Choice

Considering the topic of choice, most people tend to focus on the major decisions that we all face in life, such as what vocation to pursue, who we will marry, where we will live, when and if we want a family.  No doubt these are important choices that will have an impact on the rest of our lives.  Sadly however, many give very little thought to the everyday choices that significantly affect the person we are becoming.  Many daily options we are given that seem to have little or no significance can, over time have life changing impact.  As the author of a book on choices wrote, "The problem with most of the choices we make, like the seemingly incidental choices on my list, is that most of them are unconscious choices - we make them every day, without thinking about the fact that we're making them."

One of God's greatest gifts to mankind is the ability to make choices.  That ability has the capacity to slowly and surely determine the direction and outcome of our lives.  That is why everyday choices are so important. They are collective and accumulative and add up to who we are.  It is for that reason that any significant change that one determines to make cannot occur in a brief span of time, but will only take place as different choices are implemented and practiced over time.

Take some time to make a list of the choices you make everyday and decide how you would like to change some of these.  Create a goal that involves making different choices, keeping in mind that ultimately the world is made up of people who take control of their choices - and those who don't.  Success comes from making good choices on a daily basis.

           "Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice.  It is not something
             to be wished for; but, rather something to be achieved."
            --William Jennings Bryan

Re-examining The Basics

It has been fourteen years since my first book Basics For Believers was published.  My aim with that book was to furnish fellow believers with a brief overview of the basic elements of their Christian faith.  The target audience for my book was new and immature believers, so I was surprised at the positive response I received from many even mature and long-time believers.

What that response reinforced to me was the fact that we never lose the need for a brief review of the "basics."  This is true in our life of faith and it is also true in our life in general.

Here are some areas that we should examine to see if we are strong in the basics.

     1.  Our ability to read
     2.  How to study
     3.  Our ability to write clearly
     4.  The effective art of communication
     5.  Time management
     6.  Establishing priorities
     7.  Planning
     8.  Organization
     9.  Budgeting
   10.  Follow-through

Regardless of what you are working to become, these "basics" should be mastered and implemented.  They never stop playing a vital role in our lives.

          "No believer is ever beyond the basics."
           --Pastor/Teacher John MacArthur

Attitude

Some years ago a movie titled Rudy was released that told the true story of the life of a young man whose great ambition was to play football at the University of Notre Dame.  Because of his small size, everyone discouraged him from even thinking about pursuing this dream.  Rudy had to strive hard just to get into the university and then, with great persistence, was eventually allowed to join the practice squad of the football team.

This story reveals an individual who displayed an unbelievable positive attitude while enduring continual beatings from larger and stronger players - but was never discouraged to quitting!  In his senior year at the last home game, Rudy's fellow players had come to respect him so much that they threatened to quit if he was not allowed to dress for the final game.  The coach finally gave in and Rudy joined the team on the sidelines.

As the game was just about to end, his teammates began to chant for Rudy to be permitted one play on the field.  Before long, the entire stadium joined the chant, "Rudy, Rudy, Rudy."  At last, the coach sent him onto the field, fulfilling Rudy's lifelong dream.  The movie ends with the football squad carrying Rudy off the field.

Attitude plays a huge role in our potential for success.  It is not, however, everything.  Attitude will never be a substitute for talent and giftedness.  We cannot be whatever want to be if we just "try hard enough."  Rudy's story proves that point.  Like Rudy, we should strive to have a great attitude - it will affect everything we do.  But remember, examine yourself and match your goals to your abilities.

          "A positive, confident attitude can transform a culture of failures into
           unexpected success..."
           --Jack C. McDowell

Learning Who We Are

On of the most successful TV programs over the past ten years has been American Idol.  This program is a modern version of the old TV talent shows of the past.  Its hopeful contestants compete for the opportunity to be named American Idol for the current year.  As a result of the show's success over the past ten years, many of the hopeful singers have been launched into stardom and fame.

Each presentation begins with initial tryouts in various cities of the U.S.  In this phase of competition, we are introduced to a series of comedies with the exposure of some contestants who lack little or no musical talent but are willing to make fools of themselves to grab a moment of notice on TV.  It also includes contestants who really believe they have talent, when in reality they do not.

It amazes me how unrealistic some people become regarding their own obvious lack of talent and ability.
Becoming successful with any venture requires that we match our innate gifts with the appropriate endeavors toward those talents.  That is why it is so critical to make certain we understand who we are and how God has made us.  Everyone has some talents and abilities that, if properly developed in those gifted areas, can produce success.

