Remember Me?
“I’m Buckwheat! Uh member me?!”
There was an old Saturday Night Live skit with Eddie Murphy as a grown up version of Buckwheat from the Little Rascals. His catch phrase was “I’m Buckwheat! Uh member me?!” It was like that familiar friend from our childhood (okay, some of us saw the show in reruns) was back just as we remembered him. It was like he had never left.
Sometimes I feel like God says to us “Hey, I’m God. Remember Me?!” We get so caught up in our daily routine that we neglect the most important person in our life. Circumstances may come (be it a death in the family, loss of a job, divorce, etc.) and though it might not seem like it at the time, they will also pass. The comforting thing is the reminder that Deuteronomy 31:6 gives us –
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.
The end of this month will mark eleven months that I have been without a job. It’s been a tough and trying time, but there have been many instances where God will orchestrate something in my life (like an unexpected interview) and it feels like He is gently whispering “Hey, remember Me?! I’ve got this!” I know that I will eventually find a job and I’ll be able to look back on this time in my life as something that was well worth the wait.
How has God been telling you “Remember Me?!” lately?
Photo Credit: By Michael Lehet
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Introverts Unite (Or Not)…
Introverts are people too!
What do Albert Einstein, Mahatma Gandhi, J.K. Rowling, Steven Spielberg, Sir Isaac Newton, Audrey Hepburn, Ingrid Bergman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Harrison Ford, Alfred Hitchcock, and Matt Lauer all have in common? They are celebrities or people from history who are introverts. Add one more “not so famous” person to this list…me. Hi, my name is Scott and I’m an introvert! To be technical, I am what’s called an “extroverted introvert” (which means I am an introvert by nature, but I can “turn on” and “turn off” characteristics of an extrovert as needed, but in the end I need down time alone to “recover” from these times).
I borrowed some great links from my friend Kelly, who is also an introvert. One of the main problems is that those who are not introverted do not know how to really interact with those of us who are. They feel like something is wrong with us, when in actuality it is just how we process things. A few misconceptions of introverts are that we are oppressed or arrogant, when it is quite the contrary. Others tend to think introverts are shy, rude, loners who don’t like people and don’t enjoy going out in public. Introverts are just like everyone else, but we must have down time in order to function and take in the things around us.
One of my favorite blogs is called Introverted Church and it talks about the challenges that introverts have when they are in leadership positions. Jon Acuff at Stuff Christians Like also did a humorous post on introverts.
Are there any other introverts out there?
Photo Credit: By Joe Wolf
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Saint Not As Good As Showdown
I just didn’t like Saint as much as Showdown.
Have you ever read a book only to find the middle to be the best part? You start with a weak beginning and then when you get to the end your first thought is “Really?!?! That’s how you ended it?!?!” That’s how I felt about Ted Dekker’s book Saint (the second book in the Paradise trilogy). Dekker is by far one of my favorite authors, but this just isn’t one of his best books. My first frustration was it took reading at least half of the book before you find out how it ties in with Showdown (the first book in the trilogy).
Saint is about a trained assassin named Carl Strople. We find out that he has been stripped of his identity (his true identity is a major plot point and what ties the two books together, so I won’t spoil it). Strople is recruited to be a part of a secret assassin society called The X Group. His first mission is to kill Assim Feroz, a middle-Eastern dignitary, but in the middle of his mission he is told to switch targets and assassinate Robert Stenton, the President of the United States. Strople develops a conscience and cannot follow through with his task. As a result Englishman (another assassin from The X Group) starts searching for Strople with the intent to kill him.
The main themes that run through Saint are identity (coming to terms with who you really are and your past) and trust (primarily who can you trust when your life is at risk). This book is a good stand alone book as well, so if you haven’t read Showdown it will still make sense and that is one thing I like about Dekker’s works. I hope that Sinner (the final book in the trilogy) is much better than Saint. If you have never read any of Ted Dekker’s books, I would not recommend starting with this one – try Thr3e, House, or The Bride Collector instead.
Photo Credit: By http://www.teddekker.com
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Maxwell’s Winning With People Is A Winner!
Another winner from John C. Maxwell!
Former pastor turned leadership guru, John C. Maxwell is known for his insight and experience when it comes to the business industry. What I find helpful is Maxwell’s teachings are applicable to other environments such as church, small groups, and relationships. His 2004 release Winning With People specifically deals with relationships. Quite frequently the mindset of the business world is “What can I do to get ahead?” or “How can I succeed?” Maxwell challenges the reader to think outside of the box and change his or her thoughts to “How can I help others succeed?”
