Andy Stanley once did a series going through the process of decision making and how to make better decision’s in your life.

He suggests asking yourself a question. What story do I want to tell?

When facing an important decision, he suggests looking into the future and asking this question to help clarify what you are really deciding.

Some examples….

When it comes to your finances, what story do you want to tell?

When it comes to your health and fitness, what story do you want to tell?

When it comes to your family and your closest relationships, what story do you want to tell?

These are just to get you thinking a little. Thinking of the story you want to tell is beginning with the end in mind. Everything becomes clearer when you can attach a story to it.

I encourage you today to not only think about what stories you want to tell, I encourage you to write them down. Then start making decisions that align with those stories.

We are all writing the story of our life everyday by the decisions we make.​ Let’s do our best to write the story we want to tell.

Make it a great day.

Jake

“We are little flames poorly sheltered by frail walls against the storm of dissolution and madness, in which we flicker and sometimes almost go out…we creep in upon ourselves and with big eyes stare into the night…and thus we wait for morning.”

― Erich Maria Remarque, All Quiet on the Western Front

“They are more to me than life, these voices, they are more than motherliness and more than fear; they are the strongest, most comforting thing there is anywhere: they are the voices of my comrades.”

― Erich Maria Remarque, All Quiet on the Western Front

I’ve been reading “All Quiet on the Western Front” lately (probably time for a break from the war stories). It’s difficult reading.

These two quotes reminded me of the book.

One showing the madness that is war.

One showing the unique bonds forged in battle.

I’m not sure about you, but I have a hard time with the whole “maturity and not complaining” thing.

It’s all too easy to complain and moan about some small inconvenience in my life instead of being the mature, accountable, adult I should be.

But books like this tend to sober me up pretty well.

I’ve got it pretty good compared to a rat infested trench a hundred yards or so away from people shooting at me with machine guns and trying to drop shells on my head…..for months.

And those are the lucky ones….the unlucky ones are injured or dead.

And those are just the soldiers (thank God for soldiers).

What about the single mothers?

What about the cancer patients?

What about those with meaningful struggles of all kinds?

I’m thankful for the stories of real struggles shared over the years. They put my little problems into perspective.

Ending my little pity parties doesn’t seem quite noble enough an end for stories such as these, though, right?

In the end, I (and hopefully this is a we and I’m not the only one, if it’s just me, somebody tell me quick) must honor the sacrifices and struggles of others by doing our best to leave this place better than we found it. To make a difference for others through service with love.

Make it a great day.

Jake

There is no greater force against evil in the world than the love of a man and woman in marriage. – Cardinal Raymond Burke

The greatest weapon we have against the evils of this world is love and relationship.

For us married folks, this begins at home with our spouse.

Love, in the everyday, ordinary form has the power to defeat the evils of this world.

It expands beyond the marriage relationship though as well.

Love of our friends, our coworkers, our neighbors and even our enemies is the difference maker.

Interaction by interaction, day after day, year after year….it all adds up and the evils of this world are no match to continued action taken with love at the center.

We really do have the power to change the world for the better.

We really can make a difference.

It isn’t all for nothing.

You do matter.

The more you love, the more of a difference you can make.

Make it a great day.

Jake

“Plans are nothing; planning is everything.” – Dwight Eisenhower

The end of the year is planning time.

The planning process isn’t an easy one and it takes quite a bit of time.

And then, by the end of the first quarter, some important part of the plan has been altered in a major way.

In the end, it is all about the process. It is about stepping back, deciding what is important and clarifying what you plan to do.

The end of the year is a great time to do this personally as well.

Sit down over the holidays and sketch out a plan for next year.

Decide what is important.

Decide what you are going to do.

Decide what you are not going to do.

And then write it down somewhere and revisit it over the course of the year.

(Don’t forget to get your spouse involved if you are married.)

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/BA9bOvKbLu0

Mr. Cluney shared this song in response to yesterday’s email about the “The Arena” quote.

Today is a great day to get in it – to take the risk of being in relationship with our fellow imperfect human beings.

Make it a great day.

Jake

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” ― Theodore Roosevelt

This quote is part of the central idea of “Daring Greatly” by Brene Brown, in which she shares her idea that daring greatly by being vulnerable is the key to living a wholehearted life.

What pops into your head when you read this quote?

A conversation you need to have with someone?

A bad habit that needs to be kicked to the curb?

A new habit that needs your focus?

Find a way to dare greatly today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Last week I was lucky enough to get to go out to SEMA with the Maxlider crew.

The team built a super cool 4 door Bronco that placed in the top 3 for trucks in the Battle of the Builders competition (it’s kind of a big deal).

Every time I’m lucky enough to be around “great work” I am reminded of this bible verse:

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. Colossians 3:23-24

Doing great work requires working heartily.

Working heartily requires a certain amount of motivation.

Working for the Lord seems pretty motivating to me.

The team did something exceptional in building that Bronco. They came together and use their skills and talents to create something unique and meaningful and they were recognized by their peers as such.

And this is all wonderful and good.

What about the rest of us though?

Those whose talents and job duties lie in an area that doesn’t generate as much buzz and TV coverage?

Whatever we do – do it heartily – as if for the Lord – because there is an even bigger reward waiting for us.

Give it all you got today.

Work hard.

Do great work.

You’re worth it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Hardship often prepares an ordinary person for an extraordinary destiny. CS Lewis

Many of the stories of successful people also include a period of hardship.

Many have escaped abusive situations and used these difficulties to drive them forward.

I once heard Condoleeza Rice say "It is a privilege to struggle."

Struggle and difficulty are common to all of us. We may not have the same degree or difficulty, but we all have experienced difficulty.

Through our struggles and strife we able to relate with our fellow men and women who experience the same.

Just as struggle and difficulty are common, so is the antidote.

Inside of each of us is the capability to dream and then create a new future for ourselves. One that is away from our current struggles and hardships. One that is away from the current pain.

Encourage and grab on to those dreams of yours. Start working to make them a reality. Begin to let go of the struggles and hardship.

And make it a great day.

Jak

Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better. – Albert Camus

In “Man’s Search for Meaning” Viktor Frankl has the idea that the Statue of Liberty (representing freedom) should have a twin on the West Coast – a statue of responsibility.

Freedom is not only a chance to be better, it is an offering to accept the responsibility inherent in making the most of our freedom.

Today is Veteran’s Day. A day to remember who paid for our freedoms.

I’ve read quite a few books from members of our military over the last few years.

Each time I am inspired to make the most of the freedom they have bought for me.

Even the most heroic and well-meaning soldiers from the stories seem to struggle with coming back and realizing that so many have chosen to squander their great gifts.

Our biggest tribute to the armed forces is a life well lived.

A life spent enjoying the responsibilities of the freedom so dearly bought for us.

Make the most of your chance to be better.

Embrace the responsibility of making the most of your freedom.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/dJDvS0LFbfE

For some reason this song and National Lampoon’s Vacation pop into my head every time I’ve been out to Vegas.

It’s a reminder of all the little inconveniences and difficulties associated with travelling.

It’s also a reminder to take it all in and enjoy it along the way to make all those little things worth it.

Life requires a certain amount of getting outside of our comfort zone in order to get to something good.

Make it a great day.

Jake