I Can Clothing Co and Team ICAN Blog

Fresh Kaufee

2011-07-16T15:29:00.000-07:00

A Day in the Life from Fresh Kaufee on Vimeo.

Blog Interview - A ”LIFT” In Life

2011-06-16T19:17:00.000-07:00

You all always hear me always talk about my running experiences and what it means to me in my life. I've expressed many times that I understand that everyone doesn't like to run and that's okay. The running experiences and successes God allows me to achieve through running give me strength and encouragement to apply those same skills to other aspects of my life.

I had the privilege to interview Brian who has just started training in the sport of all-natural weight lifting. Brian was sharing with me about his weight training which I thought would be a great opportunity to hear a different perspective from someone else who is involved in athletics and reaping the benefits throughout his life.

A: For starters, what is “all-natural” weight lifting? Does it mean you can take supplements just no ‘roids?

B: Good question! The sport of Natural bodybuilding is exactly the same as ‘regular’ bodybuilding except competitors cannot take banned substances including steroids, testosterone, growth hormones and/or illegal fat burners.

Natural competitors must constantly monitor and modify their diets, weight training and cardio to get into shape and this can be considerably harder without the extra ‘help’.

A: How did you get started?

B: Well, actually I’m still getting started. I’m building a foundation of muscle size, density and endurance that will allow me to compete in 2-3 years. My legs need some serious work (Thanks, Genetics!).

I’ve always worked out but when I first moved to Pittsburgh, I needed a hobby to further occupy my time outside of work since I knew no one here! Through trial and error, I’ve found that when I have extra time, I get bored and then I get into trouble!

I met a group of natural bodybuilders at my local gym that got me to understand proper form and how to push to the limits. Fortunately, I also met my (now) fiancé who was involved in the Figure aspect of the sport and she taught me how to manage my diet and cardio. When I met her, I weighted 250+ pounds (>25% body fat) and now I’m around 227 pounds (~15% body fat) with much more muscle density.

A: Since its all-natural how do you manage your diet? Is it difficult? Can this be done with a typical grocery budget or more costly?

B: All competitors will tell you that diet is 50-60% of the challenge in this sport. If you work out but consistently eat pizzas, cookies and other bad foods, you are wasting your time and efforts!

Actually, grocery shopping is easier and cheaper but incredibly BORING. Since we eat the same basic items (chicken, brown rice, salads, sweet potatoes, eggs, and oatmeal) every week, we don’t even have a chance to go down the potato chip or candy aisle!

A: Is this a hobby or something you do full-time?

B: This is a hobby. I work full time with >30% travel but I always find time for a workout, even while on the road!

A: Take us through a typical day and/or week of training?

B: Consistency is the key -- I follow this plan every weekday except when I’m on vacation (when I’ll have a few glasses of Pinot Nior!)

6:00am – Wake up, Breakfast (Egg white omelet and oatmeal)

8:00am - Get into work

9:00am – Meal #2 – Chicken breast + Green beans

12:00pm – Meal #3 – Tilapia + Yams

3:00pm – Meal #4 – Protein Shake

5:30pm – Workout (30 min cardio + 1 hr weight training)

7:30pm – Meal #5 – Filet Mignon + Salad w/ Dressing

9:00pm – Snack (Fruit or Cheesestick) + Protein Shake

Rinse and Repeat…

A: How and where do you compete?

B: Again, I’m still building my basic muscle foundation for competing in 2-3 years. My fiancé competed last year in the Figure division (less muscle, more feminine look) and did quite well for her first show!

A: By incorporating this passion of yours into your life what kind of change has it had on your overall life as well those closest to you if any?

B: Due to the bodybuilding lifestyle and my own personal changes, my life is now governed by three principles:

1) Discipline of Diet, Workouts, Cardio and in life (Work, family, etc)

2) Perseverance despite obstacles in the gym (injury) and in life! I no longer allow setbacks at work or at home bother me to the point of giving up.

3) Honesty – It’s so much easier to tell the truth than make up a lie. And cheating on your diet ALWAYS shows up in the mirror.

