I hate Halloween!
I love Halloween!
Both sides equally passionate.

Here’s my take, I love people visiting our house.

Every year on October 31st many children and adults come to my front door filled with hope.

They come hoping for a tasty treat.
They come hoping for something to make their life better.

What they get is a smile, a sense of community, and a moment to realize that the world is a better place than it seems.

Today is Blog Action Day.

The theme this year is the Power of WE.

In light of that I thought I would list some of the causes, charities and concerns that we have contributed money to. Not to give ourselves a pat on the back, but to affirm our belief in the value of giving and sharing; the power of WE.

Thus far this year we have given to many individuals and families, we believe in supporting local people — our “neighbors” — as well as:

This week I’m responding to Ken Davis’ call to be “fully alive.” Fully alive people are characterized by many things including meaningful friendships, courageously overcoming fear, and a determination to course corrections when they fail.

We all fail.  Failure is painful.

Pain is part of the price of living.
– Love is painful.
– Relationships are painful.
– Failing is painful.

If we choose to move forward in our quest to live fully alive, we will fall, it will hurt . . . and it will be worth it.

Be prepared to pay the price. Change costs.  Progress can be painful.

Yesterday, I exposed a few reasons why we procrastinate including:

We feel overwhelmed.
We overestimate the amount of time needed.
We would rather be doing something else.
We think if we wait long, the task will go away.
We fear failure.
We fear success.
We enjoy the last-minute adrenaline rush.

What’s beneath those reasons?

There are many factors, here are a few:

Christopher procrastinates signing up for football because he’s afraid to have all the lies he’s told about his abilities exposed.

My son Josh loves cars.  Through his teens years he slowly but enthusiastically spread his enthusiasm to me, and to the rest of our household. 

We watch “car shows” together. We laugh at the mishaps. We marvel at the technology. We skills oh and ah at the power, and drool when we see certain cars.

Certainly then I must drive a nice car.
You jest!
I drive a 1996 Plymouth Voyager. 

“I can’t get a job.  I’ve looked everywhere!”

“They won’t call me back.”

“They just hate (fill in the blank)!”

Finding a job is difficult.  I’m not certain what the answer is, but I do have some time-tested suggestions for teens and adults who want to step ahead in the marketplace:

Seven Communication Skills That We Need

I’m thinking through what this means for me today, tomorrow, and my tomorrows.

What does the Lord your God require of you?
He requires only that you
fear the Lord your God,
and live in a way that pleases him,
and love him
and serve him with all your heart and soul.
- Deuteronomy 10:12, NLT

The Dark Knight Rises opened last night. He’s a brave risk-taker.
But, I’m not a multimillionaire, so I’ll never be like Bruce Wayne.

The Amazing Spiderman opened a few weeks ago. He’s a brave risk-taker.
But, I’m not going to be bit by a radioactive spider, so I’ll never be like Peter Parker.

What kind of hero — what kind of bold, heroic, risk-taker — might you and I become?

Real World Heroes = Risk-Takers

Yesterday I had an hour-long conversation with a university professor who teaches potential risk-takers; she teaches entrepreneurship. It was a fascinating discussion about the challenges of taking great ideas and creating great opportunities.

Remember me?

Like many men of the time, Elkanah had two wives. Peninnah had children, but Hannah did not. Hannah wanted to have children. 

One day Hannah and her husband were traveling to while the other wife stayed at home with the kids. On their journey to Shiloh her husband asked, “Hannah, why are you so sad?”

Heartbroken, Hannah replied, “Give me children.”

Elkanah loved Hannah.  Her words hurt.  Frustrated he said, “Am I God that I could give you children?” And he added, “Aren’t I better to you than many sons? Aren’t you satisfied with me?”

Remember me, Lord, when you show favor to your people; come near and rescue me. 1

Sharon Williams is sixty-six years old.  She is a mother of five children, and a grandmother of several grandchildren.  Sharon spent her professional career trying to make the world a better place.

Several years ago she chose to hear God’s call to “remember me.”

Sharon was a good person, but with God’s help she became a life-transforming person. 

In the years since Sharon retired from public service she continues to serve the community helping organizations raise money from the comfort of her living room.