No doubt about it. Fewer days are more enjoyable in life than Thanksgiving. This morning my 4 year old twin girls and my 2 year old boy joyfully woke us up early ready to celebrate the day. Of course this had to start with the latest episode of Mickey’s Clubhouse which just so happened to center around a theme of being thankful.
Thanksgiving is one of our most important celebrations we still revere as Americans. Being thankful is a key to being humble, staying dependent on God and hopeful for the future. Nothing makes faith easier when we take the time out to recall God’s hand in the past and present. Sadly, we only have one sanctioned day to reflect and most of us, if we are honest, focus more on food and football than we do being thankful. Back in Biblical times, festivals were held throughout the year as a way of demonstrating faith and giving thanks for all God had done.
Truthfully, each of us likely has a huge list of things we can thank God for and this Thanksgiving would be a good time to start a new tradition of putting them on a list to remind ourselves of how good we really have it.
I promise when you are done, you will be thankful.
Here’s my list in no particular order (I’m sure it will grow daily as I remember it all!):
• God himself, for Christ, his Grace to put up with me and the hope He gives me
• Life – another day without a tag on my toe is another to be thankful for
• Being an American
• My incredible wife Julie
• My twin daughters Chloe and Sidney
• My amazing son, Quinn
• The country and people of Korea
• The magic of adoption
• My dogs Max and Sam
• My mom and dad
• Julie’s mom and dad
• Everyone in the Speers and Wroten families (I have amazing in-laws)
• Our church
• Our home
• Our vehicles, especially the Vette, and yes, the minivan
• My business and AdzZoo
• Our amazing friends
• My business partner
• HPU and my days in Brownwood
• Dallas Cowboys and football!
• Sports in general
• Internet and Facebook!
• Our home and the things we have
• The DFW area
• The beach
• Childhood in Houston
• My skills, talents and abilities
• My life experiences
• Pizza – especially Mazzio’s
• Mexican food
• My Papa Jack and Grandma Kat
• Grandma’s homemade rolls
• Travel!
• Disney Channel
• The Wiggles
• The invention of DVR
• Digital cameras
• My lawn guy Stevie!
• Christmas
• ChickFiLa
• Dr. Pepper
• Texas
• Various business contacts and friends
• Snow skiing and the mountains
• Memories with dad at Astros and Rockets games
• Memories with mom shopping at the mall
• Computers and technology
• My health
• Loud music
• My thick hair at 40!
• My good eye-sight at 40!
• My kids good health
• Good movies and movie theater popcorn
• Growing up in the 80s
• Mickey Mouse
I guess ol’ Mickey had it right. It’s pretty hard to think of a better title to give Thanksgiving.
“Thanks a Bunch Day” fits perfectly.
Thanks Mickey….you made my list!
“Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy...” Nehemiah 8:12
© 2009, J. Brady"
“I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
OMGosh I'm 40
Just yesterday I was looking up the hill.
Today I proudly stand on top.
Problem is tomorrow I start going down.
I’m 40.
Seriously! How in the world can I be 40 years old? This just isn’t possible! Whose fault is this anyway?
Just yesterday my wife and I were in talks about adopting a child. That was already 2 years ago.
Just yesterday our twin girls were born at Arlington Memorial. That was 4 years ago.
Just yesterday I remember standing in front of a TV watching the Twin Towers in NYC collapse on 9/11. That was 8 years ago!
Just yesterday I met my wife for the first time in a singles class at church. That was 10 years ago.
Just yesterday I met my business partner Chris Novinger at the Parks Mall. That was 13 years ago.
Just yesterday I was getting my Master’s at Baylor and hanging out with friends in Fort Worth on the weekends. That was 15 years ago.
Just yesterday I was at Howard Payne being a “fella”, getting a degree and starting Club J Ministries. That was 18 years ago.
Just yesterday I was tromping around Houston, cheering on the Astros with dad, enjoying my “first love” and being a beach bum with mom and my sister. That was 24 years ago.
Just yesterday…
It’s weird how turning 40 is such a hallmark in life. Some freak out. Some do nothing and others kind of do both. For me, well, I don’t really plan to freak out, but I have spent a lot of time over the last few months thinking about my life up to now and searching for how it should be the same, better or different in my “second half”.
God always has His ways. About 6 months ago on a plane I sat next to a former pastor who nearly made me swear when I got home I would read a book called “Halftime” by Bob Buford. He said it changed his life and would change mine. Finally, a month or two later I remembered the incident and got my copy. Little did I know how it would challenge me to the core. If only I could have read this book 10 years ago…
Buford contends that we are given a “box” in life and only one thing can be in it. Whatever is in it is what our lives are truly centered on. And if only one thing could be in my “box” and I had to answer the obvious question – what is in it? In reality most of us have to admit we are the ones in the center of our own boxes. Even as Christians, many times simple things we claim are "for God", like attending church regularly, are in reality done for our own rewards. We are selfish creatures.
In short, the book challenged me to move my focus from being about me and being “successful” to becoming “significant” by truly making Christ and His work the center of my life. Everything should surround the purpose of leaving a legacy of building His kingdom – work, family, goals, church, money, etc. Only after we do, will we truly become fulfilled, happy, and know life at its fullest.
Halftime is about learning this reality and setting a new game plan for the second half of life. God has called each of us believers to more than the routine of work, kids, school, and church. We have to get beyond our own worlds and do more and as a family if possible.
