I Like Big Dreams and I Cannot Lie

I had encouraging parents, teachers who cared, and mentors who invested in me.  I have never been afraid to dream big dreams.  I mean, why not?  They are just dreams, right?  It can't hurt to dream. 

It's easy for us adults to get caught up in life and forget to dream.  I mean, we have bills to pay, kids to raise, and retirement to plan for.  Busy busy busy.  Maybe you are at work right now and you are dreaming.  Or maybe you don't want to dream because it depresses you due to the fact you know it will never happen.  

I love my job.  I travel around the world, entertaining kids and encouraging them with a positive message.  It may be introducing them to a Bible story, the Gospel, or just reminding them that they can be anything they want to be.  And for the last 11 years, this has been my journey.  I wait for phone calls or emails to come in (kind of like The A-Team, or the Fantastic Four) and go wherever I need to go.  I'm not going to lie, it's awesome!  But like every other J-O-B, it has it's challenges.

Never sure of where I'm going or what exactly I'm doing is a daily challenge.  I've been doing it so long now, to work for someone else or take a steady check seems scarier!  God has a plan though, or at least I believe He does.  My "job" or ministry has been evolving for over a decade.  I don't set goals.  I don't have a mission statement.  I never needed one.  I just dream up ways to teach kids and have fun while I do it.  My style is "If it's worth doing, it's worth over-doing!"  That's how I roll.  I want to leave an impression that lasts a lifetime.

Believe me, there are days I quit.  It's hard to quit when you are self-employed though. It was 11 years when I felt The Spirit of the Lord say "I want you to go into traveling ministry."  That's when I resigned my Full-Time position as Children/Youth Pastor. (maybe one day I will blog more about this)  That was the last steady paycheck I ever received.  I have been floating ever since.

I have always prayed that the Lord would continue to show me what to do, what step to take, which direction to turn.  Now I feel something different has happened...

I have been given permission to dream!

Not like before, this is different.  It's like the last 11 years have been training.  An introduction to the world.  My eyes have been opened to the possibilities on a global scale.  As much as I feel I have been blessed, even more is coming, but not just for me.  I'm creating a team.

I realize that one man can only do so much.  Blame comic books if you like, I do.  I love Spiderman and Batman, my two faves, but they are solo acts.  Then you have the Fantastic Four, X-Men, Avengers, The Justice League.  They realized the powers of many are greater when combined.  And that's where I'm at.  I'm dreaming B-I-G.

I want to build a team of people who share a similar vision.  That believes that Good may not always win, but it will prevail.  I'm taking entertainment and encouraging kids beyond a 'one-man-band'.  I want to make life exciting, and help those in need.  

I want a Batmobile, a light-saber, and a hover board. NOW!  (Somebody reading this just got goosebumps...I know I'm not the only one out there.)  I also want a car that talks to me and drives itself.  I want a R2 unit for school shows and drive up in Optimus Prime.  I want to fly to Singapore for lunch, and have dinner in Iceland.  I want a team of people to go with me.  I'm tired of climbing the mountain alone.  This is where I'm going.

Now, some readers may have stopped at 'hover board', but some of you are still reading, and you want in.  Well guess what:  Things are happening.  Wonderful things.  Unclear things.  Super Things.  Things I have dreamed of.  I have been praying for "SOMEONE" to help me, come on board the SS Kaotik and set sail.  And it will.  Soon...

But, my dear, reader:  What are you dreaming of?  Are you dreaming, or just thinking about dreaming?  I love the old saying, 

"Shoot for the moon and you will end up with the stars." 

I dream big, all the time.  I like big dreams and I cannot lie (sorry)...I had to :)=

Remember this:

"If you don't work to make your dream happen, you will work for someone else to make theirs."

The best dreams are not while you are sleeping, but when you are awake.  So please, share your dreams with me.  Or if you would like to help me bring light-sabers into reality...

 

 

How I just won $370,000...and you can too!

I got a call from Jamaica early this morning, from the number 876-438-7756.  The island man with a thick accent sounded nice enough.  Plus I knew he was really Jamaican because I have seen 'Cool Runnings' twice, so I know.

He told me he was with Publisher's Clearing House and I just won $370,000.00!  I knew it was a scam from the first moment, but decided to play along.  He told me get a pencil and clean sheet of paper...I told him all I had was a pen and some scrap paper, he said it would work.  Then rattles off a tracking #, then gave me a LUCKY #.  Then he gave me a phone number to call, which the same number that called me, 876-438-7756!  I asked him his name, he said "Mr. Thomas White".  I told him it sounded like a scam, and then he yelled at me to get off HIS phone, then he hung up.  Thanks, Jamaican my day so much betta, Mon!

