WANT A BETTER LIFE? STAND UP!

     I was watching Bill Burr yesterday, and he was talking about being married.  He was saying how he had to pick his battles, but there was no way he was going to sleep downstairs.  "What man does that," he said, "Um, ok, I'll go do what you want. Where do you want me to sleep - in this corner or over here?"
     "No!' he said.  "First of all, I'm stronger than you.  Second, this is my bed.  You're mad - you go sleep downstairs.  Third, I can't set a precedent.  Every time you want something, I'm just going to give in."  So, that's his thing.
     Not sure I'm with him on everything about that situation, or his overall marital advice, but I do believe he has a good point.  There are times in your life that you just have to put your foot down.  No matter who or how many people are against you - it's time to Stand Up and make the decision that's right.
     Every time I read the story of Jesus being crucified, Pilate's decisions fascinate me.  If he would have only stood up the first time, Jesus would have gone free.    He knew what the right thing to do was - he even told the crowd that Jesus was innocent and he was going to set him free.  But, instead he puts the decision off on another person.  Then, that person (Herod), sends him back, so he's got another chance. Again, he knows the right thing to do.  He tells the crowd, "This Guy has done nothing."  But, they don't share his opinion, so, for the second time, he let's someone else tell him what he should do.
     You want a better life? Stand up for what is right!  No matter who disagrees with you.

WANT A BETTER LIFE? BE STRONG!

     It's easy to do what's right......sometimes.  A little kid is crying in a store and it's obvious there is no one around to help.  There's a call to donate to some legit charity.  They don't need much, and you have enough to give.  You're in a store, you have plenty of cash, and even though you could steal something - most people wouldn't.  Really, for the most part, given that you have enough, the pressure is not on, there's some accountability, and the cons outweigh the gains - most of us would do what's right.
     But, what about if a crowd of people is challenging you?  What if you know that physical pain could result from your decision?  What if you could really use a little "hand up"?  What if there is something that you could do which would make your life so much easier and no one would ever know?
     Now, it's not so easy!
     Have you ever seen that quote that says something about, "The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that something extra"?  I believe that's true about life.  Every time we stand up to pressure, every time we don't give into fear, every time we put character in front of even our own needs, and every time we do what's right even if no one is looking - it builds us up.  There's something that exponentially boosts up our lives when we stand up for what is right in the most dire situations.
     It's not easy, and it may not make sense, but you want a better life?  Be strong, and do what's right even when it would be easier not to.

WANT A BETTER LIFE? SUCK IT UP!

     I forget who it was, but somebody once said, "Do the hard stuff first."  He was saying that when you organize your day, you should put all the difficult things you have to do at the top of your list so that you can get them out of the way.  And, to me, that makes a whole lot of sense, except for I have a better way....
     Don't put the hard stuff at the top of your list, don't put it on the bottom of your list, just forget the hard stuff.  Don't do it.  Too hard, why worry about it.  That's pretty much how I usually handle anything remotely difficult that I have to do.  Sometimes I'll come up with mental reasons why I should ditch it, but mostly I just dismiss the hard stuff from my mind right away.
      Speaking from experience, this is not a great idea.  One, the hard stuff usually doesn't just go away.  That same issue I'm ditching today is still there tomorrow.  Two, every time I don't do something hard, it takes my Courage Points and drops them down one.  I get less and less likely to do the hard stuff next time.  Which, three, leads me into the "I am a wuss" frame of mind.  I get down on myself for not being strong enough, courageous enough, tough enough to do what I know I should do.
     It's just better to do the hard stuff - better for us, better for others, better for the world.  So, you want a better life?  Suck it up and do the hard stuff.

WANT A BETTER LIFE? SERVE!

     Make America Great Again!  Heard that one a lot lately?  Everything is supposed to be great!  Be great at your job!  Do great in school!  Have a great day!  This blog is great!  We strive for greatness.
     And sometimes great is not even enough.  We want to be the greatest!  The greatest parent who ever lived.  The greatest singer or actress or teacher.  Have a debate over who is the greatest basketball player of all time and you'll get into a heated argument with some.  Being the greatest is a big deal.  We even have an acronym for it - G.O.A.T.
      But, what if being the greatest isn't a great goal?  What if trying to be the greatest really leads us to a life of comparison and never being satisfied?  What if we would actually be more content and fulfilled coming in second, or third, or last?
       What if the greatest amongst us are really the least?  What if we strived to put others in front of ourselves?  What if our main goal was to be to make everyone else the greatest - never looking for the accolades or praise?
      I have a feeling that it would release a lot of pressure, and we could concentrate on a whole lot more healthier things.
      Maybe we could actually rejoice when someone else does something great.  Maybe we could eliminate worrying over "where we stand."  Maybe we could even love all people - no matter who they are.
      I guess what I'm trying to say is this - Want a better life?  Become a servant.

WANT A BETTER LIFE? DON'T GIVE UP!