Julie and I have talked for hours about what we can do in the second half. We are bored with the mindless routine of school and work during the week, church on the weekend and a date night here and there. We know He has called us to more than this American standard most Christians accept. We believe God has called our family to some specific actions that will challenge us in ways I am sure we don't even see yet.
Personally, I think I am about ready to start the game of life once again. God has things for me He wants to change - habits, sins, attitudes, and the like. And yet He is gracious enough to still use me in the process. I am eager to make the 2nd half count.
Yea, it is hard to believe driving at 16 was 24 years ago and it’s just as hard to believe it was 14 years ago the Cowboys last won a Superbowl!
It does seem the hour glass of life gets quicker as the grains pass through from one side to the other. But I think I have an idea of what kind of second half God wants from me – some plays that worked in the first half for sure, but many more new ones designed for when it’s all on the line!
Yep, I’m 40. Big deal. I’ll still be fun, loving and cute (by someone’s standards!) But truth be told it won't be long until I will be sitting here barely able to read or write trying to pen the words "just yesterday" again.
I just hope my second half is as much fun as the first and slows down just a little.
After all, there isn't another game on the schedule.
"The glory of young men is their strength, And the honor of old men is their gray hair." Proverbs 20:29
© 2009, J. Brady
”I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
Today I proudly stand on top.
Problem is tomorrow I start going down.
I’m 40.
Seriously! How in the world can I be 40 years old? This just isn’t possible! Whose fault is this anyway?
Just yesterday my wife and I were in talks about adopting a child. That was already 2 years ago.
Just yesterday our twin girls were born at Arlington Memorial. That was 4 years ago.
Just yesterday I remember standing in front of a TV watching the Twin Towers in NYC collapse on 9/11. That was 8 years ago!
Just yesterday I met my wife for the first time in a singles class at church. That was 10 years ago.
Just yesterday I met my business partner Chris Novinger at the Parks Mall. That was 13 years ago.
Just yesterday I was getting my Master’s at Baylor and hanging out with friends in Fort Worth on the weekends. That was 15 years ago.
Just yesterday I was at Howard Payne being a “fella”, getting a degree and starting Club J Ministries. That was 18 years ago.
Just yesterday I was tromping around Houston, cheering on the Astros with dad, enjoying my “first love” and being a beach bum with mom and my sister. That was 24 years ago.
Just yesterday…
It’s weird how turning 40 is such a hallmark in life. Some freak out. Some do nothing and others kind of do both. For me, well, I don’t really plan to freak out, but I have spent a lot of time over the last few months thinking about my life up to now and searching for how it should be the same, better or different in my “second half”.
God always has His ways. About 6 months ago on a plane I sat next to a former pastor who nearly made me swear when I got home I would read a book called “Halftime” by Bob Buford. He said it changed his life and would change mine. Finally, a month or two later I remembered the incident and got my copy. Little did I know how it would challenge me to the core. If only I could have read this book 10 years ago…
Buford contends that we are given a “box” in life and only one thing can be in it. Whatever is in it is what our lives are truly centered on. And if only one thing could be in my “box” and I had to answer the obvious question – what is in it? In reality most of us have to admit we are the ones in the center of our own boxes. Even as Christians, many times simple things we claim are "for God", like attending church regularly, are in reality done for our own rewards. We are selfish creatures.
In short, the book challenged me to move my focus from being about me and being “successful” to becoming “significant” by truly making Christ and His work the center of my life. Everything should surround the purpose of leaving a legacy of building His kingdom – work, family, goals, church, money, etc. Only after we do, will we truly become fulfilled, happy, and know life at its fullest.
Halftime is about learning this reality and setting a new game plan for the second half of life. God has called each of us believers to more than the routine of work, kids, school, and church. We have to get beyond our own worlds and do more and as a family if possible.
Julie and I have talked for hours about what we can do in the second half. We are bored with the mindless routine of school and work during the week, church on the weekend and a date night here and there. We know He has called us to more than this American standard most Christians accept. We believe God has called our family to some specific actions that will challenge us in ways I am sure we don't even see yet.
Personally, I think I am about ready to start the game of life once again. God has things for me He wants to change - habits, sins, attitudes, and the like. And yet He is gracious enough to still use me in the process. I am eager to make the 2nd half count.
Yea, it is hard to believe driving at 16 was 24 years ago and it’s just as hard to believe it was 14 years ago the Cowboys last won a Superbowl!
It does seem the hour glass of life gets quicker as the grains pass through from one side to the other. But I think I have an idea of what kind of second half God wants from me – some plays that worked in the first half for sure, but many more new ones designed for when it’s all on the line!
Yep, I’m 40. Big deal. I’ll still be fun, loving and cute (by someone’s standards!) But truth be told it won't be long until I will be sitting here barely able to read or write trying to pen the words "just yesterday" again.
I just hope my second half is as much fun as the first and slows down just a little.
After all, there isn't another game on the schedule.
"The glory of young men is their strength, And the honor of old men is their gray hair." Proverbs 20:29
© 2009, J. Brady
”I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Had No Idea What They Were About to Do
I honestly didn't see it coming. Had no idea. It totally took me by surprise.
It all started one morning when my business partner Chris called me on the phone at 7am and made my wife wake me up. I knew it wouldn't be good. He never does that.
