Monthly Mash Up (March 2019)

“The more I read, the more I acquire, the more certain I am that I know nothing”

— Voltaire

If learning reinforces any one thing over and over, it is that in the final analysis I don’t know anything. Each new book or podcast consumed pulls back the curtain to reveal another previously undiscovered realm of knowledge.

March was filled with many such occasions. Occasions to dive deep, learn, and reevaluate things. Below are two books and one interview that will pull the curtain back and show you several areas to grow and learn.

I do this the last Monday of each month. It’s my way of peeling back the layers and sharing the things that have the greatest impact on me each month. I hope these resources are helpful and brighten your day. If you enjoy it, pass it along.

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Habits are the all the rage. Everyone it seems is talking, writing, and thinking about them. People are doing this for good reason. Habits are important. They shape so much of what you do each day, as well as the outcomes of your life. Habits must be established however, before they can be improved. This book will show you exactly how to build effective habits and eliminate the ineffective ones.  

EntreLeadership Podcast with James Clear

This interview led me to picking up James’ book. It is a conversation that will fire you up and start the wheels in your head to spinning. James discusses how tiny changes over the long-haul compound to create massive results.

Come and See by Todd Wagner

When your pastor writes a book, you should probably read it. Or if you’re like me, you wait until it goes in sale before you buy it. I’m thankful Come and See went on sale a few weeks ago. I am only a few chapters in but find it the right reminder and encouragement for the times. People are messy and so is church life. Here Todd labors to create a compelling vision for what and who the church is meant to be.

The Wrong Scoreboard

It’s easy to judge yourself by an external standard. The entire world seems to do it. They keep score just for this reason. You’ve got to know who wins and who loses.

But what if the scoreboard didn’t matter? What if that lesson our elders tried to pass on turns out to right after all? It’s not the score that counts, but how hard you play the game.

Well they were right. The score isn’t how you define winning and losing. Your personal effort determines if you win or lose. If you give anything less than your absolute best effort, you lose no matter what the scoreboard says. The converse is true as well. Your effort is all that matters.

You determine to define success by things you control; by how hard you train, practice, and perform. No one else can determine this for you. It must come from within. You have to daily decide to establish your definition for success and refuse to accept that of other people.

You feel pretty good about your performance, until you start playing the comparison game. That’s the way it goes.

Comparison brings disappointment every time. It turns joy into morning with remarkable hast. The maddening thing is that it shouldn’t rattle you. You define success by things within your control; things like effort.

If something received your best effort and you gave it all you had that day. How you stack up with others does not matter.

Remember this: You define success by what you can control. Focus on this every day. Remind yourself often. The scoreboard does not define your performance. Effort does.

One Day At A Time

You must live life one day at a time. You can’t travel in time. You’re stuck in the present with the rest of us.

Yet how often do you choose to time travel in your own mind? You focus on that rude thing someone said. You dwell on that big mistake or failure. You dream about how great life will be when…

Some will tell you that’s perfectly ok. That it’s part of being a human being. While it may be part of being human, it most certainly isn’t ok. And it isn’t helping you win at life.

Winning takes focus, specifically on the present. And you can’t focus on where you are when your mind is somewhere else.

Do you want better, deeper, and stronger relationships? Stop robbing those around you of your attention. You can’t build and strengthen relationships when you’re not present.

Do you want health, vitality, and energy? Stop dreaming and get started. Do something now. Get the ball rolling today. Don’t wait on “someday.” It never comes. Take step one today. Act. Get off the couch. Put down the donuts. Pick up something heavy. Get moving.

Do you want a successful business? Go write all those dreams and goals down on a piece of paper, then shove that thing in a drawer. It’s time to work. Write a business plan. Make some phone calls. Send an email. Schedule a meeting. Focus on doing one thing today that will move the ball forward.

You can’t do things any other way. Just sitting there thinking about it won’t lead to done. It’ll hold you back. You’ll trick yourself into believing that you’re actually working on things rather than what you’re really doing, procrastinating.

If you must procrastinate, procrastinate on procrastinating. That you can do tomorrow. Decide to work today instead. Do one important thing. That’s all. One thing done with energy and purpose today.   