The book is broken down into five sections that ask the following questions: Are we prepared for relationships? Are we willing to focus on others? Can we build mutual trust? Are we willing to invest in others? Can we create a win-win relationship? Each section has 5-6 different principles that will help the reader refocus to help answer the respective question in a positive way.
I found so many takeaways within this book including:
- “You can’t control another person’s response to you. All you can do is make yourself the kind of person others want to know and with whom they can build a relationship.”
- “People respond to what they are prepared to believe. And what prepares them for what they believe is their experience.”
- “It takes four positive statements to negate the effect of one negative statement.”
- “You may be able to impress people with your successes, but if you want to influence them, share your failures.”
This book is an easy read and is one from which almost anyone can gain something – especially those in a leadership position (be it professionally, church, or in relationships). I highly recommend this book and if you are also interested in more leadership principles, make sure to read Developing The Leaders Around You, Becoming A Person of Influence, and Developing The Leader Within You (all by Maxwell). You can also follow John Maxwell’s Leadership Blog.
Photo Credit: By The John Maxwell Co.
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Save The Finder!
Save The Finder!
Have you ever had a television show that you really enjoyed watching only to have the network snatch it out from under your nose via cancellation? Unfortunately this has happened more often than not – Pushing Daisies, Breaking In, Reaper, and the list goes on and on. Recently FOX announced that they have decided to cancel the Geoff Stults crime dramedy The Finder. What really irritates me is they are cancelling a great show likes this while they keep garbage like Glee! I missed the first few episodes of The Finder, so I didn’t really get into the show until it was too late.
If you’ve never watched the show, it’s a spin-off of the show Bones. Geoff Stults plays Walter Sherman (A.K.A. “The Finder”) an Iraq War vet who suffered brain damage in an IED explosion. This injury gave him the ability to “find” things. With the help of his “legal advisor” Isabel (Mercedes Masöhn), his friend and bar owner Leo (Michael Clarke Duncan), and a teenage parolee named Willa (Maddie Hasson) he solves some pretty cool crimes involving everything from a meal to music. This show has everything – for you ladies you’ve got the good looking, quirky guy in Walter. Guys, we get the hot eye candy of Isabel. There is romance between Walter and Isabel. You find camaraderie (a “bromance” of sorts) between Walter and Leo. Willa adds a little rebellious teenage angst for the younger crowd (and she’s kind of cute).
If you are like me and really enjoyed the show, let FOX know how you feel! There is a “Save The Finder” Facebook group. You can also sign a petition telling the network they should renew the show. Someone has even created a Keep The Finder blog you can follow. Fans have also been asked to participate in the “Send A Map” campaign where viewers will be mailing Kevin Reilly (the president of FOX) a map of their state with the words “Save The Finder” across it. There is also a campaign to get the USA Network to pick up The Finder (go to http://www.usanetwork.com/feedback/ and at the bottom of the page there is form – fill out the form and select “USA Network Programming” under Topic then for Program under “Other” select “Suggest A Program” leaving a comment telling them how much you love The Finder on FOX and how you think USA Network should air the show). I don’t know what if anything will happen as a result of all of this, but it never hurts to try.
Enjoy the promo video below for The Finder.
Photo Credit: By Amazon.com
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Disney Kids Go Wild!
Why do we rush to be “grown up?!”
Something has been on my mind lately (not in a “keep me up all night” kind of way, more of a general wondering). Why do former Disney Channel stars feel the need to prove to the world they are “all grown up” now? Miley Cyrus has been caught doing everything from smoking a bong to dressing very provocatively for her age. Selena Gomez and Vanessa Hudgens are both trying to disassociate themselves from their Disney squeaky-clean, good girl images with a new indie movie. Demi Lovato hit one of her backup dancers and then ended up going to rehab.
If you think I’m just calling out the ladies of former Disney shows, the guys aren’t exactly angels either. Former Disney star Mitchell Musso was busted for a DUI and he was only 20 years old at the time. Not to mention Musso’s numerous tattoos – did he not think about how they will look when he’s sixty and has “moobs” like Steven Tyler? In a 2010 interview, Disney star Hutch Dano (18 years old at the time) was asked by a reporter “What do you think of the fact that when you type ‘Hutch Dano’ into Google, one of the first suggestions it makes is ‘Hutch Dano shirt off?'” and his response was that he “became immediately uncomfortable.” Apparently it no longer makes him uncomfortable because he is now posing for shirtless pictures. Disney’s High School Musical star Zac Efron is trying to shed his Disney image as well.
