We have a weekly parenting class at our church here in Summerville, SC. Currently, we are learning about AWANA and adopting the same principles that it uses to reach children to our own homes. This week we covered game time.

I know, I know…”So what!”

Here is the part that got me. The games that we play with our kids are fun but the really good games all tend to have one thing in common. They all help build our imagination. Possibly the biggest problem with most television and games we watch, they all tend to hand us the things that is usually left to our imagination.

Games like soccer, football, bowling, golf, chess, scrabble, Wii, Candyland, etc. all build so many good characteristics in our children. If you’re like me you totally overlooked the imagination connection. Sure they help us relate to each other and build strong relationships but on top of all that have you ever considered how it effected our relationship with God? I had never even took the time to consider the spiritual side effect of a good imagination.

Read Psalm 139: 1-16 and you will find words that can only be imagined. Somethings are just indescribable in our language because it just doesn’t exist.

God has given each of us some incredible imaginations. Sometimes, we see the art of imagination out of balance (mental issues) and other times we see it so crippled (wealth and pride) that life becomes bland and hopeless.

So this season when you hear the Christmas story read from Luke 2 again for the millionth time, try to use your imagination and consider how Awesome God truly is.

What games can you say have the greatest impact on a child’s imagination?

Today I finalized my paperwork for the State of South Carolina and officially became the “managing member” of Wingspan Marketing LLC located in Summerville, SC. WOOHOO!!!

It has been a crazy road so far to get to this point but I believe I’m ready to take this new challenge in my life. I have to say that credit is not do to me or anyone else but my Savior. I would have never made these decisions without Him guiding every step of the way. Sometimes it felt like He was smacking my legs to stay on track while others He seemed to be carrying me on His broad shoulders. Ether way, I just wanted to make sure everyone knew that Wingspan Marketing LLC and every project it produces is only done because of a loving and caring God.

Read more about how I feel about this on my company blog WingspanMarketing.com

Waiting.

I was outside with son#2 when I set up challenge for myself. I told Matthew I was going to pitch a golf ball into the cup holder of a lawn chair from about 10 feet.

Impossible? Nope, the hole is bigger than the golf ball and I have had similar luck from 137 yards. I knew all it would take is some trial and error and plenty of chances.

I began to think of the similarities between setting little challenges and setting life goals. I don’t know too many people who live life like they achieve success 100% of the time. On the other hand, I do know many of the same people (including myself) who expect it that much. Maybe you know exactly how I feel then. Like when I think I have failed because something didn’t turn out like I thought it should.
At an M2LIVE conference about a year and a half ago John Saddington and Tony steward were answering some questions when they said: “We aren’t smarter or more talented than you, we’ve just made more mistakes”.

This is so big for me. We learn in life either by experience or by lesson. Both of which require failure in order to learn.

The idea of learning from my mistakes isn’t new to me, the thought of winning from my mistakes was.

There are two things that hit me while thinking about this. They are two essential ingredients that go into success: fun and failure.

From what I can see, in order to succeed at something we should enjoy doing ‘it’ and we should work hard at learning from mistakes.

It may be simple but it takes a God given calling to to be passionate and determined in most jobs.

Just sayin.

This is what it means to sleep like a baby.

See what I mean?

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When I first began blogging I had a few blogs that inspired me every day and taught me how to create a community around my blog. “More Than Useless” was one of the first blogs I remember getting involved with. A few of my readers will remember this blog by Tom McFarlin (@moretom).

Tom produced some incredible articles that drew some great people into inspiring conversations. He now writes for ChurchCode and does a great job! Even still, I can’t say that I have completely forgiven Tom for abandoning us. But, I can’t blame him either. He has moved on to produce some incredible things in the last year.

It is hard to believe that April 2nd will be the one year anniversary of it’s untimely death. Looking back reminds me of some great friendships that begin in the old commenting threads. It might sound like I’m being a little over dramatic to some but those of you who spent time on the blog, I’m sure you understand.

I wanted to post the last article because it seriously encompasses how inspiring this blog really was to some of us. When I think of goals for my blog, I reference what I learned from Tom on “More Than Useless”. Here is the last post that I have saved in my Google Reader for almost a year now. (more…)

Do you remember being at recess and having one of the boys next to you say “What are you waiting for?” This was usually the extra nudge someone (maybe you) needed to do something stupid or awesome.

How about this: “What’s the worst that can happen?” There’s a phrase that has gotten many a kid in trouble at school.

Both of these phrases and so many more like them are used everyday by people trying to persuade someone else to do something that they themselves won’t. They have a good excuse. I’ve caught myself saying it recently to myself.

Funny thing is, I always have a good excuse for why I’m not doing something at 100%. Excuses are easy to come by. They are worth nothing but the hot air they are said with. I’m rethinking some things today based on the question “What are you waiting for?”

I want to be “all in” before it becomes too late and I regret not taking advantage of something awesome in my life.

I was waiting for more time and money to pursue several things. If I had waited for marriage or kids in the same way I’ve been waiting for these things, I’d be a lonely guy.

Take advantage of what you’ve been given today. Don’t wait till the environment, atmosphere, weather, and schedule line up perfectly. Get in there and DO IT!

What are you waiting for?!

P.S. I have no clue who Gwen Stefani is, nor have I heard her song. My blog title was just fitting for the topic at hand. I always Google my page title just to check.

Last night was Monster Jam in Pensacola, Florida.  It turned out to be one of the best events I’ve ever taken my sons to. Every year I want to take my sons to Monster Jam but there are several things that held me back. Each one of those reservations ended up being false assumptions.

So what were my reservations?  Thanks for asking! I’d love to share because I want everyone to experience what my two oldest boys and I experienced at the Monster Jam Pensacola event.

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I cannot believe it has been so long since my last post. Last thing I remember I was planning to go on vacation with my family to Charleston. I figured it would allow me an opportunity to gain some ground on my article writing.

Instead of me gaining ground I have slipped back to square one, almost. What’s up with that? It feels like life has done a roundhouse kick to my forehead.

It is amazing to me to see how something so important (such as this blog has become) can be so easily neglected when things get out of a routine. The contributing factors of my loss of focus have been valuable to me doing this longterm but very time consuming.

I am not yet able to fully disclose what I’m up to exactly but it is exciting to think of the possibilities for me and my family.

Outside of a huge family disaster, what types of things have prevented you from keeping your routine?