Did some research and this is a full-blown con.  Don't call them back, and don't send them any money.  If you would like to make more money than you ever dreamed of, send $1.00 to me, and I will send you a Post-It note with one of the world's greatest financial secrets ;)

World's BEST Letter of Recommendation

The following is a Letter of Recommendation I wrote for a friend of mine.  The name has been changed to protect his privacy.  I'm sure he will a job in no time at all:

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To Whom It May Concern:

Julius Peppercorn is the most incredible human I have ever met.  I met Julius the day he rescued an entire town from certain destruction, by a rattlesnake invasion.  He singlehandedly caught every snake and then donated them to a lab that makes anti-venom. In his spare time, Julius dissipates tornados…just for fun. 

Can he work at your camp?  I don’t know if you want him to actually.  He will end up doing everybody else’s job so well, by himself, he will make your entire staff look like morons.  They will cower at his mere presence; yet admire the super-human he truly is. 

He can run your audio-video needs.  He can send your kids down a zip-line.  He can even handle youth pastors that need a lesson in manners.  Not only is he solid in his Christian faith, but also he uses it to hunt vampires.

            FACT: No child has ever suffered from a vampire bite on Peppercorn’s watch.

He is also well versed in hunting Werewolves, Chupa-Cabra, Sasquatch, and The Goat Man.  Not only are his tracking skills unparalleled, he can hold a sleeping baby while he does it. 

Julius Peppercorn is the genetic mutation of Chuck Norris and Billy Graham.  There is no better choice for whatever position you need to hire. 

                                                By the Lion’s mane,

                                                Keith Coast, CEO of keithcoast.com

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Spanish-Speaking Squirrels and Flaming Cow Patties

How seriously do you ever think about your future?  I probably think about mine too much. 

• What will I be doing for living in 10 years?
• Where will I be living in 25 years?
• When will HOVER BOARDS be a reality?
• Is SPAM really food?
• What will the Church look like in 50 years?
• Will my wife ever love me with a FULL beard?

These are just a few questions I ponder. 

I have attended 2 funerals in the last 2 weeks.  They were both GREAT men.  I admire them both immensely.  My hope is that I would have at least half the respect of either of them at the end of my life, and I would be happy.  Friends, family, and community celebrating your existence here in this world.  What a blessing.

Makes me wonder if I will make it to my 80's.  Every time I go to a funeral I tell myself I'm going to write a goodbye letter...and so far I haven't.  I want to, but last night Captain America came on the tube...priorities ;)

Ever want someone to hand you a detailed letter of your LIFE that tells you exactly what to do?  I have!  Everyday.  Even right now, I should be packing for a camping trip, but I'd rather blog.  I chase rabbits all day.  (Maybe I should start chasing cars)  I have no problem dreaming.   I'm good at that.  Actually, it's one of the best things I do!  I can imagine the biggest mountain of a dream, the issue is climbing it.  I have an entire continent of mountains in my mind, but I stall at the overwhelming thought of the trek that lies ahead.

I have this same problem when it comes to candy bars: which one do I really want, Twix or Kit Kat?  M&M's or Charleston Chew?  Almond Joy or Reese's?  (It's easier now that I gave up sugar for the most part...I will take a bite of whatever!)  Psychology calls this condition 'Choice Fatigue'.  A consumer has so many choices they can't decide on one, and then abandon the purchase all together.  I know this hits me all the time.

I have 'Choice Fatigue' in my soul: Teaching?  Film Making?  Stage Shows?  Book Writing?  Farming?  I just want a burning bush, or a talking donkey to speak to me my PURPOSE in life.  I would settle for a squirrel that speaks Spanish or a flaming cow patty with a Chinese fortune inside!  Am I alone on this?  How do you decide the path you follow?

How to "Voltron" your Prayer Life

Voltron: Defender of the Universe...remember that hero from the 80's?  One of my faves.  He was the bomb-diggity.  5 robots combined to make one massive unstoppable force.  Deep down, I believe Voltron is real.  Really deep down.  I know you do to.

I also believe in prayer.

So last week, I caught some stomach bug that was floating around.  All 3 of my punk kids got it, so I suppose I was on deck, and Thursday morning I awoke with a rumbly in my tumbly.  Nothing like waking up to nausea...am I right? Or am I right?  The worst part: it was 6am and I still had to pack and leave for Amarillo by 8am (a 4-hour drive).  Lovely.

So I had to Man-up, put my Big Boy pants on, and go to work.  I made it...without re-visiting the previous day's entrees, thank you very much.  When I got to the hotel, however, I had to hit the bed and try to sleep it off.  I had a show for that night at 7pm for a boat-load of pre-schoolers.  About 4pm I tried to start getting ready, and it was NOT GOOD.  I laid there in bed trying to get up, and every time I tried I felt worse!  "Why today?!" 

I prayed.  Oh, I prayed all right.  Just like every other time I got sick...or got pulled over...or changed a dirty diaper.  As I prayed though, I knew I needed to turbo-charge it somehow.  I needed the prayers of others to make the difference.  So as I laid there, in a cold sweat, ready to make a dash for the bathroom...I made a Facebook post: 

"Could use some prayers: I have a show in 2 hours and feel sick as a dog. I know my my friends, family, and fans know what to do!"