"Man, one of our sales reps just called me panicking and told me everyone on staff is leaving us and starting another business and they are doing it right behind our backs!"
That one sentence announcement started a three month cycle of personal betrayal few have ever experienced. Despite my mind telling me this simply could not be the case, soon enough we learned it was true and less than 2 weeks later 90% of our staff had left us high and dry. Most of this occurred while I was away during our annual summer vacation on the Gulf.
In a matter of days my business world had turned upside down.
I was stunned, demoralized and frankly frozen in state of absolute denial. There was simply no way these people would do this and do so in this manner. No way.
What made the situation hardest to swallow was learning who the culprits were behind it all which turned out to be most of our upper level management team, nearly every key sales rep and most of our administrative staff. To add to it, the owner of this new agency was our own insurance MGA (Master General Agent)! An MGA is basically a mentor to a GA (General Agent) which is what he had been to us for the last few years. We had become good friends and even had a summer vacation planned together in Mexico. Needless to say, that trip was cancelled. Just two weeks before all of this he and I personally met to discuss some concerns and issues going forward. I even asked him if he had any intentions of competing with me and setting up his own call room. He totally denied the idea and reassured me he wanted no part of running one and that we in fact were the "marketing geniuses".
The other leader, was our Operations Officer who resigned suddenly just a few weeks prior to all of this. He and I had become personal friends and talked nearly daily about sports, kids and God. I considered him one of my best friends. He worked for us for nearly 6 years and lived right around the corner. When we got back from the gulf coast he was the first one I met with. At the time he acted shocked at all we had learned about this new business and claimed to have no part in setting it all up. Weeks later he became the president and co-owner of the operation and in fact, had lied to me about it all.
Following them were other long term employees, some with nearly 10 years of working with Chris and I. One of them was even Chris' brother-in-law. My wife put it best, when she said one night, "the only person you can trust in that office right now is Chris." She was right. Over the coming weeks, another 10-12 employees would leave assuming the "grass was greener". In total we went from nearly 50 employees to around 15 in about 30 days time. Sales went down the drain, morale was gone, fear was running rampant and Chris and I were in an emotional tailspin.
Shock does not even come close to describing the way Chris and I were feeling. Betrayed, hurt, angry, confused, worried and determined were all apart of the emotional pot being brewed each and every day. I hated going to the office, fearing what I would learn, who else had left and what this other new business was doing behind our backs.
A few employees involved in this scheme hid their involvement so they could remain on staff with us while working on this new business down the street. We later discovered hundreds of internal documents being sent from our offices to their personal email accounts for use at this new location! On top of that, they were calling the few employees we had left attempting to recruit them by telling them we were "going out of business" or that "this ship was sinking so get off now". It was unreal.
This new business didn't just started a competing location. That's just business. Rather, this new business had stolen nearly all of our people, all of our business contacts, business materials, training documents, scripts, marketing concepts and the like. Our name is Equal Health & Life. Their name is United Health & Life. Lacking any ability to be creative on their own, they simply took our "Coke formula" in an attempt to short cut a road to financial success. They were merely a mirror image of the company Chris and I had worked to build over an eight year period. Starting a competing business is one thing, but stealing nearly a decade of trade secrets, operational theories, documents, contacts and the like is a whole new level of deceit.
In a matter of days, they stole it all.
Now Chris and I were facing our biggest challenge yet. Our faith was really all we had left. Even the entrepreneurial spirit we had leaned on for years together was wiped out. There wasn't anything left but prayer.
And, that's when God stepped in and made Romans 8:28 come to life right before our eyes.
About three weeks into the ordeal we began to see a silver lining in the situation and He began to do and reveal things to us that still blow my mind. While reading through Leviticus one night of all things, a verse jumped out at me. God spoke as clear as day that He and He alone would make things right and, they would pay for their actions.
We recently learned our MGA behind all of this had been acting illegally in his home state and most others. He was acting without a license, his health insurance products were determined to be illegitimate and the state took over control of his operations and bank accounts. We immediately moved all of our customers to a new provider and things quickly improved. Customers began telling us just how terrible they had been treated by his company. Truth was coming out daily. A win-win lawsuit had been laid in our laps at the same time against a very large insurance company he was representing. After a month of them denying everything we had been telling them about him and them trying to come after us, they finally admitted we were correct. Sorry Charlie. A little too late. (Lawsuit City is likely a stop in our future.)
Not even 90 days later, our vision for the future is brighter than ever. We have renewed energy, a new office, better management, a stronger staff, a more cautious approach, leaner finances and a great new insurance provider in Assurant Health. Just last week we won a big contest for the numbers of new clients we have brought on over the last 90 days -during all of this! If we stay focused, 2010 can be our best year yet. Yes, God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good.
I never knew how bad betrayal really was. I never understood how Jesus felt when his close and only real friends let him down and denied their connection to him. But, now I do.
I pray I never do the same to someone else.
I have a good idea, I never will.
"God spoke to Moses: "When anyone sins by betraying trust with God by deceiving his neighbor regarding something entrusted to him, or by robbing or cheating or threatening him; or if he has found something lost and lies about it and swears falsely regarding any of these sins that people commonly commit—when he sins and is found guilty, he must return what he stole or extorted, restore what was entrusted to him, return the lost thing he found, or anything else about which he swore falsely. He must make full compensation, add twenty percent to it, and hand it over to the owner..." Leviticus 8:1-5 (the Message)
© 2009, J. Brady
”I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
It all started one morning when my business partner Chris called me on the phone at 7am and made my wife wake me up. I knew it wouldn't be good. He never does that.