A: Talk to us about some of the personality traits (i.e. discipline, focus, self control, the “I can” spirit, etc) required to be successful in this sport.

B: I’ve always been relatively successful but only due to natural talent (brains, athleticism, etc) without much discipline. I’ve come to understand that to realize my full potential I needed to refocus on the core principles of Discipline, Perseverance and Honesty.

A: For those interested in getting into this sport, where do they start?

B: Start by enrolling in a local gym less than 5-10 miles from your home (or you won’t go!). Next, do some research on training programs (e.g. bodybuilding.com) and talk to your doctor about an appropriate program to fit your physical needs. Finally, examine your nutrition and do some research on appropriate nutrition programs based on your ‘ideal weight’.

Fundamental Rule: Write EVERYTHING down (e.g. workouts, food intake) and examine them every week for ‘leaks’ (e.g. excess calories, not enough workout intensity).

Good luck!

Brian, thanks for your time and sharing. We wish you nothing but success on the journey to reaching your goal.

New Product Release - Team I CAN Cap

2011-06-13T05:26:00.000-07:00

New Team I CAN Cap - Very light and perfect for the summer.

Tips for Having Custom T-Shirts Printed

2011-06-12T13:53:00.000-07:00

One of our custom tee jobs. 2-color print on 50% polyester/50% cotton tee.

I decided to share a little helpful info to all of you that are in the market for needing custom tees printed. Somehow you've been selected by the church, family reunion, youth track team, etc. "committee" to get t-shirts ordered. So you're saying to yourself..."I've never ordered tees before, what do I need to know and where do I start?"

As a t-shirt designer/printer, I recognize you're entering a realm that can be confusing for the customer and there's a good chance as you start calling around for quotes you're going to get a wide range of new terminology thrown at you with a wide range of pricing....BUT it does not have to be confusing....

WHICH IS WHERE I ENTER THE PICTURE....

My tips will help ease this process for you and allow to fret over some other aspect of your event.....

PRICING - In my experience THE most important client concern. To understand pricing, know what affects your pricing.

Count - How many t-shirts do you want? Its all based on economies of scale, the more tees you buy the cheaper the price per tee.
Color(s) - How many colors are in your design that you want printed? In the above image there are 2 colors being printed to make up the design which are black and white. The fewer colors in your design the cheaper the tee. You guessed it, 1-color is the cheapest!
Print Locations - How many locations are being printed on the shirt? For example, is there a front and back print? Front print, and a print on the sleeve? Each location we print increases the cost. Yes, the cheapest way to go is a 1-location print.
Garment - What are we printing on? Black t-shirt? White t-shirt? Long or short sleeve?...Size?

Dark colored tees are more expensive than white tees. Why? Because I have to pay for dye.
Typically size 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, etc....are more expensive than sizes S-XL. Why? I'm not trying to discriminate against the larger people, its just that it takes more cotton and I incur that cost as well.

ARTWORK - The 2nd biggest concern. I could do a whole blog on artwork but I'll try to keep this short and sweet. We ask for your artwork in a vector so we can scale your artwork, maintain resolution, and separate colors for printing purposes. Any graphic designer you hire to create a design or logo for you should deliver a vector file to you as part of the final delivery. If they tell you they are unable to do it, find another graphic designer.

With that said, when the art is not in a vector format we have to convert it to a printable format. I charge an hourly rate for this process. To avoid this cost, make sure you have vector artwork that is in vector format and ready for printing.

If you do not have a design, we carry a lot of stock artwork ad also have dozens of fonts available for prints that just require text. In these cases you do not need to submit vector artwork.

TIMELINE - How soon do you need your tees? Our typical turnaround is 10 business days on custom jobs from the time artwork is finalized. It helps us when we know your timeline and can plan accordingly. If you do not have artwork allow for extra time.
QUALITY - We at I Can Clothing pride ourselves on the quality of the product we deliver. I'm sorry but we don't specialize in cheap tees. In some cases we may not be the cheapest in town, but we can say you get what you pay for.