It's about all I could do.  I laid there for a few minutes, and then took a long shower.  Got ready, and waited for my ride to sound check.

I got to the church, and was feeling better.  Not 100%, but better.  Closer to showtime, I was good.  Not great, but not nauseated or dizzy or anything.  I got through the show and had a great time. I was even able to have dinner!  Next day, I was much better.  Night and day difference.  BOOM! Take that, stomach bug!

So, what is the moral to this blog:  Maybe the power of prayer combined with the power of social media equals awesomeness?  Sounds good to me.  It's like Voltron, taking one great thing and teaming it up with another to make one Ultimate robot who defends the universe.  So next time you need to pray, team it up.  Pray with others, because there is power in it. 

BTW: Thanks for all you who prayed for me that day.  I dedicate this post to you (wink)

"Oh, the Humanity!"

Today my humanity showed up.  I was fine, and all the sudden I felt overwhelming feelings of panic, frustration, and depression.  It came out of nowhere!  Maybe too much coffee?  (as if) 

I have always been an independent individual.  Self-disciplined.  Self-motivated.  Self-employed.  Could that be the problem?  I will admit, for the last decade I have relied on myself to do most things.  Being your own boss forces your hand to do many tasks that you really would rather not touch, but necessity trumps your preferences.  I find myself doing so many things that I'm not sure if I could sum up in one word what it is I do anymore...let alone one sentence!

Focus.  Balance.  Rhythm.  Contentment.  Gratefulness.  Simplicity...these are my prayers.

I read in a book somewhere (it didn't have pictures) that a man doesn't really reach his productive stride until his 50's...what!  I have like 20 more years of practice and prep?  Encouraging, I suppose.  I feel like I have been floating along for the last 10 years, loving every moment.  I have done so much and been so many places, but I feel like I'm just getting started.  Started for what, though?  Crystal ball, anyone?

If there is one lesson I learned this last year from losing weight is this: CHANGE IS SLOW.  Change, true change, is slow.  Bit by bit.  Step by step.  A friend reminded me of old saying, "How do you eat an elephant?"  answer: One bite at a time.

So on days like today, I just remind myself, it's okay.  Everything is alright.  I'm human and these are emotions.  I take a deep breathe, and meditate on the wonderful things in my life...and maybe blog about it.  

Never.Stop.Learning.

School was easy for me.  Never really studied but managed to keep A's and B's for the most part.  I did make a C in high-school level algebra when I was in 7th grade...I cried that day...I was a wuss, I know.  You see, in 6th grade they tested my IQ to see if I could be a part of their "Gifted and Talented" program.  You needed a 130 to qualify.  I scored 126. So close.

They did let me in though, kinda on probationary terms.  Mrs. Johnson said that sometimes smart people have a tendency to complicate things, and since I was so close, they would let me try it out.  Basically to be in the G&T meant the work was more advanced, or as I liked to think of it...HARDER.  I missed being gifted by 4 points, so now I had to prove myself.  I have been complicating things ever since ;)

This was my middle-school experience.  It was fun for the most part, but there was a constant push to keep reaching for more, to be the best you could be.  At the time it meant more homework.  Looking back, it made me who I am today.  I went on to home school through a local private school 9-12th.  This forced me to become more self-reliant in my disciplines and is most likely why I am self-employed...and love it!

College was the hardest, mainly because I felt it was a ripoff.  The classes were all so easy.  If you just showed up and did the work, you really couldn't fail.  The problem I had in college was staying focused on WHY I needed these moronic classes and had to pay as much for NEver books as I would for 6 months rent.  I felt the only people that wanted me to continue on in my academic career were people who graduated with a degree, and all they ever did was complain about how hard it was.  It was like they wanted someone to suffer as much as they did and smirk from the sidelines with a devilish grin.

Please don't misunderstand me, I am NOT anti-college.  I do believe there are other paths of learning however.  College didn't offer the experience and knowledge I wanted, and I really didn't know what I wanted, but it wasn't there.  After 4 years, I walked away with about 50 transferable hours...I know, right?  Regrets?  Nope, glad I went.  It's where I met my wife and learned some great lessons.  Will I go back?  Not likely.

The skills I have know I have been honing my whole life.  I have been speaking to crowds, acting, singing, and making a fool of myself since I was a kid, in school and church.   I have had a job since I was 15.  I was on staff at churches from ages 18-23, and have been self-employed for the last 10 years.  I have traveled all over world entertaining and engaging crowds with skills I have, and don't plan to stop any time soon.

I haven't stopped learning either.  Right now I'm still learning how to effectively use Social Media, videography, photography, make the perfect meatloaf, plant trees that survive in SW Oklahoma...the list goes on.  I have been learning from the day I was born, and will continue to the day I die.  How I learn, what I learn, where I learn, when I learn, and who I learn from will constantly be ever-changing.

My dad would tell me, "Son, always be teachable.  As long as you're teachable, you can continue to be a better man."  Good advice from a great man.