"Man, one of our sales reps just called me panicking and told me everyone on staff is leaving us and starting another business and they are doing it right behind our backs!"
That one sentence announcement started a three month cycle of personal betrayal few have ever experienced. Despite my mind telling me this simply could not be the case, soon enough we learned it was true and less than 2 weeks later 90% of our staff had left us high and dry. Most of this occurred while I was away during our annual summer vacation on the Gulf.
In a matter of days my business world had turned upside down.
I was stunned, demoralized and frankly frozen in state of absolute denial. There was simply no way these people would do this and do so in this manner. No way.
What made the situation hardest to swallow was learning who the culprits were behind it all which turned out to be most of our upper level management team, nearly every key sales rep and most of our administrative staff. To add to it, the owner of this new agency was our own insurance MGA (Master General Agent)! An MGA is basically a mentor to a GA (General Agent) which is what he had been to us for the last few years. We had become good friends and even had a summer vacation planned together in Mexico. Needless to say, that trip was cancelled. Just two weeks before all of this he and I personally met to discuss some concerns and issues going forward. I even asked him if he had any intentions of competing with me and setting up his own call room. He totally denied the idea and reassured me he wanted no part of running one and that we in fact were the "marketing geniuses".
The other leader, was our Operations Officer who resigned suddenly just a few weeks prior to all of this. He and I had become personal friends and talked nearly daily about sports, kids and God. I considered him one of my best friends. He worked for us for nearly 6 years and lived right around the corner. When we got back from the gulf coast he was the first one I met with. At the time he acted shocked at all we had learned about this new business and claimed to have no part in setting it all up. Weeks later he became the president and co-owner of the operation and in fact, had lied to me about it all.
Following them were other long term employees, some with nearly 10 years of working with Chris and I. One of them was even Chris' brother-in-law. My wife put it best, when she said one night, "the only person you can trust in that office right now is Chris." She was right. Over the coming weeks, another 10-12 employees would leave assuming the "grass was greener". In total we went from nearly 50 employees to around 15 in about 30 days time. Sales went down the drain, morale was gone, fear was running rampant and Chris and I were in an emotional tailspin.
Shock does not even come close to describing the way Chris and I were feeling. Betrayed, hurt, angry, confused, worried and determined were all apart of the emotional pot being brewed each and every day. I hated going to the office, fearing what I would learn, who else had left and what this other new business was doing behind our backs.
A few employees involved in this scheme hid their involvement so they could remain on staff with us while working on this new business down the street. We later discovered hundreds of internal documents being sent from our offices to their personal email accounts for use at this new location! On top of that, they were calling the few employees we had left attempting to recruit them by telling them we were "going out of business" or that "this ship was sinking so get off now". It was unreal.
This new business didn't just started a competing location. That's just business. Rather, this new business had stolen nearly all of our people, all of our business contacts, business materials, training documents, scripts, marketing concepts and the like. Our name is Equal Health & Life. Their name is United Health & Life. Lacking any ability to be creative on their own, they simply took our "Coke formula" in an attempt to short cut a road to financial success. They were merely a mirror image of the company Chris and I had worked to build over an eight year period. Starting a competing business is one thing, but stealing nearly a decade of trade secrets, operational theories, documents, contacts and the like is a whole new level of deceit.
In a matter of days, they stole it all.
Now Chris and I were facing our biggest challenge yet. Our faith was really all we had left. Even the entrepreneurial spirit we had leaned on for years together was wiped out. There wasn't anything left but prayer.
And, that's when God stepped in and made Romans 8:28 come to life right before our eyes.
About three weeks into the ordeal we began to see a silver lining in the situation and He began to do and reveal things to us that still blow my mind. While reading through Leviticus one night of all things, a verse jumped out at me. God spoke as clear as day that He and He alone would make things right and, they would pay for their actions.
We recently learned our MGA behind all of this had been acting illegally in his home state and most others. He was acting without a license, his health insurance products were determined to be illegitimate and the state took over control of his operations and bank accounts. We immediately moved all of our customers to a new provider and things quickly improved. Customers began telling us just how terrible they had been treated by his company. Truth was coming out daily. A win-win lawsuit had been laid in our laps at the same time against a very large insurance company he was representing. After a month of them denying everything we had been telling them about him and them trying to come after us, they finally admitted we were correct. Sorry Charlie. A little too late. (Lawsuit City is likely a stop in our future.)
Not even 90 days later, our vision for the future is brighter than ever. We have renewed energy, a new office, better management, a stronger staff, a more cautious approach, leaner finances and a great new insurance provider in Assurant Health. Just last week we won a big contest for the numbers of new clients we have brought on over the last 90 days -during all of this! If we stay focused, 2010 can be our best year yet. Yes, God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good.
I never knew how bad betrayal really was. I never understood how Jesus felt when his close and only real friends let him down and denied their connection to him. But, now I do.
I pray I never do the same to someone else.
I have a good idea, I never will.