We don't like faded tees so we always recommend a 50/50 blended tee of cotton and polyester when printing on a dark colored tee. This blend holds color much better than 100% cotton.
On light colored shirts such as white or gray, we use 100% cotton. You can't fade what's already faded......
These are our professional recommendations but for custom jobs we will use a specific tee if the customer has a preference.

Example of a 2-color (black/white) back print 100% text.

I hope this helps, if you're in need of tees and especially if you're in the DFW Metroplex I'd be glad to meet with you and help determine how we at I Can Clothing Co. can meet and exceed your need apparel needs. You can email us at sales@icanclothing.com.

The Power of a Mantra

2011-06-05T16:20:00.000-07:00

I said the power of mantra, not the power of mothra! Sorry, whenever I think about that word, thoughts of that nasty moth creep in my head.

Anyway, this is for new and old runners and even non-runners. What's a mantra and how can it help me? See definition here. A mantra can be a word and or a phrase that you use for personal motivation.

You've probably heard that a race is 80% mental and 20% physical, therefore making a mental investment in your training can be quite beneficial. Examples of a mantra could be "Kick!", "Glory be to God.", "Life is short."..... I have about 3-4 mantras that I use while I'm racing as well as in daily life. Each one has its own personal meaning to me and serves its own purpose. Here are a few ideas on developing a mantra...

Make sure it means something to YOU. Don't use someone else's mantra just because that's the mantra that works for them.
Develop your mantra(s) over time. As related to running, I developed my mantras while in practice. Just like breaking in a new pair of shoes or trying a different meal, you don't try it for the 1st time on race day. Use that long run or track workout to break them in.
I guess you can have as many as you want. I have a bad memory so I had to stick with just a few.. lol...BUT I will say because I just have a few, they pack a lot of power.
Each mantra serves a different purpose. I have a mantra for when I'm hurting, for when negative thoughts creep in, self doubt, and for when I'm anxious.
To share or not to share. I'd say its up to you, they're very personal and I'd say it just depends on the situation. Use discretion. I don't think I'd tell my biggest competition my mantras...just sayin'!
Use your mantras wisely. Don't pull it out unless you're gonna use it. There has to be direct and immediate action.
Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Mantras are typically repeated multiple times. Use your own judgement as to how many times, repeat as needed.

As I've mentioned before, running is my example because that's what I do, but this applies to all aspects of life and obviously can be applied to your sport. Enjoy.

Fresh Fish

2011-05-30T19:50:00.000-07:00

Tips for a Good Pre-Race Plan

2011-05-30T10:17:00.000-07:00

As I prepared to race at the USATF Southwestern track meet on Saturday, it dawned on me that some of the newer runners out there may not be familiar with having a pre-race plan. I've outlined my pre-race steps and hopefully they can help some of the new comers.

Day before make sure you get a half way decent meal and a good night's sleep. Pretty much self explanatory here, but as you can imagine its probably not a good idea to get trashed the night before a race.
If you can, pack your running stuff the night before or at least allow enough time to grab your gear. My bag consists of:

Towel
Water/Gatorade
A couple of tees, I have a pre- and post tee so I don't have to wear sweaty clothes all day. Layers are good.
Racing singlet
Racing flats and/or spikes
Muscle cream (Ben Gay...) and Vaseline (for those areas that can cause friction.....nuff said)
Electronics - ipod, camera, etc.....

Eat a simple meal approx. 2 hours before race or maybe even earlier. Really depends on you and what kind of stomach you have, I get butterflies pre-race so the earlier I eat the better. Typically my races are in the morning so I have always have a piece of toast and a glass of water. Use the bathroom before you leave too! Its a gamble with those Porto potties!!!
Do you know where you're going? Make sure you have your driving directions and race registration info. Don't forget to bring cash or a check book if you didn't pre-register.
Once I arrive, I immediately wrap-up any final registration required.
Warm up! Typically I'll do a light jog 15-30 minutes and stretch. The trick to this is that you want to time it so that you're nice and loose with a little sweat going just in time for your race.
Pray and have fun!!!

