-4 times taking the time to send me a card on my birthday? Me neither.
If I have the time (I'm sure you understand), I'll try and keep you updated as more come in.... this is going to be a pretty exciting time around the Steen house for the next couple days....
Oh, and finally, my wife found this cartoon in the paper today, and thought of me immediately. I didn't think it was that funny.....
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Love Completely -- Thanking Those Around You
30 Days to Live -- Day 14
What a great reminder today about being grateful for the incredible life we have. We should NEVER take the little things for granted, or the people in our lives. Listen to these thoughts --
"Gratitude expands our hearts. We become fully aware of the details of the life we love, the simple things that delight us, and, perhaps most of all, the people God has placed in our lives. Simply stated, gratitude expands our capacity to enjoy life."
"Ingratitude has the opposite effect. It causes our hearts to shrink and become colder. It blocks the flow of God's wisdom and blessings in our lives. In fact, the opposite of a heart of gratitude is a heart of dissatisfaction, grumbling, complaints, and negativity."
"If you only had one month to live, you'd want to make the most of it. To laugh and fully engage with the people you love. To appreciate the little things, the ones that might seem silly to others but that delight your soul, and to give God thanks for allowing you to experience them."
..............Speaking of "laugh and fully engage with the people you love"..... the other morning I was in bed looking at Karen as she slept. She woke up and saw me watching her. She said, "What?" I said, "Nothing, I'm just observing you in your natural habitat"..... she kicked me three times...... playfully...... I think. That might seem "silly to others", but it "delights my soul".
Don't let today go by without stopping to thank God for the small things that make life beautiful. Take the time to make a list of five or six little things that you often take for granted.
What a great reminder today about being grateful for the incredible life we have. We should NEVER take the little things for granted, or the people in our lives. Listen to these thoughts --
"Gratitude expands our hearts. We become fully aware of the details of the life we love, the simple things that delight us, and, perhaps most of all, the people God has placed in our lives. Simply stated, gratitude expands our capacity to enjoy life."
"Ingratitude has the opposite effect. It causes our hearts to shrink and become colder. It blocks the flow of God's wisdom and blessings in our lives. In fact, the opposite of a heart of gratitude is a heart of dissatisfaction, grumbling, complaints, and negativity."
"If you only had one month to live, you'd want to make the most of it. To laugh and fully engage with the people you love. To appreciate the little things, the ones that might seem silly to others but that delight your soul, and to give God thanks for allowing you to experience them."
..............Speaking of "laugh and fully engage with the people you love"..... the other morning I was in bed looking at Karen as she slept. She woke up and saw me watching her. She said, "What?" I said, "Nothing, I'm just observing you in your natural habitat"..... she kicked me three times...... playfully...... I think. That might seem "silly to others", but it "delights my soul".
Don't let today go by without stopping to thank God for the small things that make life beautiful. Take the time to make a list of five or six little things that you often take for granted.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Love Completely -- Unity
30 Days to Live -- Day 11
Some days this book is more challenging than others. Some can hit me hard, and some don't have much punch to them (for me). Today was an "in-betweener". Today our book talked about some great relational reminders for us all.
Look at these thoughts below --
"In order to persevere and improve our relationships, we first must ..... stop trying to change people and start trying to understand them." (Do you hear that Karen!? just kidding.....)
"It's supernatural to accept the people in my life just the way they are, work on my own faults and character flaws, and trust God to deal with other people." (That sounds great, but is ALOT easier said than done. We think we can deal with people a lot better than God...... )
"The essentials for strong relationships are those small loving actions, all the seemingly insignificant things that mean so much to someone else. When you are inconsistent, telling others how important they are but never following through with loving actions, then the relationships will falter. The clarity and security your loving actions bring to the people around you can't be unerestimated." (Ouch. I've got to remember that little things that don't mean much too me can really speak loudly to somebody else.....)
Suggestion -- Spend time in prayer today for each person you consider essential to your life. Ask God to reveal how you can improve your relationships with these vitally important people.
Some days this book is more challenging than others. Some can hit me hard, and some don't have much punch to them (for me). Today was an "in-betweener". Today our book talked about some great relational reminders for us all.