"God spoke to Moses: "When anyone sins by betraying trust with God by deceiving his neighbor regarding something entrusted to him, or by robbing or cheating or threatening him; or if he has found something lost and lies about it and swears falsely regarding any of these sins that people commonly commit—when he sins and is found guilty, he must return what he stole or extorted, restore what was entrusted to him, return the lost thing he found, or anything else about which he swore falsely. He must make full compensation, add twenty percent to it, and hand it over to the owner..." Leviticus 8:1-5 (the Message)
© 2009, J. Brady
”I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
Saturday, August 15, 2009
People Watching is a Sport
Airports fascinate me. Not just because of the incredible technology that is invoked each and every day to keep these places in action, but mainly because of the people that transverse the terminals headed quickly (in most cases) from here to there.
As I sat in the San Fransisco airport waiting on a flight home, I found myself with about two hours to kill. Nothing like watching and listening to people in one of the most diverse international transportation hubs in the nation to pass the time. People from all likes, appearances, nations and ages speedily filtered across the mundane walkways of this small airport.
My mind wondered to such thoughts:
- where is he/she headed?
- who do they know?
- wonder what's going on good or bad in their lives right now
- what's it like where they are from?
- what do they believe? Do they know the Lord?
- have they been on America's Most Wanted?
But one thought always sticks me the most - I will never see that person ever again, and have no idea who they are yet God sees knows everything about them and sees them each and every day.
That's what boggles my mind the most. So many people, from so many different parts of our incredible planet, connected to so many things I will never know, and yet that one person walking by me right now represents a life I will never know and never run across again.
Yet God does.
Amazing.
Sometimes I wish I could tap into His "global view" for just 30 seconds; see everyone and instantly know them and their lives in completeness just like I do my wife.
Right before I packed up and jumped on the place back to DFW, I watched a father and his young 3 year old daughter interact a few seats over. They were likely from Europe with strong accents and I over heard him telling her they would be home soon and mommy was waiting.
She wanted some cookies. He wanted her to behave. Perfect scenario. He struck a win-win deal (in his mind!) and she quickly agreed to his naive terms. One cookie, for one quiet airplane ride. Instantly I wondered how cool it would be to tag along as a bug on his jacket and see how his deal worked out. Lord knows they rarely do for me...
But if nothing more, it reminded me that people are people. Regardless of race, looks, age, occupation, or nationality, we all have places to be, people to see and things we love.
And like this man with his little girl, I too couldn't wait to get home.
"Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land: "May you prosper greatly" Daniel 6:25
As I sat in the San Fransisco airport waiting on a flight home, I found myself with about two hours to kill. Nothing like watching and listening to people in one of the most diverse international transportation hubs in the nation to pass the time. People from all likes, appearances, nations and ages speedily filtered across the mundane walkways of this small airport.
My mind wondered to such thoughts:
- where is he/she headed?
- who do they know?
- wonder what's going on good or bad in their lives right now
- what's it like where they are from?
- what do they believe? Do they know the Lord?
- have they been on America's Most Wanted?
But one thought always sticks me the most - I will never see that person ever again, and have no idea who they are yet God sees knows everything about them and sees them each and every day.
That's what boggles my mind the most. So many people, from so many different parts of our incredible planet, connected to so many things I will never know, and yet that one person walking by me right now represents a life I will never know and never run across again.
Yet God does.
Amazing.
Sometimes I wish I could tap into His "global view" for just 30 seconds; see everyone and instantly know them and their lives in completeness just like I do my wife.
Right before I packed up and jumped on the place back to DFW, I watched a father and his young 3 year old daughter interact a few seats over. They were likely from Europe with strong accents and I over heard him telling her they would be home soon and mommy was waiting.
She wanted some cookies. He wanted her to behave. Perfect scenario. He struck a win-win deal (in his mind!) and she quickly agreed to his naive terms. One cookie, for one quiet airplane ride. Instantly I wondered how cool it would be to tag along as a bug on his jacket and see how his deal worked out. Lord knows they rarely do for me...
But if nothing more, it reminded me that people are people. Regardless of race, looks, age, occupation, or nationality, we all have places to be, people to see and things we love.
And like this man with his little girl, I too couldn't wait to get home.
"Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land: "May you prosper greatly" Daniel 6:25
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
The King of Pop Idolized in Death
Everyone will remember exactly where they were when they heard the news.
The King of Pop was dead.
Like the death of Elvis, the assassination of John F Kennedy or the events on 9/11, the moment in time when the learned that the crazy life of Michael Jackson had ended will forever be stuck on pause.
I was on the far west end of Galveston Island taking a break from a long day in H
ouston when my wife texted me the news. Having grown up listen to his Thriller album on cassette tape about 1 million times, I had a strange intertwined feeling of sadness and expectancy.
The kid from the famed “Jackson Five” thrown into stardom before most are allowed to be left alone at home, Michael Jackson never knew life the way the rest of the world does.
He could sing. He could dance. He set records. He invented style. He was incredible.
Yet, he was alone and troubled the entire time.
From allegations of child molestations, financial troubles in the millions, to drug use that riddled his body with needle holes and finally ended his life, the man who seemed to have it all, had nothing.
His was really not a life that should have been celebrated. Millions watched his funeral like he was Christ himself. People cried and nearly christened him with perfection. Celebrities stumbled over themselves trying to grab the spotlight. Even in death Michael Jackson created hysteria.
