Decade of Change

Honest Debate

We are engaging in debates today that are altogether off subject. Free thinking doesn't make one an "Uncle Tom," a bigot, a homophobe... Doesn't make you ________ (fill in the blank.)

Legalization of drugs... let's lower the drinking age again...

The question should be, "why are drugs illegal?" "Why did we raise the drinking age?"

There are many other topics today that the wrong questions are being asked, all for equality, personal liberty, to prove your own point...

I saw a video of Peirs Morgan, Suze Orman, and a young man from Heritage Foundation. Suze O. kicked out an argument about partners paying inheritance tax. The young man pointed out that the real problem was the "death tax" in the first place. (I agree with him on that point.) Suze ceded that it wasn't even an issue! Obviously making the debate on that point, nonsense!!

I remember that the "war on drugs" and making drugs illegal was all about stopping crime... public safety...

The drinking age was raised because we tried the 18 yr old drinking age experiment and drunk related death sky rocketed; it didn't work! We corrected the failure.

Let's leave the arena of emotional, knee-jerk reactions and engage in serious, kind, respectful and open debate.

Thank you, Joe Crawford
(Permission to copy if kept intact)

Seeing Your Purpose

A few years ago, I was walking through San Diego pondering my purpose, “to greatly glorify God.” I was trying to see in my mind's eye what that would look like.

In my world, a commonly heard phrase is, “there are no accidents.”

I encountered a man that lives in shelters and spends his days walking the streets talking to anyone that would listen as he told them of his Saviour.

I can’t adequately describe the pureness of the moment. I believe the Lord showed me the simple yet thorough service of a simple man, as he glorified our God.

BEAUTIFUL!!

Have you chosen by choice or by default?

I’ve been a student of people for many years. One thing I’ve learned is that most people don’t make active decisions.

It is easy to ponder an item until it no longer needs action. The sale ends so you don’t have to worry about buying the car.

Someone else got the job, so I don’t have to write my resume. It started to rain, so I can’t cut the grass. “There is a lion without, I shall be slain…” (Prov. 22:13).

More appropriately, it may be better stated by saying, I can’t apply for that job because:

“I’m too old”
“I’m too fat”
“I’m too young”
“I don’t have a college degree.”
“I‘m not a man”
“I’m too…”

You’ve heard them. For that matter, you’ve said them. Truth be told, these reasons really don’t cut it.

I had a cousin that was a quadriplegic for 41 years. The only reason he didn’t get a job was that he couldn’t see his way to let loose of his state provided benefits.

Now, I’m not judging him, don’t jump to that conclusion. He may have made the best decision available, but that is not the point. The point is, even a quadriplegic can do a job.

So will you make the choice? Will you step up and do what you know needs to be done? Can be done? You want to do?

“Someone ought to ___________”, you fill in the blank. How about you?

A number of years ago, I noticed that a friend of mine had a resume that would choke a horse. Later, I made another friend, which had a resume that would impress almost anyone. Yet another friend inspired me to step forward and do what I could.

These 3 people, 2 women and 1 man, did one key thing. They choose to step forward and do what they saw could be done. I decided to join them.

To make a long story short, the VP of the local Habitat for Humanity told me I was going to be the next President. I said, “Oh no, you’ll be the next President.” That conversation took place 4 to 5 months after I had joined the group. Well, he was correct, and I was wrong. It just took 2 years to happen.

The bottom line is, you can do far more than you thought, if you will choose to step forward and do what you can.

By the way, the best way to get ahead is to do whatever it is that needs to be done. I have seen many people get offers or promotions because “they can be counted on.”

Stand up, step up, and speak up. Watching it on TV will not get it done, action will.

Blessings, Joe Crawford

Choice not Chance

"choice, not chance determines human destiny" (from our church bulletin)

not much else need to be said!

You Decide

I met for coffee today with some of the other officers of our local Habitat for Humanity. We were meeting to see what we could do to get this current house we are building completed. But that is another story…

During the course of the conversation ‘Rev’ made the statement: “Most of us will go to any length and put ourselves through any kind of pain in order to avoid making a decision.”