Look at these thoughts below --
"In order to persevere and improve our relationships, we first must ..... stop trying to change people and start trying to understand them." (Do you hear that Karen!? just kidding.....)
"It's supernatural to accept the people in my life just the way they are, work on my own faults and character flaws, and trust God to deal with other people." (That sounds great, but is ALOT easier said than done. We think we can deal with people a lot better than God...... )
"The essentials for strong relationships are those small loving actions, all the seemingly insignificant things that mean so much to someone else. When you are inconsistent, telling others how important they are but never following through with loving actions, then the relationships will falter. The clarity and security your loving actions bring to the people around you can't be unerestimated." (Ouch. I've got to remember that little things that don't mean much too me can really speak loudly to somebody else.....)
Suggestion -- Spend time in prayer today for each person you consider essential to your life. Ask God to reveal how you can improve your relationships with these vitally important people.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Love Completely -- Exploring the Depths of Forgiveness
30 Days to Live -- Day 10
I know a few people (I won't mention names) that come to mind when I think about forgiveness. Mostly those who have trouble forgiving, not those who do it readily and quickly...... This issue has not been a particular problem for me....(I've got plenty of others to keep me busy)... but I have definitely seen the destruction take place.
Listen to this passage from the book --
"If you try to live without forgiving, you won't survive. It is essential that we forgive for our own sakes; otherwise we'll drown in betterness. The deeper you allow yourself to go into the ocean of resentment, the more you'll feel the pressure and the stress. Eventually the pressure will become so intense that your relatioships, joy, and health will be crushed. Medical and psychological research reveal that bitterness and resentment have devastating effects. We think that if we hold on to our hurt, we're getting b ack at the person who injured us. In reality we're just hurting ourselves. If we wnat to enjoy our lives to the fullest, we must release the bitterness."
If you only had one month to live, what would you ask forgiveness for? From whom? Whom would you need to forgive?
I know a few people (I won't mention names) that come to mind when I think about forgiveness. Mostly those who have trouble forgiving, not those who do it readily and quickly...... This issue has not been a particular problem for me....(I've got plenty of others to keep me busy)... but I have definitely seen the destruction take place.
Listen to this passage from the book --
"If you try to live without forgiving, you won't survive. It is essential that we forgive for our own sakes; otherwise we'll drown in betterness. The deeper you allow yourself to go into the ocean of resentment, the more you'll feel the pressure and the stress. Eventually the pressure will become so intense that your relatioships, joy, and health will be crushed. Medical and psychological research reveal that bitterness and resentment have devastating effects. We think that if we hold on to our hurt, we're getting b ack at the person who injured us. In reality we're just hurting ourselves. If we wnat to enjoy our lives to the fullest, we must release the bitterness."
If you only had one month to live, what would you ask forgiveness for? From whom? Whom would you need to forgive?
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Live Passionately -- The Test of Time
"One Month to Live" -- Day 3
Can you think of the last time you asked a friend how he was doing, and he said, "Great. Things are really moving slowly. I have plenty of time to get everthing done and spend quality time with my family and friends." I didn't think so......
We can't change the past, but we can redeem the remaining time. The only way you and I can make the most of our remaining time is to spend each day in such a way that we leave behind a worthwhile legacy on this earth. If you waste your time, you waste your life. And if we're going to use our time in such a way that we leave a lasting mark on the earth, then we have to use our time effectively.
We have all heard about the 80/20 rule. Basically, 20 percent of what you do brings about most of the results in your life, and 80 percent of what you do is pretty much wasted time. If you spend more time in the areas that bring you the most results and less time in ineffective pursuits, then you will accomplish more by doing less!
Our priorities contribute powerfully to how we perceive time and how we spend it. How we invest our time can determine the difference between a sense of contentment, because you know you are doing exactly what you were made for, and a sense of regret. If you want to live with no regrets, then you may need to inventory your life and see how you've been spending your time.