Instead the world should have paused to think. If a man-child like him could have had so much but have so little it’s pretty clear what his story reveals.
We all need God.
Like many others since his death I have spent some time updating my Itunes with many of Jackson’s hits. It’s just next time I hear his songs, I will think about what his life could have really meant and how sad it is that he is gone.
“Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 2:11
© 2009, J. Brady
”I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
The King of Pop was dead.
Like the death of Elvis, the assassination of John F Kennedy or the events on 9/11, the moment in time when the learned that the crazy life of Michael Jackson had ended will forever be stuck on pause.
I was on the far west end of Galveston Island taking a break from a long day in H
ouston when my wife texted me the news. Having grown up listen to his Thriller album on cassette tape about 1 million times, I had a strange intertwined feeling of sadness and expectancy.The kid from the famed “Jackson Five” thrown into stardom before most are allowed to be left alone at home, Michael Jackson never knew life the way the rest of the world does.
He could sing. He could dance. He set records. He invented style. He was incredible.
Yet, he was alone and troubled the entire time.
From allegations of child molestations, financial troubles in the millions, to drug use that riddled his body with needle holes and finally ended his life, the man who seemed to have it all, had nothing.
His was really not a life that should have been celebrated. Millions watched his funeral like he was Christ himself. People cried and nearly christened him with perfection. Celebrities stumbled over themselves trying to grab the spotlight. Even in death Michael Jackson created hysteria.
Instead the world should have paused to think. If a man-child like him could have had so much but have so little it’s pretty clear what his story reveals.
We all need God.
Like many others since his death I have spent some time updating my Itunes with many of Jackson’s hits. It’s just next time I hear his songs, I will think about what his life could have really meant and how sad it is that he is gone.
“Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 2:11
© 2009, J. Brady
”I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Just a Guy Next to Me on a Plane
I love sports. So it only makes sense that God would use a sports tie-in to get me to slow down a little and do some introspection.
I was on a plane headed out to attend The Masters golf classic in the spring of 2009. One of our insurance providers had given my business partner and me some free passes and a free mansion to stay in for being top producers. "Hard work and success sure has its privileges!" I was secretly saying to myself. (Yea, I was a little proud of the moment.)
Normally when I get on a plane I try and chill or stay busy reading, listening to my Ipod or even working via my Iphone, but lately, I have found myself at least attempting to engage conversation with those seated near me. It has lead to some interesting meetings. The kind when you get off the plane you think to yourself, “I will never see him/her ever again in my life more than likely, but that was cool.” They go on their merry way with their own to-do lists and personal objections, while you head out to do yours.
So goes life.
On this particular flight however, God led me to a really neat man in his early 50s. I quickly learned he was a Christian and we instantly had a great connection. Turned out he was a former pastor who had entered the business banking world. Evidently work as a pastor nearly drove him into the grave. He loved the Lord, but his workaholic nature nearly cost him everything he loved outside of the church. Through some prompting, God called him to retire from fulltime ministry and moved him into the business world. As a result his business experience has led him back to help churches financially. Now he gets to reach out to those in the business world as well as those back in the church arena.
I chuckled when he told me that and said, “that’s how God does it!’
After sharing with him some of my similar thoughts and experiences in business and in ministry, he strongly urged me to a read a book called “Halftime” by Robert Buford. I am a big reader so I told him I would look it up especially after he told me some about its premise.
A little while later, we exchanged cards, shook hands and our lives parted ways. I tell myself I am going to email him one day, but something tells me that the only transaction God had in store that day was for me to read that book.
Not more than a few weeks later I did just that and it changed my life and my perspective forever.
I will be turning 40 in just a few months and my mind has already been working on me about it. People say that whoever you are going to be and whatever legacy you leave behind is established between the ages of 40-50. I have been thinking about the things behind me now and the things ahead. The future looks bright but I sure don't want to screw things up.
God is good. A simple book recommend by a simple man sitting next to me has given me some great insight into all God wants from me. The funny thing is, all God asked me to do was be nice to the guy next door.
All just a reminder, that God still works in ways we tend to overlook. Keep an eye out. He just might use the person next to you.
“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2
© 2009, J. Brady
”I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
FOR MORE ABOUT HALFTIME: http://www.halftime.org/
I was on a plane headed out to attend The Masters golf classic in the spring of 2009. One of our insurance providers had given my business partner and me some free passes and a free mansion to stay in for being top producers. "Hard work and success sure has its privileges!" I was secretly saying to myself. (Yea, I was a little proud of the moment.)
Normally when I get on a plane I try and chill or stay busy reading, listening to my Ipod or even working via my Iphone, but lately, I have found myself at least attempting to engage conversation with those seated near me. It has lead to some interesting meetings. The kind when you get off the plane you think to yourself, “I will never see him/her ever again in my life more than likely, but that was cool.” They go on their merry way with their own to-do lists and personal objections, while you head out to do yours.
So goes life.
On this particular flight however, God led me to a really neat man in his early 50s. I quickly learned he was a Christian and we instantly had a great connection. Turned out he was a former pastor who had entered the business banking world. Evidently work as a pastor nearly drove him into the grave. He loved the Lord, but his workaholic nature nearly cost him everything he loved outside of the church. Through some prompting, God called him to retire from fulltime ministry and moved him into the business world. As a result his business experience has led him back to help churches financially. Now he gets to reach out to those in the business world as well as those back in the church arena.