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Reading God’s word is part of my regular routine. It is where I find everything I need pertaining to life. Few passages make this clearer than a passage I spent some time in earlier this week.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

— 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Notice all Paul is communicating about Scripture. It is inspired by God. It is useful in all areas of our relationships and in it we have all we need.

Below are some of Thomas Constable’s notes on this passage. I find him a wonderful companion as I study Scripture. He helps clear my vision so that I understand and act upon what I learn. Hopefully his thoughts do the same for you today.

“Scripture is useful. Therefore, Timothy should use it in his ministry. It is profitable for teaching (causing others to understand God’s truth) and reproof (bringing conviction of error when there has been deviation from God’s truth). It is helpful for correction (bringing restoration to the truth when there has been error) and training in righteousness (child-training type guidance in the ways of right living that God’s truth reveals). This is a selective rather than an exhaustive list of the ways in which the Scriptures are useful.

They are profitable for doctrine (what is right), for reproof (what is not right), for correction (how to get right), and for instruction in righteousness (how to stay right).

Consequently, the man (or woman) of God has all that is essential to fulfill his (or her) ministry (cf. 2 Pet. 1:3). The “man of God” refers to Timothy (1 Tim. 6:11) but also anyone who Consequently the man (or woman) of God has all that is essential to fulfill his (or her) ministry (cf. 2 Pet. 1:3). The “man of God” refers to Timothy (1 Tim. 6:11) but also anyone who commits himself (or herself) to God, especially, in view of the context, those in positions of spiritual oversight. He is adequate (complete, filled out, equipped with all the essential tools he needs).

The mastery and use of Scripture is only a means to an end, not an end in itself. God did not give us the Bible to satisfy our curiosity alone but to enable us to help other people spiritually.”

— Constable's Notes on 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Core Values

What crosses your mind when you read the phrase core values? You most likely, think of the way corporations use their core values and mission statements. That is to say, you probably don’t think that much of them. You may see them as nice thoughts and ideas, but impractical to daily work and life. That’s how most people treat them, as cute but ultimately pointless.

For all the talk of core values and principles, few live by them. The person who spends hours writing them down, getting them just right, and basing their entire day off them, is rare. This is most quickly demonstrated by asking someone what their core values are. The blank stare and stumbling response evidence that few value them.

But they should.

Core values are more than platitudes. They are guiding rails for your life. They are there to keep you on the right track. Running in the right direction. Helping you live a consistent and meaningful life.

They set the direction for who you are and where you want to go.

What is truly important to you? These things frame your life. If these things are in place, you know you’re tracking towards where you want to end up in life. They help create a roadmap to your destination.

They are constant and core to who you are.

They do not change all that often. How you run them down and work on them may change, but your values shouldn’t. They are things so important to you that they are part of who you are. They become part of your identity in a real way.

They simplify decision making.

If you have emails left to respond to, but it’s reaching the end of the workday, your core values simplify that decision. Those emails sit and wait for the next day because family is a core value and comes first.

They focus you on the long-term over the short-term.

People who are successful are willing to suffer in the short-term for long-term gain. It is harder to do the right things today. Today’s temptation is big, loud, and really hard to ignore. That makes it hard to say no. Core values help focus you on your long-term destination instead of the immediate temptation to stray from the path.

You need help getting to your destination.

You can’t get there by wandering here and there. You need a defined direction, and a path to follow. Core values define your path. They set you up for success, and help you become your best self, better still they help you live into your deepest values today.

You already know what they are.

It shouldn’t be complicated. Your core values aren’t things you dream up.They are those things you hold most dear. Putting words to them is the part that takes a little more effort.

Ask yourself questions and google examples. These will help you put words to and define them. They do little to guide your life if you can’t define or articulate them.

Set annual goals and turn them into daily actions.

The power rests in what you each day. Form the right habits. You’ll know you’re tracking in the right direction if you can check off these items each night.

Review them often.

Pull out that note on your phone or word doc on your computer. Don’t let them collect dust. Look at them. Monitor your progress.

Make adjustments as needed.

If you’re not getting closer to your goal, change course. These things aren’t set in stone. You are meant to change how you chase excellence. The destination rarely changes, but you may reroute often. What matters is that you keep going. You put forth maximum effort every day.