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Mission 227: Jamaica

April 30, 2012 · 2 Comments

Mission 227 lands in Jamaica this week. It’s not because I have ministry contacts there. It’s not because I read about some missionaries there either. My mind is on Jamaica this week because my son Cliff is there with his bride Amanda on their HONEYMOON!

Yep, we had a wedding last Friday night. It was a beautiful service and a lively reception. It was everything the lovely couple had planned and more. We are so proud and so blessed. This past weekend was definitely one of the best ever.

In 61 days, we get to do it again when my daughter Bailey gets married on June 30.

Our kids are such a blessing to us. If your children are still young, don’t fret them growing older. It’s been fun watching them grow up. It’s incredible watching your prayers get answered right before your eyes. I remember praying for Amanda when Cliff was only a few weeks old. I would rock him to sleep in his nursery in Fort Worth, Texas praying for a little girl somewhere in the world who would one day be his wife. In fact, in the mid-1980′s a singer named Wayne Watson sang a song called Somewhere in the World about that very thing. It was a prayer for his little boy and an unknown girl somewhere out there. Watch this video. It’s 3:30 minutes long. It always makes me cry.

If you’re a parent, I would strongly encourage you to make this kind of prayer a normal part of your life – even if your baby is still in diapers. You’ll be amazed one day when you see your prayers come true.

I’ve made a contribution to Habitat for Humanity Jamaica today as I continue to follow the breadcrumbs on Mission 227.

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Why Passion is Important: Influence

April 26, 2012 · 2 Comments

Chris Guillebeau and friends

(This is the third installment of a twelve part series on passion.)

Chris Guillebeau has nearly reached his goal of traveling to every country in the world before his 35th birthday. He will accomplish his mission this year. Along the way, he has written two books, several e-books and e-courses, hosted a successful conference, gained thousands of subscribers to his website and picked up over 74,000 followers on Twitter. His journey as an online entrepreneur has flourished while he’s been accumulating and using lots of frequent flier miles.

Chris is passionate about seeing the world and sharing his adventures with others. His passion makes him interesting. How many people do you know who make a living online while traveling the world, staying sane, and happily married?

Because Chris has attracted thousands of readers with his interesting lifestyle, he has also become extremely influential as a writer and a traveler. Need inspiration to get up early and write every day? Chris does it after sleeping on airport terminal floors. Need to know how to fly cheap or free? Chris has learned how to be a travel hack and he can teach you how too. Want to know how to start your own business and be your own boss? Chris has been doing it for years. His new book, The $100 Startup, will tell you.

Passion makes you INTERESTING and, therefore, INFLUENTIAL. Passion is ATTRACTIVE and MAGNETIC. Passion rubs off on people. It inspires not only you (see previous post) but it inspires others to dream, reach, and aspire toward lofty goals.

The interesting thing about Chris is he’s not an obnoxious, extroverted online salesman. He’s a quiet, reserved, humble, introverted gentleman who would rather give others the spotlight. (Read my review of his WDS conference and you’ll see what I mean.)

Chris is a great example of how influential passion can be. By following his own passions and dreams, he has influenced thousands to do the same. When you are passionate, you are magnetic. People are drawn to you. They begin to watch you and follow your every move. At that point, you have the ability to influence people with your passion.

Hopefully, you will use your influence for good.

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Mission 227: Honduras

April 23, 2012 · Leave a Comment

As I follow the breadcrumbs to accomplish Mission 227, I went to bed last night knowing that it was time for another addition to the mission but I didn’t have a clue what country would be next. When I looked at my desk this morning, I noticed that Beth put a newsletter there from some missionary contacts in Honduras. When I saw it sitting there, it was obvious that I’d be going back to Central America this morning.

T.R. and Rhonda Sweeney have given their life to the people of Honduras for many years. Rhonda works as a nurse and T.R. has a communications ministry. The Sweeney’s also have a scholarship program for elementary school children that provides uniforms, shoes, a jacket, PE suit, books, notebooks, and supplies for the whole year.

A new ministry on the horizon for T.R. and Rhonda this year is a group of scavengers called the “doomed” or, in Spanish, “damnificados.” These people live on the outskirts of town living by what they can pick out of the city dump. Obviously, it is a daily struggle to survive.

I don’t have a personal connection with everyone that I connect with re: Mission 227 but I did meet T.R. and Rhonda several years ago. T.R. is a big man with a big heart for God and his people. Rhonda is his smarter, wiser sidekick. (TR will laugh and agree with that.) Together, they make a great team!

This is a couple that, unlike most missionary couples, did not fly to their final destination. They drove their SUV from Georgia to Honduras! That ride by itself is full of great stories, I’m sure.

So, today I’m making a contribution to the Sweeney’s ministry in Honduras. Connect with them on their Facebook page to learn more about their work.