I chuckled when he told me that and said, “that’s how God does it!’
After sharing with him some of my similar thoughts and experiences in business and in ministry, he strongly urged me to a read a book called “Halftime” by Robert Buford. I am a big reader so I told him I would look it up especially after he told me some about its premise.
A little while later, we exchanged cards, shook hands and our lives parted ways. I tell myself I am going to email him one day, but something tells me that the only transaction God had in store that day was for me to read that book.
Not more than a few weeks later I did just that and it changed my life and my perspective forever.
I will be turning 40 in just a few months and my mind has already been working on me about it. People say that whoever you are going to be and whatever legacy you leave behind is established between the ages of 40-50. I have been thinking about the things behind me now and the things ahead. The future looks bright but I sure don't want to screw things up.
God is good. A simple book recommend by a simple man sitting next to me has given me some great insight into all God wants from me. The funny thing is, all God asked me to do was be nice to the guy next door.
All just a reminder, that God still works in ways we tend to overlook. Keep an eye out. He just might use the person next to you.
“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2
© 2009, J. Brady
”I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
FOR MORE ABOUT HALFTIME: http://www.halftime.org/
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Online Social Hubbubs All the Rage
As I have reconnected with friends and associates from the past 39 years of my life over the wonderful website Facebook (FB), sometimes it is just incredible just to take a moment and think about the various paths everyone has taken in life.
Though some friends remain close all of our lives most of us have "phases" in life in which we run with different groups of people. Mine include growing up in Houston, high school at DeSoto, attending Howard Payne and Baylor, living in Fort Worth, working with Excel in the mid 90s, the singles department at Fielder Road and finally my current life in Mansfield and working with Equal Health.
In some instances decades have gone by with little or no contact with many of these old friends and it’s a real shock (and mostly pleasure) when those connections are remade through various social hubbubs like FB. Recently I spent some time on a college friends FB page looking at their photos and reading about their lives. Over 18 years ago we hung out nearly every day as irresponsible, fun loving, college kids. Since then adulthood took over and now here we are back in touch; kids, families and professions in tow along with us. He likely has hours full of stories and events he has experienced that I am clueless about and the same with me. Yet, once communications start up, it is as if those years never occurred.
As I near 40 I am already working on my planned mid-life crisis. It’s gonna be a party like 1999 (though more than likely I will be in bed right after Letterman’s monologue if not before). Catching up with all of these people spread out all over the nation and some even further away, it is humbling. Life just goes too fast. Next thing you know we’ll be sharing stories about being grandparents.
Oops…some already can.
Facebook is great. It makes me laugh at the days of old, smile at the good things of today, work towards making tomorrow incredible, and think deeply about how it will all wind down.
Life is good, but God is better. Let’s make this the best day of the rest of our lives.
"Love each other with a warm love that comes from the heart. After all, you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth. As a result you have sincere love for each other." 1 Peter 1:22
(c) 2009, J. Brady Speers
"I say it as I see it and I make no bones about it!"
Though some friends remain close all of our lives most of us have "phases" in life in which we run with different groups of people. Mine include growing up in Houston, high school at DeSoto, attending Howard Payne and Baylor, living in Fort Worth, working with Excel in the mid 90s, the singles department at Fielder Road and finally my current life in Mansfield and working with Equal Health.
In some instances decades have gone by with little or no contact with many of these old friends and it’s a real shock (and mostly pleasure) when those connections are remade through various social hubbubs like FB. Recently I spent some time on a college friends FB page looking at their photos and reading about their lives. Over 18 years ago we hung out nearly every day as irresponsible, fun loving, college kids. Since then adulthood took over and now here we are back in touch; kids, families and professions in tow along with us. He likely has hours full of stories and events he has experienced that I am clueless about and the same with me. Yet, once communications start up, it is as if those years never occurred.
As I near 40 I am already working on my planned mid-life crisis. It’s gonna be a party like 1999 (though more than likely I will be in bed right after Letterman’s monologue if not before). Catching up with all of these people spread out all over the nation and some even further away, it is humbling. Life just goes too fast. Next thing you know we’ll be sharing stories about being grandparents.
Oops…some already can.
Facebook is great. It makes me laugh at the days of old, smile at the good things of today, work towards making tomorrow incredible, and think deeply about how it will all wind down.
Life is good, but God is better. Let’s make this the best day of the rest of our lives.
"Love each other with a warm love that comes from the heart. After all, you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth. As a result you have sincere love for each other." 1 Peter 1:22
(c) 2009, J. Brady Speers
"I say it as I see it and I make no bones about it!"
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Remember When? Easter Should Remind You
Sometimes it's good for us to remember...
Remember when you talked behind the back of someone you really cared about?
Remember when you stretched the truth just a little to make yourself look good?
Remember when you laughed when someone was being made fun of?
Remember when you said those words you wish now you could have back?
Remember the stupid fight you caused to prove a point not worth proving?
Remember when you promised God you'd do this, or that, if He would only....
Remember when you cussed out the car that cut in front of you in rush hour?
Remember when you tore down someone's dreams by telling them they'd never make it?
Remember when you felt so jealous of the things your best friend accomplished?
Remember when you said you pray for them...only to fail to really do it?
Remember when you took credit for something that you didn't do?
