CAUTION:

This video contains profanity!

Tony Robbins makes some excellent points in his presentation here,
but some of the language he uses will definitely be offensive to some.

Tweet This Post 

Gosh! As a kid, 2010 was some futuristic science fiction scenario.
Now, here it is!

I remember the day in 1963 when President Kennedy was shot. I was in the second grade, and I heard about it on the school bus as some of the older kids got on board crying and talking about it.

I also remember watching a black and white TV program in the mid-60’s called "Lost In Space", with that whimpering Dr. Smith, the cool Robinson family, and a large robot resembling a 55 gallon drum with a flashing light for a head and flailing arms made from dryer vent tubing, alerting everyone, "DANGER, DANGER, DANGER!"

The space ships looked like they were created out of a toilet tissue roll wrapped in aluminum foil. You could see the strings suspending the ship in mid-air, and fireworks sparklers provided the illusion of the rocket’s exhaust.
I was 10 years old.

Later, in 1969, I heard the words over and over again, "The Eagle has landed" and "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," as Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon. An exciting time for America and the world, yet many unbelieving skeptics called it "just a government hoax."

While I was in the Air Force in 1977, I watched from on top of the control tower at Edwards AFB, CA, as the first space shuttle, "Enterprise", slowly inched down the flightline, dwarfing the tractor-trailer that was hauling it. Soon after, I watched it being mounted onto, and launched from a Boeing 747 jet. I was 21.

Well, today there are millions of real robots, some of which can fit through the end of a needle in a syringe. And Captain Kirk’s Star Trek flip communicator has evolved into what we now call cell phones.

Looking back in retrospect, it seems like imagination paves the way for the realities in our future. Maybe that’s why Albert Einstein said,  "Imagination is more important than knowledge".  If that is indeed true, I wonder when we can expect "Beam me up Scotty", to become a reality.

Now I’m not much of one to make New Year’s Resolutions, because statistics show they seldom last over a few days anyway. You know, the common ones like dropping a few pounds, getting into better shape, eating right – those people make every year, probably out of guilt for over-indulging through the holidays.  Many times, when the guilt is gone, so is the ambiton for change.

I did set a few new goals for myself in 2010 though. I’m not sure why, but for some reason I see the beginning of this decade as being different. Sort of like a "milestone", or a "springboard" for new things, more positive and progressive changes on my own journey. No doubt, it is a conglomeration of physical, emotional, spiritual, and who knows what other influences have created this illusion. No question, meeting my new grandson for the first time this Spring will have a major impact on my life.

Well, President Kennedy had a vision of America putting a man on the moon, and then bringing him back home safely for the decade of the 60’s – and it came to pass. As we look forward into a new decade, I wonder where our imaginations will take us.

Einstein also said, "We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them".  Change happens so quickly, and it seems as though each change lays the groundwork for new and more accelerated change.

I think Ghandi said it best – "YOU must be the change you wish to see in the world."  If we want change, we must be willing to change, and it’s in our imagination where the seeds of change are planted.

Thanks for reading, and Happy New Year!! May it be the best one ever for you.

Think BIG!!!

Gene

Tweet This Post 

“Our Dreams are on the top shelf:
We reach them by standing on the books we read.”
                                                                                                                      (JIM ROHN)

Today is my Dad’s birthday (12-6-09). He would have been 87 years old today. A surreal feeling comes over me now as I think about being the same age as he was when he passed away, only 54. Life is so fragile, it was just too soon.

As my children tell me that I am their hero, my dad was mine as well. I recognize almost daily, something he put into me with his words and his actions – whether good, bad or ugly.

Two things stick in my mind more than anything else though. They are his love for his children, and his confidence in our abilities.

My dad helped me to believe that I can do anything, or be anything I choose. Especially with the opportunities given to us in the free world to explore and gain knowledge. And especially in America, we can chart our own course based on what we believe. That’s just another way of describing faith. Put the two together – faith and opportunity – and the possibilities are limitless.

Connected directly to that belief is another one – Attitude is Everything!

Well, several years ago I came across a personal development speaker by the name of Jim Rohn. Somehow I had gotten hold of one of his CD’s, and in listening to the CD, it quickly became evident to me that this man was filled with wisdom. And even though I did not become a devout student of his, I did read several of his articles through the years.

Jim Rohn passed away yesterday (12-5-09) after wrestling with an illness for many months. I found the following article by Mr. Rohn that I would like to share with you now. Be encouraged on your journey.    -gb.

