Excel Still More

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Are you the kind of person who takes too many things personally?  Maybe someone gives you a look or says something and you just assume:  they are mad at me.  Well, there is a much better and more peaceable way to live you life.  In fact, with just a few adjustments in your thinking you can see all of your relationships improve.  The key is in a philosophical statement called "Hanlon's Razor."  This will help you not see problems where there are no problems and instead be more compassionate to others, instead of insulted.  It's awesome!

- What is Hanlon's Razor

- How to think less maliciously about the actions of others

- Why is it important to assume ignorance and how should you respond

- How to find greater peace and less stress in virtually all relationships!

- How to determine if there is an actual problem in a relationship 

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Imagine if, right now, there words appeared in the sky in fiery letters:  Seven Days Left!  And imagine that for the next 24 hours everyone on the earth saw it and investigated it and couldn't explain it.  Then, it changed to Six Days Left.  What would you do?  Well, when the impending urgency of some heavenly event fell upon our world, there would certainly be three types of reactions:  Dumb, Smart and Wise.  Which one would you be?  The answer may say something about the life you are living right now and how well prepared you are for the future, even BEFORE urgency is plugged into the situation. 

- What would you do if you knew the world was ending in seven days

- How would most people on our planet react

- What would be the smart thing to do

- How would wisdom be more valuable than smarts when it comes to end times

- What can you do now to live a life of wisdom, prepared for whatever is coming

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It is great to celebrate achievements.  Reaching goals feels great.  But beware, present position is only that:  a fleeting moment of stature and accomplishment.  While position can indicate good behavior, it is not a behavior of itself.  But direction, now that's all together different.  Direction isn't focused on where I am, but where I am going.  Direction isn't about stopping to take a picture, it is about moving forward to something greater.  When we focus on who we are today, even in the best of times, it can become discouraging, but if we wake up each day determine to JUST GET BETTER, there is always hope and something to celebrate.  And it isn't a goal reached, but a life journey undertaken.  Listen in today to see why it is important to focus on DIRECTION not position.

- How to assess your position and celebrate progress

- How to STOP assessing your position as a celebration of progress

- Why is Direction infinitely more valuable than position

- How to find joy and purpose in change every day,  instead of accomplishment

- How to assess your relationship with God by reaching forward, not standing tall

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"The purpose of education is to know God and make Him known."  Do you believe that?  I think when it comes to spiritual education, like Bible reading and sermons, we would say so.  And there are important applications of this phrase upon how you and I are using the things we learn in study and at a church.  But would you say this phrase holds true with schools?  Is the purpose of science and english and math: to know God and share Him?  Well, it used to be.  Schools were founded on this purpose.  Things have changed.  But we can recapture the purpose of education on a family level!  Also, even beyond school we grow in knowledge every day, don't we?  Why are you learning new things and how are you using it?  Let's do all of this in the God Box, and relate all new growth to His work!

- What is the purpose of education 

- How does that purpose live in our spiritual education

- Can we apply this same principle to secular education

- How can we use Science and English as tools to know God and make Him known

- Are you using all new learning to the glory of the name of God.  How

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When we live our lives with behavior aligned with beliefs:  peace happens.  We get to have this tremendous peace in Jesus Christ, when we believe in His word and live like it.  But when our behavior departs from our beliefs, the peace is taken away.  In its place are things like anxiety, stress, worry, discouragement, hopelessness and fear.  God does not want his people to live that way!  Let's talk about how this dissonance happens and the easy steps we can take to make sure we live with unity in our lives in mind and body.

- What does it feel like to do things you know you should not be doing

- Why do people get stuck in that loop and what does it do to peace

- How is the message of Jesus a message of hope to those struggling with sin

- What can we do to flee sins of commission and restore peace

- What can we do to overcome sins of omission and live a more consistent life

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The island of Icaria is an amazing place!  Not just because of its beauty, but because people there "forget to die"!  Yep, that's a quote from a resident there.  This small island in the Aegean sea has the highest percentage of residents living on into their 90's and beyond!  A full 1/3 of them do so.  And they live fun, active, involved, and joyful later years! The island boasts much lower rates of cancer, heart disease, and cognitive issues than any other place on the planet!  I tried to move there, but couldn't convince the wife.  So, instead, let's study how they have build this amazing culture and be more like them!

- Why are people living so long on the island of Icaria

- How can we be more like them

- Why is longer and happier living important to the Christian

- How to create a culture for excellence in your family

- How to implement 5 tips to a better, happier, longer life

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I love great conversations!  It feels awesome to listen and be heard.  I love walking away feeling like I learned something and contributed.  We are better friends now because of that interaction.  HOWEVER, not all conversations go that way.  In fact, many times they aren't rewarding at all!  Why is that?  Well, it turns out, there is a big difference in the elements of a good conversation verses a bad one.  To help illustrate that, this episode will ask you to visualize a pocket full of balloons.  As you blow one up and extend it, that is like adding something to a conversation.  What happens next will make all the difference!

- How to understand the difference between good conversations and bad ones.

- How to use the imagery of balloons to figure out what is going wrong

- How to engage in a conversation without popping anyone's balloons

- Why is it important that we understand different types of conversations.

- What is the goal of a great conversation and what can you do to make it happen

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I heard a powerful story recently.  A woman was rich and influential.  She had great success in her life.  However, there were a few things that she hadn't done.  These were things she'd put off and things of great value.  As the story was told to me, there were 3 things "she was gonna" do, and soon.  Her story is a reminder to us all: if it matters to you, don't wait.  You want people talking about what you did after you are gone, not just what you were gonna do.  Take a walk through this story with me and then consider answering three questions at the end that could help you change your life while you still can.

- How to come to grips with the brevity of life

- How to influence how people tell your story when you are gone

- What do you know you need to back away from and when will you do it

- Who do you know needs more of your time and when will you give it

- How do you need to connect to God and when is the right time to do it

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Uncle Ben told Peter Parker: "With great power comes great responsibility."  It took Spiderman a while to figure out what that meant.  How about you? Do you understand what it means to have power?  Have you figured out one of life's most unfair and critical lessons?  That the strong does most of the heavy lifting.  That's just the way that it is.  The weak are... well... weak.  That's the point.  They cannot or will not carry the load.  Having great ability doesn't mean supporting weakness, but it does mean being patient, caring, helpful and sacrificial for the sake of the weak.  That's a tough lesson to learn. But maybe focus on Jesus can help.  Take a listen.

- How to connect responsibility to power

- Why do the strong have to do all the heavy lifting

- What example did Jesus leave us about how the powerful live

- How to interact with the weak for their benefit

- How to apply today's lesson in your relationships

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!