     A lot of people in the Christian world think that Judas was a bad guy.  Ok, so he sold out one of his best friends.  And yes, he did trade the life of a human for some cash.  If you look in the Bible at the part where Judas decides to betray Jesus, it might even say that Satan entered him.
     But, I don't think Judas made this decision because he wanted to hurt Jesus.  I don't even think that he did it just so he could make some cash.  In fact, when he realizes what he's actually done, Judas hangs himself.  See, I think the whole thing went down because Judas gave up on Jesus being the Messiah.
      A lot of people do that.  I mean, it's a pretty big stretch to say that Jesus wasn't even a person who lived on this earth - that's in a lot of historical texts.  And to think that no one ever considered Jesus was the Messiah would be kind of crazy too.  But, as far as people giving up on Him actually being sent from God to show us the best life possible - well a lot of people have given up on that idea.
      Don't do that!  I'm not saying you have to believe that Jesus was God - heck, you don't even have to believe in God.  I'm not saying that you have to believe that Jesus was sent to show us how to have the best life possible.  What I am saying is just don't give up on the idea that He might be.  It's one thing not to believe it, but it's a whole other to say I never will.  Just leave a little bit of that door open - just in case.
     Just in case what?  Just in case He really does want to help.
     Want a better life?  Don't give up on Jesus.

WANT TO HAVE A BETTER LIFE? THINK MIRACLE!

    I know some things are hard to believe.  A person rising from the dead, multiplying loaves of bread, helping a blind man to see - I guess that's why they call them miracles.  In fact, just in case you don't believe in miracles, I Googled it.  They're all over the place.  Reports, articles, Top Ten lists - I would think, at the very least, there is a better than average chance that miracles do happen.
    So, what's the big deal?  Well, everyone needs a miracle some time.  And sometimes, a miracle is the only hope you've got!
     I've got to be honest, as an introverted, average at best personality, not blessed with many talents type of guy - I needed to believe in miracles if I thought I was ever going to do anything anywhere close to great with my life.  And, luckily, I've had a pretty good life.  We've had a few deaths, but the worst thing that has happened to me was when the Cubs lost the playoffs in 1984 (doesn't seem so bad anymore!).
     But, what about people who are dealing with some real stuff?  What about people who have something going on that looks so bleak that hope seems a distant possibility?  How do they go on?  Well, miracles I guess.  At some point, I really think you have to believe in miracles or else you'll go crazy and lose all hope.
     So, want a better life?  Give miracles a chance.

WANT TO HAVE A BETTER LIFE? GIVE!

     Everyone is a slave to something, right?  We all have something that has control over us.  I like to say, for me, it's Coke (not like the drug, the fountain beverage!). Could I do without it?  Definitely.......Probably.......Maybe.......It's Possible........OK, I'm 45 fat and still drinking Coke.  For some, it's work.  Some, it's a TV show.  Some, it's another person.  Some, it's alcohol or drugs.  Now, some of these things aren't bad in and of themselves, but I'm guessing that anytime something has control over us it's not a good thing.
     What about money?  That one controls some people.  Again, money is not a bad thing - it really comes in handy down here.  But, every time we give some of it away, we show that it doesn't control us.  And that feels kind of good.
     We've all done it.  Bought someone dinner.  Paid for their groceries.  Got them a pop at Speedway.  It's feels great, right!   And I've got a crazy theory - the more we do it, the better our lives get.
      So, you want to have a better life?  Show money who's boss and give it away!

WANT A BETTER LIFE? CHOOSE IT!

     What a scumbag!  He tells his dad to give him his inheritance right now - before his dad even dies!  Then, goes far away from his family.  Parties until there is no money left, and in all that fun, loses everything he has!  Long story short, he ends up broke.
     Fast forward!  Our scumbag is now feeding pigs for a living, and the money he is making provides only enough so that the food he eats isn't even as appetizing as what he's pouring in the troughs.  There are times when he watches the pigs eat and thinks, "Why not?"  He has no more friends.  Shockingly, those partying buddies of his left as soon as the money was gone.  HIs body has been wrecked by months of negligence.   The best job he can get is as a pig feeder, and he sees no hope for a future of either making a difference in other's lives or, at least, just making enough cash to make a difference in his.  His life is pretty bad.
     Now, he knows there is a better life out there.  If he would go back home, his dad has a good business.  He could work for him, make a whole lot more money, and hopefully get some hope back.  At least he would be surrounded by people who loved him.....once (would they still after what he did?).  He did have a few friends around the area that he's actually started to miss.  When he thinks about it, there is no doubt.  That life would be ten times better!
      But, it comes with a price.  Talk about humiliating.  That would require him coming back!  Facing the dad who he demanded his inheritance from!  Facing a family and telling them the truth!  Admitting he'd screwed up, and being honest about his life now! He'd be the town screw up!  He'd be a hired hand instead of a son!
       Tough decision!  But he goes for it - figures anything is better than this.
        He wanted a better life, so he chose it!
      Guess what happens!  He goes back, and Dad runs to him with open arms - even has a party for him!  He chose a better life, and got more than he bargained for!
(Story stoled from  Luke 15)

WANT A BETTER LIFE? HELP THOSE WHO NEED IT!

