Roots

Victory, shame, continuous winner, bad health, good health. What do these words have in common? The answer is.. the root. The root is "the point at which something comes into existence or from which it derives or is derived".
Yesterday I was taking down an old fence which was used to be a grid or lattes for blackberries to grow.

As I began to take the fence down I was pulling off the dead vines. As I began to pull the vines I discovered that they were very deep rooted with several strong root systems. It took a LOT of digging and pulling and sweat to get the roots out of the ground. If i would have allowed the roots to remain then the vines would have continued to grow and take over that area of ground.

If we are to succeed in life the fruit of it is only from a strong root.

If we are dealing with bitterness, shame, etc. the same principle applies.

The root system of anything must be tended to in order for it to flourish or for it to die.

What do you need we need to strengthen?

What do we need to dig up?

What is our root system supplying?

Just a thought.....

Mud Pies and Relationships

Mud Pies!

Remember them? Ha! Ha! I remember setting and making them with Keith, my child hood friend. We sat there and made those things, talked, laughed, dreamed and got very dirty in the process!

When I was a pastor I learned a lot about growth. Growth didn't come form technology. It didn't come from fresh methods and against religious popular belief, it didn't come from just prayer.

Growth came from "true relationships". Organic (authentic networking).

Before you read the rest of this post, ask yourself three questions:

1.) Can I name 3 people I work with by their first and last name?

2.) Do I know what their spouces names are (if single, why?)

3.) Do I know what their passion is?

Yes, technology was a great tool. Fresh methods were a must, but they were just that, methods. Prayer, yes it was/is a prerequisite, but it changed me not God.

If your brand, Church, Business, classroom, office, etc... is going to have that "stickability" actor. The relationships must start with you knowing who you are working with and for.

Know their families, there favorite foods, their passion, etc...

The more you get to know the true thing that makes your product stable (people) the more stable it becomes.

Want to rise to the top?

Plant from underground, with seed and cultivation of the seed. Yep, you will get dirty. But that is the fun of it all!

Have you and your team made any mud pies lately?

10 things that I love to laugh at!

OK, So you may know, I work at Kroger and Drive a bus. Here are some of the things I really enjoy about my job(s)

One of my all time favorite things to do is watch people. Why? Cause people (including me) are a trip!

Here are 10 things that make me belly laugh!

10. The lady who comes in every other day to get fresh rye bread, if we are out she proceeds to throw a fit because the bread is for "communion". Ummm OKKKK!!

9. The guy who comes in every Tuesday with his sweet, yet strong willed wife of 61 years and just paiently waits. I ask him the same question every Tuesday. "Whats your secret" he always just smiles and say's "I just say ""yes dear"".

8. The Young lady that "begs" her child to be a good boy. Really?????

7. The construction workers who come in to eat, wearing suspenders, butt crack still showing!! LOL!!!

6. The little old lady on Tuesday that comes in like clock work to tell me a story about the hat she is wearing that day. One week it was about her trip to Tunica, the next was about eating with those damn Church people.. Love her!!

5. The young boy on my bus who always tells his sister, "I am gonna tell MaMa on you!!" (you have to have siblings to appreciate the humor in that!)

4. The little boy on my bus who picks his nose and "secretly" rubs it on another little girls backpack! (Nope, i have not called him out on it yet... she has it coming) :)

3. The 8th grader, who is an "honor" student but could not tell me his adress!!

2. The 4th greader who sounds like Larry the Cable guy when he talks.

and 1?

1. The kid who has gas EVERY Friday morning. Why, well I asked him the other day why he has to fart every Friday on the bus at least 238 times!!! (ok maybe 3 or 4) His answer? "Because Thursday night is Taco Night"

TO ALL OF MY FULL TIME "PASTOR FRIENDS"

So, i always said that life is a roller coaster. I have used all kind of metaphors in trying to describe it when i was a pastor. Now that i am not one, I am defining it from a different view. I really.... I MEAN REALLY, was out of tune with the average worker. Now that i am working a couple of jobs I understand this side I'm on a little better. So, to all of my full time "pastor friends", please know that you may have a stressful job, but you also need to get out and join the sweating workforce from time to time and see what they are going through on a daily basis. Find out (lest you forgot) what its like to have to use a sick day to stay home with your kids When they are sick. Find out whats its like NOT to be able to go to "meetings" several times a week and brainstorm with your team at your Church. Find out what its like to be in the middle of the work force and see what they deal with 50 - 60 hours a week. Leave your office, leave your favorite coffee shop, leave your pulpit just long enough to smell, touch, taste, see and feel what your hard working "tithe paying" members are doing. Being a pastor is a calling... yes. But its also a privilege.