The Mountain

I have seen the world from near the top. I have stood on the top of a mountain and looked down on God’s fantastic creation. From there, I could never doubt. From there, God’s presence is spectacularly evident. From there, love and hope not only seem plausible or likely, but they seem inevitable.

Often when Jesus really wanted to make a message stick with his apostles, he took them “up on a mountain.” He removed them from all the distractions of life, and then, immersed them in his message. The mountain serenity makes God’s presence unmistakable. He says, “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46) The quiet and calm also make his voice crystal clear. God speaks to us all the time, but we are too distracted to listen. When we are quite and listening, God’s speaks.

Unfortunately, we cannot live on the mountain. God has much bigger plans for us. We need to go to the mountain to replenish and rejuvenate, but our work is in the valley. Leaving the mountain with a clear direction and purpose, we can face the day with confidence and faith. We can do God’s work and spread His message. We can live the plan that He devised and revealed.

Soul mates. . .

I do not believe in "soul mates." The phenomena mostly comes from knowing someone very well and from having a lot in common. In that sense, I think that sort of relationship is possible with more than one person. I think "having a lot in common" is luck, but "knowing each other" takes energy to get there.

I believe that love is a decision. Sure, it is easier to decide to love someone if they "fit," but the butterflies will never last. Eventually, loving will take some effort. Doubting and wondering are human nature. Eventually, the grass always seems greener somewhere else.

Despite sounding unromantic, but there is more "hope" in believing that people can make it work than there is in believing that people might be stuck with the wrong mate. One can decide to love and in turn be more lovable. Searching for a single grain of sand in a desert sounds very sad.

Soul-mates make for better movies, though.

Leadership Kearney - Tim Peterson

Why do you get up in the morning?

Who am I becoming? What am I doing? Is that who I am called to be?

1) You can only focus on one thing at a time.
2) You can't avoid a "don't."
3) You move toward what you focus on.

Leadership Kearney - Ron Brown

Ron Brown was an assistant football coach at the University of Nebraska for 17 years. Being around such a successful program for so many years, he had a great vantage point to observe leaders. Ron chose three quarterback to exemplify traits that he belies are important for effective leaders: resilience, intensity, and humility

Scott Frost was a leader out to win the popularity contests. After the 0-19 loss to Arizona State in a season that NE was projected to make a run for the National Championship, Scott was completely crushed. Ron described him like a crumpled piece of paper that will never be the same again. Scott found it within himself (and through his faith) to bounce back. Eventually, he was resilient like a rubber ball.

Tommy Frazier personified intensity. He was focused on a vision. He set the tone for himself and others. On his first day of practice as a freshman, he stepped into a huddle of guys that were chatting and goofing around. Tommy had two words for them, "Shut up. When I am in the huddle, I am the only one talking." From that day forward he was. Tommy's teammates never elected him to be captain. He could be abrasive and too intense. Regardless, there was never any doubt who was the leader and where he was going.

Brooke Beringer stepped into to play quarterback when he and Tommy were both juniors. Tommy was healthy again when they were seniors and there was a battle for the starting position. Tom Osborne chose Tommy to be the starter. Brooke could have divided the team. He had nearly half of the team rooting for him and believing he had gotten a raw deal. Instead, Brooke stepped aside and pushed Tommy to be the best that he could be. Brooke was projected to be a 3rd round draft pick the following year before he was killed in a plane crash. He was humble. An effective leaders requires a degree of humility. Ego Elephants eat, so no one wants to stand behind them.

Leadership Kearney - Steve Buttress

Steve gave a great speech about what it takes for a town to succeed and specifically, what Kearney has done right.

*No town has a guaranteed future.
*4 pillars - Industry and AG, Education, Medical, and Government
*"Earn then return." No, that is not enough. It needs to be immediate and ongoing: "Earn & Return"
*Show up and participate!
*Western Nebraska can expect $98 Billion in intergenerational wealth transfer over the next 40 years. There is money available for projects and ideas. We can make things happen.
*We need to get past Leadership Kearney graduates more involved.
*Over the last 50 years, Hastings has grow about 10% and Kearney has grown 120%. The difference is the open leadership in Kearney. Hastings leaders are more elite and comfortable.

Valuing the Market

The Biggest Secret in the Stock Market By Bill Mann (TMF Otter) , August 30, 2004

So when someone comes out and says "the market is overvalued," or its opposite, be sure to set your garbage filter on "high." . . . . The person making this statement is still grossly overstating his or her knowledge. . . Such a statement presupposes that this manager's knowledge of every single sector of the stock market is complete. . . .Now, I'm not suggesting that folks suddenly change their standards to respond to the overall market's losing its mind one way or another. What I am suggesting is: Look harder. Look in new places. Look where no one else seems to be looking.

Mettle

Bush Acknowledges Iraq 'Miscalculation'

In an AP story reporting on an interview with President Bush,

President Bush said for the first time on Thursday he made a "miscalculation of what the conditions would be" after U.S. troops went to Iraq, The New York Times reported. The insurgency, he maintained, was the unintended result of a "swift victory" that led to Iraqi troops disappearing into the cities and mounting a rebellion.

That's the reward for winning the war too quickly? Great prize. The logic is sound, and admitting the mistake is honorable. In retrospect, the end (we're not there yet) would likely be the same although the means may have been different.

Bush also said,

The president has to make hard decisions. My job is to confront problems not pass them on. And the American people have seen me make the hardest of decisions. That's just going to have to be a part of their decision-making process.

Iraq was a festering zit that would eventually explode. Doing nothing is an easy choice, but it is not likely the best choice. In conclusion, Bush illuminated his unwavering determination when he discussed why he remains in politics.

There's a lot of my friends who come and bass-fish with me. They don't say it out loud, I know they're thinking it: Why?" Bush said. "And the answer is because the stakes are high. Because there is more work to be done to make the world a freer and more peaceful place. . . .I know what needs to be done, I see clearly where we need to go and I want to spend four years leading toward that goal.

Shine

I could not say this any better, so I am posting it as is with a citation:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson

Be there.

Satellite TV Gains in Race Against Cable One quote in this article rang dissonantly with me.

Goldman. . .particularly enjoys the DVR, which allows him to record multiple showings of a program his 3-year-old son loves. "That's extremely important when you have a kid that loves a certain cartoon and they may be in school or unavailable," he said. "You want to get them so they can watch that at some point in the day when you need a few minutes to yourself.

Too many people finds ways to avoid parenting and TV is numbing. Find better ways to entertain children or teach them to entertain themselves. Television, despite visual and audio stimulus requires no interactive participation. It is sedentary. You can find something better for you child to do!

As Groucho Marx said,

I find TV very educational. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.