There is a critical need to learn and cultivate the strengths we are born with and to recognize the areas of life in which we are not gifted.  These are the first steps necessary to move towards true success.

          "I was determined to find something I was good at."
            --Lance Armstrong

Developing Your Seeds

There are seeds of success everywhere!  We only need to become aware of them and plant them - which is, in essence, to embrace them.  Once we make that move, it is then time to develop those seeds.  Here are some ways to initiate this process.

First, be sure you have grasped what is the potential and value of the seed.  Work to learn everything you can concerning the seed .  Once this is done, develop a means to help this seed become a habit.  Over time the habit will become a natural part of who you are.  

Here are four steps to help you with an example - Reading.

     Step One - Learn how to read a book.
     Step Two - Realize the value of good books.
     Step Three - Make reading a habit.
     Step Four - Read continually.

If you are desiring to be successful and realize your full potential then you must read.  Reading is the doorway to a vast storehouse of more seeds.  One of the most valuable books on reading is How to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles L. Van Doren.

          "Success is a continuing thing.  It is growth and development.  It is achieving one
          thing and using that as a stepping stone to achieve something else."
          --John C. Maxwell

Keep on Growing

One of the ways God has provided for us to continue to grow mentally is through our ability to keep planting seeds of knowledge into our minds.  We experience growth as these seeds grow.  There is no problem with over-planting.  The storage capacity of most people's brains is so great that we only use a small portion of it.

There is also no lack of seeds for our use.  In fact, the availability of knowledge in today's world is so immense that the problem is not one of supply, but more one of discernment of what information will be of the most benefit.  With the advent of computers and the internet, access to unlimited information is at our finger tips.  Add to that the millions of books, DVDs and educational programs on television that are now available.

Given this ocean of resources at our disposal today, why does it appear that many have stopped growing mentally, or at best, growing at a very small rate?  There are a number of reasons.  First, people become lazy and reduce their pursuit of learning.  Second, there are so many distractions to  divert our attention that require no effort on our part.  And third, people become satisfied with the status quo.  They don't feel a need to grow.

When we stop growing mentally, we actually begin to decline.  The reason is that change is always at work around us.  If we don't grow, we fall behind.

Growing mentally is critical to our success.

          "The wise are mightier than the strong,  and those with knowledge grow stronger
          and stronger."  Proverbs 24:5

Intentness

In his concept, Pyramid of Success, basketball's coaching legend John Wooden titled one of the building blocks 'Intentness.'  Coach Wooden's definition involves the setting of realistic goals and the determination and persistence to strive to achieve those goals.  Being intent means to stay focused, to resist diversion and distraction and to not give up.  Being intent also involves having determination and patience to go the distance.

One reason that so many today lack intentness is a mindset of immediate gratification.  People are not willing to work long and hard to achieve a goal.  They are impatient and lack determination and persistence.  They want reward without work.

Another reason for a lack of intentness is that people experience obstacles and problems as they pursue the achieving of their goals and just give up.  What many fail to realize is that it is in the midst of adversity and roadblocks that we grow.  Life is full of obstacles that present us with problems and discouragements, but it is when we overcome in spite of these that we grow and learn.  There are no
'free rides' in this life.

Coach Wooden sums up this point with a great quote:

          "In every way - physically, morally, emotionally and spiritually - we increase our
          strength when life is hard; therefore, we must not dread adversity, nor can we allow
          it to stop us from becoming the best we can be through the steadfast pursuit of our
          goals...Without intentness we can't possibly become all we can be."

This concept is by no means one of recent promotion.  Read what our thirtieth president said back in the 1920's.

          "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.  Talent will not; nothing is
          more common than unsuccessful men with talent.  Genius will not; unrewarded genius
          is almost a proverb.  Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
          Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."

          --Calvin Coolidge

Being Proactive

In his book Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, author Stephen Covey lists his first habit as "being proactive."  Covey makes a key point where he says that proactivity means more than merely taking initiative.  It means that as human beings, we are responsible for our own lives.

           "Our behavior is a function of our decisions, not our conditions.  We can
           subordinate feelings to values.  We have the initiative and the responsibility
           to make things happen."

Taking responsibility for our decisions on how we respond and react to daily life has a great deal to do with how we succeed in life.  As we grow in our ability to be proactive, we accept responsibility for personal actions and avoid blaming circumstances or conditions - we stop being reactive and become proactive.

A central theme of the teaching of Christ Jesus is that we are to live our lives governed by the laws of God and not on the natural response of our feelings.

           "Thank God for being able to see all that you have not yet been."
           --Oswald Chambers