One moment really stood out to me as I watched.  Here was a man who has achieved the highest position in the land, and at age 64 was breaking down with emotion when recalling a note he received from his father years prior telling him how proud he was of him.  It was a very powerful example of the power of a father’s words.  A simple note of affirmation was so emotional for him, he couldn’t even read it.  As Lauer read the words, his eyes were filled with tears.

Fathers, we have the capacity and responsibility to bring life giving words to our children. This was a great example of the life-long impact words can have on our children’s lives.

Click the link below to check it out.

http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/06/the-necessity-of-obstacles-part-1.html

• Door-to-door salesman – We sold all kinds of things door-to-door. The worst was light bulbs. Yes, light bulbs. No matter what it was we were peddling, my brother always had 10 times as many sales as I did.
• Mowing – Dad bought the equipment, we bought the gas.
• Snow cone stand – This may have been the best job ever. I still choose Tiger’s Blood.
• Newspaper delivery – I was too young to drive, so I rode my 10-speed bike around every morning before school. (Old Man Voice – “In my day, I got up early and worked before school!) Worst part about this job…NO DAYS OFF!
• Antique shop – This was child labor. Literally!!! I was 15 and I stood over a tank of acid, with rubber gloves up to my elbows, and scrubbed paint off of furniture.
• Cleaned office building – This was a nightly family project for a while. We cleaned a doctor’s office.
• Grocery store – I got this job the day I turned 16 and kept it until I graduated from college.
• Volleyball referee – This was my “beach bum” stage. I did this so I could stay at the courts all day and night.
• Photographer – I started taking PartyPics, but I was terrible. Moved to graduations which was cool because I got to travel a lot.

Looking back on it, I realize the importance of instilling a good work ethic in my children. They don’t have it now so maybe I need to get them out this summer selling light bulbs.

Did you work as a kid? What are some obscure jobs you have had?

REUTERS/Bill Waugh (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)

Blake Griffin is a rising superstar basketball player that is currently at OU and will be playing in the NBA next season.

I’ve never really considered myself an autograph guy, and don’t really pursue them, but I do have two that I have kept. Talking to Jordan made me remember how excited I was to get my first one.

I was in college and was running in an indoor track meet at the Myriad when word started spreading that Carl Lewis had traveled with the Univ. of Houston track team. After one of my races, I took off my number and walked across the arena to approach him for an autograph.

Now you have to understand, Carl Lewis was the man in track and field at the time and was still the best in the world.

Needless to say I was quite excited.  I don’t remember a thing about the meet, but I do remember getting his autograph!

Do you collect autographs? What is your most memorable one?

Would you rather…

Have a baby that cries twice as loud and often as other babies

-OR-

one that goes to the bathroom twice as often but is very quiet and well behaved?

And yes…this is real!

www.chiaobama.com

We are faced with choices every day.

• Hate or love.
• Keep or share.
• Ignore or help.
• Complain or worship.

No matter what situation you find yourself in you have two choices:

1. complain about your circumstance or
2. worship God for what is right.

Change your perspective. Change what you are focusing on and choose to worship Him for what is right!

Complainer or worshiper?

Which one are you?

Would you rather…

Bang your funny bone 5 times in a row until it’s not funny anymore

-OR-

listen to somebody scrape their nails down a chalkboard for 20 minutes?

I know.  This one makes you squirm!

We have offered the kids separate bedrooms.  They want to sleep in the same room.  Apparently now, separate beds aren’t even a requirement.

This question came up in a study of the book Crazy Love and upon reflection I really didn’t like the answer I was coming up with.

Often times I have conditional obedience.

A few weeks ago I felt like God was prompting me to offer some help to someone.  I was excited to help and quickly obeyed and offered to help him with his situation.  He was very grateful and we agreed to meet the next day.  It wasn’t until I was driving home that night that I realized I had no idea how much money this was going to cost me.  I was genuinely worried.

What would I say to him if it were too much money?  How much was I willing to spend on this guy?  I heard clearly that I was supposed to help him, but I had a limit on my obedience.

Later I found out that this person was making some choices that I didn’t agree with and he probably wouldn’t need my help if he were making better decisions.  So I wondered, “Why am I helping this guy when he could be helping himself.”  I was willing to be obedient and help as long as I was able to condone his behavior first.

Lord, let me have unconditional obedience and stretch my limit on what I am willing to do for you.

Is there a limit on what you will do for God?