I was devastated when 80s pop stars Debbie Gibson and Tiffany both posed nude for Playboy because they were my age and were good, clean, wholesome role models prior to this. I’m afraid the same is going to happen to these kids. How much longer until Playboy comes out with a “Former Darlings of Disney” issue (the thought totally creeps me out by the way)?! I also hope that none of these guys get caught in a sexting scandal like Anthony Weiner or Brett Favre. I just don’t understand why they feel they have to go to the extreme to prove to people they are no longer a little kid.
It’s been proven that one of the basic human needs is a sense of belonging, but I think we as a society tend to take it to the wrong extreme. Why can’t someone enjoy their childhood and not worry about proving that they are an adult? As I get older, I wish I had embraced my childhood longer – as an adult you have to worry about bills, work, money, relationships, and more. I wish I could tell these former Disney stars not to stress so much about proving to the world they are no longer a kid. I also wish I could go back in time and tell my younger self to enjoy life more and not worry about growing up so much.
If you could tell these former Disney stars one thing, what would it be? If you could go back in time and tell your childhood self one thing, what would it be?
Photo Credit: By Silwertand
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Clearing The Clutter
Time to clear the clutter!
I know it’s sad, but I moved in March and I’m JUST starting to go through and unpack things right now, two months later in the month of May. Clearing the clutter can be a painful process – sorting through things that may have emotional attachment, accepting that a certain part of your life has passed, or realizing you can’t go back to the way things used to be during a certain part of your life. This week I have gone through old clothes, cds, and books – most of the excess will end up at Goodwill or used music or book stores. Whether you hate or love it, the process is a necessary evil (otherwise you’ll see me on a future episode of Hoarders).
Those who know me well will attest to the fact that I am definitely my father’s son when it comes to being a pack rat. I will find an excuse to keep anything and everything. Well, I finally parted ways with a Mickey Mouse phone that I’ve had for at least ten years and never used once. A three cd disc changer stereo (with only two of said cd changers working) has now taken up temporary residence at Goodwill. This weekend I will be going through several books and cds, then making a trip Monday to a couple of local shops to see if I can get cash for some of the things I just don’t use any more.
Purging the unnecessary has become quite liberating – I don’t feel tied to my “stuff” any more and have more room to just live. I feel like this has also been a “clearing of the clutter” for me spiritually as well, as I find myself asking what things I need to get rid of in my life that are taking a negative toll on my spiritual life. Regardless, I feel like once I am on the other side of this time in my life I will be able to see things more clearly for a lack of a clutter. I can easily relate to comedian Bone Hampton when he talks about the clutter in his life in the video below (NOTE: go to 4:00 in the video to see the part about cluttter, but the rest of this bit is really funny as well).
Photo Credit: By Sean MacEntee
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Dekker Reveals Paradise Via Showdown
Dekker starts Paradise Trilogy with Showdown
A new author hits the market just about every day. In October 2000, Ted Dekker released his first book, Heaven’s Wager and the literary world has never been the same since. Dekker’s books combine themes of spirituality with the supernatural. I have read several of his books over the years (including Chosen). I recently decided to read Showdown (the first book in his Paradise Trilogy) and I couldn’t put the book down no matter how hard I tried.
The book takes place over seven days and starts off as two separate stories that merge into one. It first opens with the story of a town called Paradise, Colorado. Paradise is your typical old western town, but then a stranger (Marsuvees Black) comes to town proclaiming that God has called him to bring grace and hope to the town. Black starts doing things that lead the residence to believe otherwise. The second story tells of a secret monastery of sorts, where thirty-seven orphans have been sequestered from the rest of the world as an experiment. Project “Showdown” was created to take these students and teach them right from wrong via Biblical principles, later they will be released back into the “real” world to see how they survive. One of the main means of teaching the children is via writing and there are four rules they must obey when they write: 1)Write to discover. 2) There is no greater discovery than love. 3) All love comes from the Creator. 4) Write what you will.
One student (Billy) decides to buck the rules and explore the monastery where he finds a dungeon filled with mysterious books. Billy and several of his fellow classmates decide to use these blank books to write a story about a town called Paradise. Unbeknownst to these children the blank books are the “books of history” and anything they write in them actually happens in the town of Paradise, Colorado. Their actions cause destruction and chaos in a city that has no idea that Black is a part of this plan. Dekker’s novel deals with the concept of free will and how outside forces cannot force one to do things, but merely place suggestions in the subconscious. Several twists and turns make Showdown a very enjoyable read that will keep you up all night reading from cover to cover.
I highly recommend this book and can’t wait to read the final two books in the Paradise Trilogy (Saint and Sinner).