Better yet, do a cost-benefit analysis of your time to determine if how you spend your days produces the benefits you desire. Jack Groppel, a peak-performance coach, says time management is really energy management. I totally agree. You can experience the effect of multiplying your time by effectively managing how you apply your energy each day. If we appreciate our time as a precious gift to spend, then we're much more likely to be engaged and motivated to make it count.
What consumes most of your time each day? How meaningful is it? How satisfying is it? How much of any given day do you spend doing only what you do best? What activities in your life would you consider wasted time? What keeps you from using that time in more meaningful ways?
Can you think of the last time you asked a friend how he was doing, and he said, "Great. Things are really moving slowly. I have plenty of time to get everthing done and spend quality time with my family and friends." I didn't think so......
We can't change the past, but we can redeem the remaining time. The only way you and I can make the most of our remaining time is to spend each day in such a way that we leave behind a worthwhile legacy on this earth. If you waste your time, you waste your life. And if we're going to use our time in such a way that we leave a lasting mark on the earth, then we have to use our time effectively.
We have all heard about the 80/20 rule. Basically, 20 percent of what you do brings about most of the results in your life, and 80 percent of what you do is pretty much wasted time. If you spend more time in the areas that bring you the most results and less time in ineffective pursuits, then you will accomplish more by doing less!
Our priorities contribute powerfully to how we perceive time and how we spend it. How we invest our time can determine the difference between a sense of contentment, because you know you are doing exactly what you were made for, and a sense of regret. If you want to live with no regrets, then you may need to inventory your life and see how you've been spending your time.
Better yet, do a cost-benefit analysis of your time to determine if how you spend your days produces the benefits you desire. Jack Groppel, a peak-performance coach, says time management is really energy management. I totally agree. You can experience the effect of multiplying your time by effectively managing how you apply your energy each day. If we appreciate our time as a precious gift to spend, then we're much more likely to be engaged and motivated to make it count.
What consumes most of your time each day? How meaningful is it? How satisfying is it? How much of any given day do you spend doing only what you do best? What activities in your life would you consider wasted time? What keeps you from using that time in more meaningful ways?
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Live Passionately -- Someday Syndrome
"One Month to Live" -- Day 2
Often we're tempted to play it safe and settle for far less than we were made for. I know so many people whose favorite day of the week is Someday. Someday. One day. When. If. Then it's over. When are we going to wake up and realize this is life?
God did not design us simply to stand by and watch life pass as we wonder why we aren't more fulfilled. God created us to take risks in faith and to conquer the giants that paralyze us with fear. (Remember that little shepherd boy David?) Saul and the army of Israel were operating on the basis of reason. David was operating on the basis of faith. When you're operating on the basis of reason, all you can see is how big your giants are. If you're operating in faith, all you can see is how small your giants are compared to God. The one thing that separated David from the thousands who were there that day was ridiculous faith.
The world says, "Don't be ridiculous; be reasonable. Don't stand out. Don't take risks; play it safe, and make security and comfort your primary goals in life." God calls us to a life of faith, lving every moment all out for Him.
Are you doing anything in your life right now that requires faith? If not, why not? Are you looking at life from God's perspective or from a ground-level perspective?
Often we're tempted to play it safe and settle for far less than we were made for. I know so many people whose favorite day of the week is Someday. Someday. One day. When. If. Then it's over. When are we going to wake up and realize this is life?
God did not design us simply to stand by and watch life pass as we wonder why we aren't more fulfilled. God created us to take risks in faith and to conquer the giants that paralyze us with fear. (Remember that little shepherd boy David?) Saul and the army of Israel were operating on the basis of reason. David was operating on the basis of faith. When you're operating on the basis of reason, all you can see is how big your giants are. If you're operating in faith, all you can see is how small your giants are compared to God. The one thing that separated David from the thousands who were there that day was ridiculous faith.
The world says, "Don't be ridiculous; be reasonable. Don't stand out. Don't take risks; play it safe, and make security and comfort your primary goals in life." God calls us to a life of faith, lving every moment all out for Him.
Are you doing anything in your life right now that requires faith? If not, why not? Are you looking at life from God's perspective or from a ground-level perspective?
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