Remember when you didn't answer the phone when you knew someone needed your ear?
Remember when you didn't tithe or give more because there was something you really wanted?
Remember when you were so insecure you did things with someone you wish you could forget?
Remember when you felt so helpless and dirty?
Remember when you just wish you could forgive and forget?
Remember when you didn't let go and let God?
Remember when you were in need of someone to save you and He did?
Do you remember when?
Be reminded this Easter Sunday, because I can assure you He didn't forget. He slept in your tomb so all of these things you could forget and never remember again.
You need Him, remember?
"This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 1 Corinthians 11:23-25
You need Him, remember?
"This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 1 Corinthians 11:23-25
© 2000, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Poof! From Babies to Little Kids
I didn’t hear the warnings.
Mom, dad, my sister and many friends around me told me this would happen too.
It was around 5am one morning when it all hit me. Our son was struggling through a stomach virus and woke up early needing some love and attention, and most importantly, a bottle. I headed upstairs to tend to him when it dawned on me that I didn’t get to do this very much anymore with any of my kids. Our twin daughters used to love it when daddy rocked them to sleep. My wife Julie certainly got to do it more than I, but they seemed to soak it in the first few years when it was my turn. Today, they are closing in on 4 years old and the rockings have nearly stopped. Every now and then I can slow them down enough to cuddle with them while watching the latest "Wiggles” or “Elmo”. But it’s still nothing like the days of holding them both as they were wrapped up like little human burritos in a soft blankie.
Our son is approaching 2 years old and he is getting more and more independent by the day. We already missed out on months of being able to rock and comfort him since he was adopted when he was 9 months old. This makes the times in the rocker even more special. He never slows down enough to let me do much rocking at all. It was about the only sliver of joy that came out of him being as sick as he was.
That night was special. The cold air was buzzing around outside and our heaters were humming, working hard to prepare for the annual Texas ice-storm that was about to blow in. I knew it was going to be a long day anyway so I figured before it all got rolling I would enjoy holding my little boy. He snuggled close, wrapped up in his Dallas Cowboys blanket just as I had dreamed the son I would have would years ago. It wasn’t long before his breathing was deep and little snores made their way to my ears. I just kept rocking.
Just a few hours later, the house awoke with a blur of activity; making breakfast, getting kids dressed, checking the news, taking out the trash, taking showers and the likes. I soon headed to work where business consumed me quickly.
Those few moments in the “rock-rock” might have been some of the last for me but that brief time spent with Quinn in my arms in the glider won’t soon be forgotten. God willing, Julie and I are happy with having just three kids. It means the days of the diapers, late night bottle feedings, and sadly, the need for being rocked are slowing fading away. In one sense we are excited to move past it. Yet in another it makes me realize I will never be a parent in that way again.
I’m just amazed at how fast life truly goes by.
Poof! My babies are now all little kids.
And though I’ve heard the warnings today about what is around the corner for tomorrow I am not sure I won’t be just as surprised.
“Children are a blessing from the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is His reward.” Psalms 127:3
© 2009, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
Mom, dad, my sister and many friends around me told me this would happen too.
It was around 5am one morning when it all hit me. Our son was struggling through a stomach virus and woke up early needing some love and attention, and most importantly, a bottle. I headed upstairs to tend to him when it dawned on me that I didn’t get to do this very much anymore with any of my kids. Our twin daughters used to love it when daddy rocked them to sleep. My wife Julie certainly got to do it more than I, but they seemed to soak it in the first few years when it was my turn. Today, they are closing in on 4 years old and the rockings have nearly stopped. Every now and then I can slow them down enough to cuddle with them while watching the latest "Wiggles” or “Elmo”. But it’s still nothing like the days of holding them both as they were wrapped up like little human burritos in a soft blankie.
Our son is approaching 2 years old and he is getting more and more independent by the day. We already missed out on months of being able to rock and comfort him since he was adopted when he was 9 months old. This makes the times in the rocker even more special. He never slows down enough to let me do much rocking at all. It was about the only sliver of joy that came out of him being as sick as he was.
That night was special. The cold air was buzzing around outside and our heaters were humming, working hard to prepare for the annual Texas ice-storm that was about to blow in. I knew it was going to be a long day anyway so I figured before it all got rolling I would enjoy holding my little boy. He snuggled close, wrapped up in his Dallas Cowboys blanket just as I had dreamed the son I would have would years ago. It wasn’t long before his breathing was deep and little snores made their way to my ears. I just kept rocking.
Just a few hours later, the house awoke with a blur of activity; making breakfast, getting kids dressed, checking the news, taking out the trash, taking showers and the likes. I soon headed to work where business consumed me quickly.
Those few moments in the “rock-rock” might have been some of the last for me but that brief time spent with Quinn in my arms in the glider won’t soon be forgotten. God willing, Julie and I are happy with having just three kids. It means the days of the diapers, late night bottle feedings, and sadly, the need for being rocked are slowing fading away. In one sense we are excited to move past it. Yet in another it makes me realize I will never be a parent in that way again.
I’m just amazed at how fast life truly goes by.
Poof! My babies are now all little kids.
And though I’ve heard the warnings today about what is around the corner for tomorrow I am not sure I won’t be just as surprised.
“Children are a blessing from the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is His reward.” Psalms 127:3
© 2009, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
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