Time to Dust Off the Old Spikes...

2011-05-12T07:32:00.000-07:00

Jesus Piece

2011-05-09T06:39:00.000-07:00

Remember When.....

2011-04-06T20:06:00.000-07:00

Remember when you didn't need a special occasion to wear a shirt and tie?
Remember when vacation bible school was during the day for 2 weeks straight instead of evenings only for one week? "1,2,3, the devil's after me, 4,5,6 he's always throwing bricks, 7,8,9 he missed me every time, hallelujah! hallelujah! hallelujah! I'm saved!!!" Sorry that's the only song I remember : (
Remember when it was cool for the fellas to dance with the ladies in the club? And get sweaty?
Remember when VH1 was THE ONLY music video channel?
Remember when there were more good movies in the theater than bad?
Remember when VHS movies cost like $85? And no, I didn't own any.
Remember when the 1st season of The Real World started? Little did we know it was the birth of a new genre of TV shows that would turn nobodies into somebodies and somebodies into nobodies.....(as I type with Storage Wars on in the background..) Who knew a show about junk collectors bidding on abandoned storage units could be so exciting!!! : \
Remember when cell phones didn't exist and only doctors and dope dealers had pagers?
Remember when everybody knew the neighborhood drunk? Ours was Shoestring. Oh, I forgot about Benny Baby....but I think Benny Baby was on a little more than alcohol......
Remember when every neighborhood had a candy lady? I got 2 words for you, "cool cups".

What's your remember when?

What is Community?

2011-03-13T20:49:00.000-07:00

I was at a business conference last week and the theme was "Community". The question was posed to all of the attendees as to what community means to us.

I raced the St. Paddy's day 5k yesterday and it gave me an opportunity to really think about that question. For me, community is a network of friends and family that support one another on many different fronts. I think a lot of that also depends on each individuals passions and talents.

At the race, it really gave me a chance to recognize my friends and network of people who can maybe be a blessing.

I like it how when God is trying to tell me something, I keep getting the message everywhere I go, from church, to work, to 5k races, etc. I truly want and will play a positive role in my community. God has directed me on the talent/passion piece, now I just have to put together the action. I've outlined the following areas where I can help...

Running - Natural born gift and in some way I'd like to help guide people to a relationship with Christ using this vehicle.
Personal Finances - I'd love to help young adults navigate the world of personal financial management. Our country (government and citizens) in general are financially illiterate. I know, I've been there.
Tutoring - Our kids are the future, I'd like to tutor kids in math and help those especially who may not have someone at home who can assist.

Form here, I will be actively pursuing how to put one or more of these gifts into action. Pray for me.

You can because He did.

AJ

Only In America!

2011-01-05T18:00:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone. I hope you all had a great Christmas and were able to bring in the new year with friends and family. I'm embarassed to say how long its been since I blogged, but hey I promised not to just blog for the sake of blogging...

If you haven't heard of this story, you gotta check this out. A great story on second chances....Last I heard, Ted Williams was trying to get an I.D. from the courthouse so he could board a plane to NYC so he could be on the Today Show tomorrow. I hope it all works out.

Consumers Unite 8: And the winner is...

2010-09-14T16:46:00.001-07:00

Cool site ranking in their opinion the top 1-10 products and services... Check it out... http://www.toptenreviews.com/

TEAM ICAN

2010-08-25T19:02:00.000-07:00

False Friends - Coarse Toys

2010-08-25T18:29:00.000-07:00

Consumers Unite Rule #7: D.I.Y.

2010-08-22T18:15:00.000-07:00

Sometimes if you want something done right and CHEAP, you gotta do it yourself. My wife's SUV recently had one of the LCD digital display panels burn out. It just so happened that I was already taking her vehicle to be serviced at the dealer so I asked my service guy for an estimate for the cost to repair. His response was, "Man..., its so expensive you don't even wanna know, it ain't worth it.". Once I heard that response, I decided to end the conversation right then and there.