Life is about constant, predictable patterns of change. For the six thousand years of recorded history, as humans have entered this world, received parental instruction, classroom instruction, and gathered the experience of life; many have set for themselves ambitious goals, and dreamed lofty dreams. As the wheel of life continues its constant turning, all human emotions appear, disappear, and appear once again.

A major challenge faced by us all is that we must learn to experience the changing of life’s cycles without being changed by them; to make a constant and conscious effort to improve ourselves in the face of changing circumstances.

That is why I believe in the power and value of attitude. As I read, ponder and speculate about people, their deeds and their destiny, I become more deeply convinced that it is our natural destiny to grow, to succeed, to prosper, and to find happiness while we are here.

By our attitude, we decide to read, or not to read. By our attitude, we decide to try or give up. By our attitude, we blame ourselves for our failure, or we blame others. Our attitude determines whether we tell the truth or lie, act or procrastinate, advance or recede, and by our own attitude we and we alone actually decide whether to succeed or fail.

How incredibly unique that a God who would create the complex and immense universe would create the human race and give to those humans the free choice that would permit them to select their own achievement or their own destruction.

This strange, but all-knowing God gave to us a delicately balanced sphere called earth. On it, he placed the intelligent human who would either develop it or destroy it. How terribly fascinating that a God would leave both projects— earth as well as humans—unfinished! Across the rivers and streams he built no bridges; he left the pictures unpainted, the songs unsung, the books unwritten, and space unexplored. For the accomplishment of those things, God created the unfinished human who, within his heart and mind, had the capacity to do all these things and more, depending upon his own choice.

Attitude determines choice, and choice determines results. All that we are, and all that we can become has indeed been left unto us. For as long as you continue to draw breath, you have the chance to complete the work in and for the earth and for yourself that God has begun for you. In the cycles and seasons of life, attitude is everything!

To Your Success,
Jim Rohn

Tweet This Post 

Tweet This Post 

Words are thoughts that we breathe life into. Once they have been spoken, they become living energy and power. Unlike our thoughts, they can not be taken captive (or taken back). They are free to do their work – blessing or cursing. Not only will someone else hear those words and be affected by them, we hear them as we speak them. Remember faith comes by hearing, even when it’s our own words. We can literally chart our own course with something so simple as what we think and/or say.

That’s one reason that as we judge, we will be judged. It just works that way with our thoughts, words and actions. As we sow, we reap – what goes around, comes around. Our thoughts and words attract on a spiritual level, just as they do on a metaphysical level.

How many times have we said, “What on earth were they thinking!?”

Good judgement is absolutely necessary, and we could certainly use more of it in the world. Our judgements, whether good or bad, tend to come from what we have learned and experienced in our own individual lives. Our knowledge and personal experiences become the basis of our judgement.

I believe most judgements are synonymous with personal opinion. We all have an opinion, and they are usually based on how we see things from our own perspective. That’s why one person can believe one way, and another person can believe totally opposite. Both people believe they are correct in their thinking, and some are willing to kill or die for their belief. Again, it doesn’t matter if it’s real and true, or brainwashing and fantasy. It’s almost like we humans have a closed loop of little “opinion planets” orbiting our brain, held in place by the gravitational pull of close-mindedness.

So, good and righteousness judgment really is a precious treasure.

In the bible, Jesus was quoted as saying, “Judge righteous judgement.” I don’t think he was giving his approval or permission to judge other people, but to judge ourselves and make good judgement for our own lives. Why? Because we reap what we sow. If we sow goodness and mercy, we can expect to reap a harvest of the same. If we sow strife and contention – well, we’re gonna get some of that back too.

Have you ever heard someone make a remark about someone else, and then immediately thought the same thing about the person making the remark? I know I have. The first thing that comes to my mind when I hear someone judge someone else, is that same thought towards the one passing the judgement. As we judge, we are judged.

When Jesus said to remove the log out of our own eye before we attempt to remove a splinter out of someone else’s, that’s what he was talking about. Our judgement of others comes from what is inside of us. That’s why we are judged with the same judgement that we use to judge others. I’ll carry that a step further – the splinter we see in someone else’s eye is just a “reflection” of the log in our own eye.

People are “who” and “what” they are, because of choices they’ve made. We create many of our own circumstances  and situations we experience by making a simple choice. And when it comes to passing judgement, there’s simply no way we can rightfully judge anyone else’s circumstance, unless we have walked a mile in their shoes. On a higher level, if we “have” experienced their pains, discouragements, rejection, adversity, etc., then we will NOT judge them, but instead will have understanding and compassion for them. We know how they feel. Also, we won’t condemn or ridicule in our judgement, but we will attempt to encourage and help to overcome.