Photo Credit: By Amazon.com
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What Does Your Birth Order Say About You?
Where do you fall in birth order?
Lately I have become obsessed with topic of family dynamics. To be honest with you, I’m not even sure why. Several months back I was rummaging through my local Goodwill, when I came across a book that sparked my interest. “The New Birth Order Book – Why You Are The Way You Are” by Dr. Kevin Leman is a very interesting read that kept me informed from cover to cover. When you mention birth order, people tend to think it only references whether you are first born, middle child, or the baby of the family. While this is true, there are other factors that come into play – what birth order are your parents, how much of an age gap is there between you and your sibling(s), your gender and the gender of your sibling(s), and how your parents raised you are just a few other components that Dr. Leman speaks of in his book.
Your first thought may be, “Oh great! A psychology book!” This book is written in layman’s terms so you won’t have to grab the closest dictionary while you’re reading. Leman is a Christian and uses Biblical stories (like that of Jacob and Esau) to illustrate his points. I am the oldest of three boys and could easily see myself and my two brothers in the examples he gave (trust me, this is not a bad or negative thing, but very informative as to why we act the way we do). He mentions that the oldest child tends to take on characteristics of being a natural leader, a perfectionist, a list maker, and more. I can easily relate to this assessment. Leman reminds the reader that not all children will exemplify all characteristics of their birth order, but it was interesting to see how many actually fit in the description of me and my brothers.
In the book, Leman discusses his own family experiences (he and his wife have five children) which makes it easier to relate. Topics in the book include how to discipline your children with respect to their birth order, what birth orders should and shouldn’t marry, and applying birth orders to your job. I think this book would be a great read for anyone in sales as it talks about how the different birth orders make decisions when it comes to business. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the different components of personality – especially what makes us think, do, and react the way we do.
Photo Credit: By monkeysox
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Leaders And The Leaders Who Lead Them
"On the next Jerry Springer..."
Reality television is one of my guilty pleasures. I don’t enjoy shows like Jersey Shore, The Bachelor, or Dance Moms. I am more prone to watch shows like American Idol (my top 3 this year are Phillip Phillips, Colton Dixon, and Elise Testone with either Phillip or Colton winning it all) or Big Brother. Jerry Springer is definitely the king of reality television. Show topics like “I’m In Love With My Brother’s Second Cousin’s Mailman” or “Humans Who Dress As Dogs & The People Who Love Them” (okay, maybe those aren’t really show topics, but you get the idea) seem to suck in viewers like The Hunger Games novels.
What if we put a positive spin on the Jerry Springer show? Ladies and gentleman, may I submit to you “Leaders And The Leaders Who Lead Them” on the next Springer! In all seriousness, a leader is only as a good as those who lead them. I am very fortunate to have three amazing leaders who invest in me and as a result have made me the leader that I am today.
1) Andy Stanley – I attend Buckhead Church (a campus of North Point Ministries) and Andy Stanley is the Senior Pastor of all of the campuses. Every Sunday, he preaches a sermon that I feel like was written specifically for me. There are so many things that I like about Andy, but one I can easily relate to – Andy will openly tell you that he is an “extroverted introvert” (as am I). He can easily speak to large groups of people, but when it comes to speaking with people one-on-one it is a little bit more difficult. He has to have downtime after speaking with individuals in order to process things. Having this same personality trait in common, I feel like I can connect better with him as the Senior Pastor.
2) Rodney Anderson – He is the Single’s Pastor at Buckhead Church. Rodney is only a couple of years younger than I am, but he has wisdom beyond his years. What I love about Rodney is he has a great memory. You can tell him about something that is happening in your life and six months later he will ask you about it with the same detail in which you originally told him. I was able to get to know Rodney better during our Singles Leadership retreat last year. Since I wasn’t working I was asked if I would be interested in helping them set up for the retreat. I rode to the retreat with Rodney and we were able to share our life stories and just had a great time getting to know one another. He is one person that I know I could definitely call about anything and he would make time to listen regardless of his schedule.
3) Mark Shull – He is the Director of Men’s Groups at Buckhead Church. Mark is just a couple of years older than I am. What I like about Mark is he tells it like it is…he doesn’t sugarcoat anything. He challenges me to think outside of the box as a small group leader. I was also able to get to know Mark better on the Singles Leadership retreat last year. He has two sons and I love hearing how he relates his relationship with his sons to his relationship with God. He has constantly checked in on me during my job search to see what God is teaching me through it all. I could definitely call Mark about anything as well.
As a leader, who is one leader that leads you and what have they taught you recently?
Photo Credit: By David Shankbone
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Scott Couey 