I grabbed a pen and started writing. The statement rings true with me, but I decided to take a different perspective. I believe we make decisions, but not consciously or currently.

Things that we accepted as fact in our life make the decisions for us. The things we believe guide us. So when someone asks us anything, our beliefs take over. “I can’t sell.” “I can’t remember names.” “I’m too busy to…”

The truth is that none of the statements are correct. You can sell anything you believe in. You can remember names if the names mean something to you. And, you are not so busy to do what you really want to do.

Now, I know that there is inevitably someone, somewhere, that has some condition that prevents them from remembering names. OK, this doesn’t work for everybody, all the time. But, it does for most everybody, most of the time.

What I am talking about here is that we make decisions at some time in our life that dictates our actions for the rest of our life, unless… unless, we change those decisions. This would (probably) be an intentional decision on our part.

You can do things you don’t believe you can do, if you are willing to pay the price or do what you need to do to make it happen.

“I can’t loose weight.” Yes you can, but you have to do what it takes to loose it. The truth most often is that you won’t admit that you over eat, or that you even really need to loose the weight, at all.

So what is the point? The point is, look at what you really want. Look at what it will take to bring it to pass. Weigh the costs. Make the decision that suits you best. In the words of Yoda, “Decide you will.”

You will either make the decision or you decide to let those underlying beliefs, circumstances, or whatever, decide for you. It is still your choice.

I propose that you will go a lot further by consciously deciding than you can ever go by letting things just happen. You will go where you see best, because it will in fact be where you want to go.

My desire was always to help others. It wasn’t until I made some decisions that I became the head of several non-profit organizations. I believe I have had a positive impact on a broad base of people.

I had some advice that told me to not go there… My conscience decision helped me to walk where I really want to walk.

My son likes to quote from the movie “Meet the Robinsons”: “Hum, admit that I made a mistake or blame you? DING, DING, DING; I Blame You!!”

Ok, what’s the point? You decide to go where you want to go, do what you want to do, and be what you want to be. Or, you decide to let others or things or conditions or… stop you or talk you out of it, but you still make the decision. It is just easy to not admit that you made the decision.

Please enjoy the following 10 minute video to see what can be done when you make active decisions: On Top of The World


Blessings, Joe Crawford

PS. Let me know of the decisions that changed or will change your life. (short version please!)

PERFECT!

Success-How Will You Do IT?
A path to success:

1) Purpose

Make the decision, and don't look back! Along with the decision comes singleness of purpose. A true decision will create focus.

It was once said that no man could serve two masters. However subtle it is said, you can only focus in one direction.


2) Passion

A true decision to go all-in, will produce passion! You effort will be solid when you choose. All-in, implies that your training, reading, conversation, and fellowship will be around your decision.

All these things bring your inner most being to the surface and guess what, you’re all-in! What flows will be from that very decision.

Trash in / trash out OR Great stuff in / passion out!!!


3) Patience

Plant it and it will grow, not overnight, but in its season. The farmer will plant his seeds after the ground is prepared. Once the seed is planted, the ground must be attended, watered, cultivated… The sun must shine, the rain will come, and the seed will grow.

The best wines come from a very wet season, and then something changes. The season becomes dry. It seems as if the crop will be lost, but with patience comes the harvest. They make the wine and you have the most amazing wine.


4) Presence

With the three points we’ve discussed, you have a presence about you that will attract other positive people.

Others may be groupies, waiting to be lead, but you will do what needs to be done. You’ll be the one in the front. You’ll be the one listening to the tapes, reading the books, and plowing the ground. (Sorry, I drifted back a point.)

Surrounding yourself with positive people you will be able to tackle some high obstacles. Everest shouldn't be climbed alone! It's not worth the risk.


Now that I’ve used a ton of clichés, make your choice and go for it!

1)Purpose
2)Passion
3)Patience
4)Presence
5)Perfect!!

Blessings, Joe Crawford

This post was inspired by: Network Marketing Success-How Did They Do IT? Thank you Ann.