When we give life to a thought by speaking it, those same words fall on our ears, and they are planted as seeds in our own soul or sub-concious mind. Every thought we think and every word we speak effects our lives, whether it is positive or negative. “We are justified and/or condemned by our words.” Ultimately the seeds we plant, or allow someone else to plant, will grow into a reality that bares its fruit.

Here’s an old saying that we could probably apply to judging others: “We can keep quiet and be thought a fool, or open our mouth and remove all doubt.” HA! One of my favorites.

That’s just the way I see it. Much love, grace and peace to you all.

Thanks for reading,

Gene.

Tweet This Post 

In creation’s design, everything just seems to work doesn’t it? You know, dogs bark and chase cats, fish swim and eat worms, light turns to darkness every day and vice-versa, leaves change color in the fall, etc… You get the picture.There are many unseen mysteries as well, that just simply work. Things like magnetism, sound, and gravity. What’s up with that gravity anyway? Or maybe I should say, What’s down with gravity?

Oh well, there’s no real need to understand why gravity works – we just know it does. It is not some mistake, resulting as ‘hap-n-stance’ because of some explosive nuclear accident. Gravity is by design, just like you. And it has purpose, just like you. Because of the design of gravity, my feet can remain planted firmly on the ground. I can get up every morning and walk around without fear of flying off through the atmosphere.

Never giving it a second thought, I know can throw a ball into the air and it will fall back to the earth – every single time. As a matter of fact, I trust gravity to work even before I ever throw the ball that first time. It has proven itself many times over in my life, so I can have faith enough to believe, it is always going to be there doing its job.

Well, it’s easy to see physical, natural things like gravity, sound and light working. And it’s also easy to take them for granted because they are always there, relentlessly doing what they are designed to do. No doubt, there are also many unseen things in our lives working just as diligently – some help to build us to our full potential, while others hold us captive to defeat and mediocrity. Many of the invisible influences in our lives are there by our own design, regardless of whether they do, or do not, compliment our desired purpose and outcome.

Much can be said about a sound workable design, like gravity. So stay tuned. I’ll be talking more about how we create the design in our own lives a little later in some upcoming posts.

Here’s a parting thought to keep in mind – If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything. So, keep your feet planted firmly on the ground, and when you’ve done all to stand, just stand.

Thanks for reading, be encouraged, and have a blessed day.

Gene

Tweet This Post 

Common to every man, fear in its most powerful manifestation is still fictitious and futuristic. It is a thief and a paralyzing destroyer of hopes, dreams, plans and goals. If we allow it, fear will feed on and devour our future by creating destructive scenarios in our thoughts. Lying patiently within our imagination, it awaits the perfect opportunity to make its presentation -

“But what if . . . ?” Fear has the ability to beat its victims into submission, and then hold them captive with circumstance.

As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he . . . (PROVERBS 23:7)

Einstein was quoted as saying, “The problems of today can only be solved at a higher level of thinking than that which created them.” When we become concious of any destructive negative thought, we can take that thought captive and replace it with a thought of our own choosing. That is one of the privileges of belonging to the human race, and having a brain.

The capacity to think is not only a gift, it is a skill. And although we humans have been given the ability to think and reason, we may occassionally find ourselves in the valley of decision once again, unable to discern right choices. One thing is for certain in that valley – if something isn’t working, we need to make some changes. Another of Einstein’s famous quotes was his definition of insanity. That is, doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results.

Where there is no vision, the people perish . . . (PROVERBS 29:18)

With change comes challenge, and with challenge, sometimes insecurity and fear. These two things work together and may cause us to accept our circumstance as the “norm” for our life. They offer a compromising lifestyle that prevents us from reaching our full potential, and living the lifestyle of our dreams. We may even find ourselves in some “comfort zone” that is anything but comfortable.

The good news is, that we as individuals “DO” have the power to change the way we think. And in so doing, we create change that not only affects our own life, but the lives of all those within our sphere of influence. We can absolutely change the world with our thoughts and decisions. The truth is, it’s the only way we will.

Thanks for reading. Have a blessed day,

Gene

Tweet This Post 

Podcast Episode 1 – Introduction

Tweet This Post 

Michael and Dwight’s short conversation about Michael’s advice . . .

Tweet This Post