     You know who I like to hang out with?  The funny people!  The good-looking people!  The people who everyone else likes!  That's better than hanging out with the awkward people, right?  Those people who don't really know what to say, how to act, don't dress that well.  Heck, maybe they even smell a little bit. You know who I'm talking about at your work place or school or neighborhood.
     It's tougher to be around those types of people.  But, the cool thing about being one of those people that is more on the "awkward, funny looking, socially weird (but rather pleasant smelling)" side, is that I've done more than my fair share of hanging out with just those types of folks.  I always tell kids, "If you have no one to hang out with, go find someone else who is just like you."
      The good news is that there are a ton of people out there who need a friend.  A ton of people who need to be reminded that they are special.  A ton of people that could use some hope.  Those are the kinds of people I should be hanging out with.  The funny, good-looking, everybody else likes them folks are going to be alright.  But, we can really make a difference in the lives of the "different" ones.       So, whichever side you lean toward,  you want a better life?  Start paying attention to the ones who need it the most.

WANT A BETTER LIFE? TRY HUMILITY

     So, I was just in the paper....again!  That's the second time in a couple of months - no big deal!  OK, maybe it is a big deal.  Maybe it's what I really crave - attention, recognition, a sense that I'm important.  Heck, maybe that's what we all crave.  And there's nothing wrong with that....until there is!
     The thing I catch myself doing is seeking after that attention or getting disappointed when I don't get the recognition I "deserve."  I spend a lot of time trying to "impress" people (not sure why I added the quotes there!).  The problem with that is, one, I don't do much that is all that great, and, two, even if I do, you can't count on people to notice.
     Here's what I've found.  It's a lot better to try and recognize others, give others attention, make others feel important.  There's a lot less pressure to be perfect, and in this crazy Jesus kind of world, it actually feels better to give other people praise than to get it yourself.
     But, that's a hard thing to do.  Our natural inclination is to want praise.  To want to be important.  To want to be known.  Again, not bad things.  But, it seems like when we focus on doing those things for others, our lives become a whole lot better!
     Want a better life? Try humility!

WANT A BETTER LIFE? TRUST

    We were riding in the car two days ago after an awesome day of really cheap movies, food that is horrible for you and time to hang out with friends (or at the library, if only your daughter has friends).  The topic of school came up, and eventually it got to worrying about grades or something like that. I said, "I wish I could teach people how NOT to worry."
    When it comes to worrying, the bus driver from Billy Madison sums up my thoughts, "OK, I didn't, but a friend of mine.."  I know a lot of people who worry.  And I get it?  Money, jobs, kids - this world is a crazy place.  If you listen to the news or start basing your life on other people's Facebook feeds, worrying seems like a pretty easy thing to do.
    And if you only looked at this world, how things are, I could accept worrying as the only "smart" answer.  However, there's something inside of me that says there is more.  There's something inside of me that says we don't need to worry about money, we don't need to worry about our kids, we don't need to worry about what is going to happen in the world.  There's something that tells me that Someone has our back.
      We may not all believe in that someone, but if you give me the choice.  Go through this life trusting that I am going to do all the right things vs. Go through this life trusting that there is a God -  who created the whole deal, created me and wants what best for me - to do the right things.  I'll go for B.
     If there is another way, I'd love to know it; because I really do wish I could teach people not to worry.  But, for right now, I guess I'm just going to have to go for, Want a better life? Trust God.

WANT LIFE TO BE BETTER? ASK!

     Let's just pretend for a second that God really did create the whole world.  And then let's pretend that He made you.  And then let's pretend that He really does love you and wants what is best for you.  Too much?  Well, stay with me here.
     That's actually the story that's in the Bible.  Not everyone believes it, so it's ok if you don't, but just for a second, let's say you do.  This same God said, "Ask and it will be given to you.  Seek and you will find.  Knock and the door will be open."  Want to pretend for a second again?  Pretend that the God who created the world, who knows how life works, who knows how you work,  really does want to give you good things!
     We do not have to do this life alone!  We can ask for help.  And, if this pretend world is actually true, that help is not coming from Bob next door or a student in my 5th grade class.  It's coming from the One who really knows what we need.
     Want a better life?  Ask!

IT'S BACK! AND HERE'S THE REASON WHY.....

     If you're a Christian and have gone to church for any amount of time, you've probably heard this question, "If you died today, do you know that you'd be in Heaven?"   If you asked most people today, they'd either say they don't care, they don't know or See you in Hell.  But, that's the wrong question anyway!
       The better question, and the question I think almost everyone is asking, is, "How can my life be better.....right now?"  That's the question  I want to answer with this blog.  It's been a while since I've written anything, but I've started to realize (again) that Jesus was pretty smart.  One time He said, "I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full."  (Get it, the name of the blog is Life to the Full?)  And anytime I've done His stuff, things have gone pretty well for me - not like won a million dollars well, or human success well, but my life is just better.  That's the part I think a lot of people are missing with this Jesus stuff - it really does work!
     So, I'm going to write this with the hope that something goes from the keyboard to my heart, that maybe a few other's lives will be better, and that this world might just become a little bit better because of it.  And, even if it doesn't do any of these things, at least I'll have something to do with all my free time!