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Why Passion is Important: Inspiration

April 19, 2012 · 1 Comment

Passion Hurts

Last Monday, I wrote that passion gives you the ability to focus. When you are focused, you have purpose. Passion brings clarity to your life. It creates a target to aim for and a bullseye to hit.

Here’s a second reason why passion is important:

Passion INSPIRES. Passion is MOTIVATING. It ENERGIZES you.

Passion causes you to get up early in the morning when you’re not a morning person. Passion drives you to work hard and study more. Passion turns 14 hour days into 4 hour days. When you are in your sweet spot, time flies. There isn’t enough time to do everything you want to do.

The most common definition of passion would be defined this way: “a powerful or compelling emotion or feeling; something that creates strong desire and pleasure.”

While that is not inaccurate, the true meaning of passion is much deeper. Passion is from the Latin word “passio” which means “to suffer.” It is what you hunger for so intensely that you will sacrifice anything to have it.

Read that paragraph again.

To be passionate for something is to be willing to suffer for it.

Why do you think they call it “The Passion of the Christ?” The Passion is the Christian theological term used for the events and suffering – physical, spiritual, and mental – of Jesus in the hours before and including his trial and execution by crucifixion.

If you are willing to suffer for something, that is inspiring. Your passion for a person, cause, movement, or product motivates you and energizes you.

Don’t confuse passion with interest. A person may say they are passionate about Pinterest. No, they’re probably interested in Pinterest. They love looking at Pinterest and making things seen on Pinterest but I don’t believe they are willing to suffer for Pinterest. If a man says he’s passionate about his favorite college football team is he saying he’s willing to suffer for it?

Passion can be seen in the worn, cracked, bleeding fingers of a 15-year-old boy learning to play the guitar. He is motivated to suffer through the pain because he desperately wants to become a skilled musician. Passion can be seen in the calloused and blistered feet of a ballet dancer who for the love of her art continues to spin, jump, and twirl for hours on end. Passion can be seen in the bloodshot eyes of an artist who drinks lots of coffee, keeps late hours, and deprives herself of sleep for the love of her art.

Passion is so deep, so convicting, and so strong that it motivates and inspires you to tackle the issue and work on it until it’s done. It could last for a season or it could last for a lifetime. It will be difficult at times. It will make you sweat. It may cause you to think about quitting. It can lead to times of depression. It will lead to times of great joy. It will bring incredible satisfaction. Whatever it is and however long it lasts, you will be energized by your passion and, with God’s help, that energy will see you through.

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Why Passion is Important

April 16, 2012 · 9 Comments

Passion gives you focus

Both of my children are getting married soon. My son will be married in less than two weeks and my daughter in just over two months. As they grew up in our home, I would tell them on occasion to “find something you love to do and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

In other words, seek and find your passion in life. Passion is important for many reasons. Over the next few weeks, I want to present to you 12 reasons why passion is important.

I’ve been in leadership positions for my entire adult life. As a teacher, coach, and pastor, I’ve read a lot of books on leadership. I’ve heard a lot of talks about leading others at conferences and workshops and I’ve had many opportunities to teach leadership principles myself. A common theme among leaders is passion. Many leaders begin with passion. Without passion, there is no leadership.

I have to be honest. Over the years, I’ve heard so much about passion that I think the topic has been watered down. Sometimes I wonder if passion is over taught and overstated in such a way that it loses its effect on people.

I know I’ve reached points where I was sick of hearing about passion.

But it is passion that makes things happen, whether you’re talking about Mother Teresa, Steve Jobs, Walt Disney, or Billy Graham. Passion is a major foundational core that can be found deep inside almost every leader.

So why is passion so important? Here is the first of 12 reasons (in no particular order):

1. Passion gives you the ability to FOCUS. Passion gives PURPOSE and CLARITY.

At the end of my freshman year of college, I was floundering. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. I didn’t know what major to declare. I wasn’t interested in the classes I was taking.

In a moment of desperation as I was studying for final exams in the college library late one night, I bowed my head and asked God to reveal to me what I should do with my life.

It was one of the few times in my life when God clearly spoke to me.

It all came together in a matter of seconds. I was an athlete. I loved sports. I loved teaching and influencing teenagers. “Turn the things you’re passionate about into a career,” God said in an almost audible voice. It was an epiphany.

The next morning I immediately went to my advisor and changed my major to Physical Education/Coaching. From that point on, I made good grades. In fact, I made the Dean’s List most of my remaining semesters in spite of having to take courses like anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology. I studied harder and with great interest because my passion gave me FOCUS, CLARITY, and PURPOSE.

I had a reason to know every bone and muscle in the body. There was purpose behind my psychology classes. In a flash – in just a moment of inspiration in a college library – my passion came to me and gave me the ability to FOCUS over the next several years.

Until another calling came later…I’ll share that story another day.

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