So I ended the converation but I didn't give up on fixing the issue. I decided to consult my buddy, the good ole' Internet. After a few minutes of searching, I found a couple of forums on the problem I needed to fix with directions and even photos! I called another local dealer's parts dept. and ordered 3 LCD bulbs for $16. Out of curiosity I did get a quote on labor which would have cost about $100.

Warning: Please try this at home.

I just installed the bulbs about an hour ago and it took me about 15 minutes.

Rule #7: There is nothing wrong with doing somethings yourself. Just make sure you educate yourself 1st on what it is you need to do and then make an educated decision on whether you can do it or not. You'll save yourself quite a bit of money through the course of the year. In this one example, I saved $100. D.I.Y.!

Consumers Unite Rule #6: I trust you, but.....

2010-08-17T14:31:00.000-07:00

Always check you bill. Simple statement, but that's all it boils down to at the end of the day....

I use automatic bill pay for my OOMA service (VOIP) voice over IP, which allows me to run my home phone line via the Internet. I've been using it for a few months now and so far so good....its pretty cool, I used to pay $55/mo. for home phone, now I pay $3.47. I'll break even on upfront hardware costs in about 5 months.

Anyway, with OOMA you only have to pay the local/state phone tax ($3.47) for where I live, however they offer a lot of "premier" services I don't need. I was somehow charged under the premier status this month. Honest mistake... ; ) Apparently they were giving me a free trial service of the premier and my trial period was over. It ended well, I spoke with customer service and they refunded me the additional charge with no issue.

Rule: Always check your bill, you'd be surprised how many times it can be wrong (funny how they never mess up and not charge you enough...its always too much...) Also, beware of the "trial" periods for phone, cell, magazine, cable, etc.....the reason they do this is with hopes that either 1) they hope we're too lazy to pay attention to our bill and/or 2) we actually like the trial service and decide to keep and pay for it (nothing wrong with that..)

Don't put off until tomorrow, what you can do today.

2010-08-10T13:29:00.000-07:00

Its a great saying that came to mind in my Sunday morning Bible study class my friend Billy taught on that discussed the book of Haggai.

Haggai 1:1-13, 2:4, 2:23

In summary, God had instructed the Jews to finish the temple in Jerusalem when they returned from captivity, but after 15 years they had not completed the job. They had gotten caught up with finishing their own homes and projects than finishing God's work. The prophet Haggai encouraged them to get their acts together and finish the task. We can probably think of dozens of things that are always on our to do list....

For me, this was not so much a story of disobendience as it was a story of encouragement. God has a purpose for all of us not matter who you are.... Its up to us to seek Him out and determine what it is that he wants to accomplish. Out of this story we can seek comfort in 2 things on our journey.

1) God is not expecting you to go out there and do it all by yourself. He is always with us for encouragement. (Haggai 2:4)"Be strong, all you poeple of the land, declares the Lord, and work. For I am with you, declares the Lord Almighty".

2) (2:23)"...for I have chosen you, declares the Lord Almighty." God promises us strength and guidance when we give him first place in our lives..

The task may not be easy but we can find comfort that God will encourage us along the way and guess what? He has chosen You. If God has enough confidence in us to carry out His will, surely we can belive in ourselves.

What's the task that God has for you to complete?

You can because He did!

Consumers Unite Rule #5: What are you taking?

2010-08-10T13:26:00.000-07:00

Consumers Unite Rule #5: As consumers we should share with others when we identify products and/or services that could potentially truly be of benefit to others. After this blog feel free to share what's worked for you.

We live in a age of supplemental creams, gels, pills, drinks, etc... on down the list.... What's good? What's bad? Who knows.....

Well, what I've decided to do is share what I've been taking and what's worked for me....

1) Glucosamine - a supplement based on shellfish and can be synthetic but is designed to reduce destruction and pain in the joints. See you doctor 1st if you have allergies to shellfish. I've been taking Nutrilite's Raspberry Joint Health for a couple of years now and it has really provided relief on my knees. There is a definite relief in knee pain when I take this supplement. It comes in 20 twist tubes and one twist tube is mixed with 16 oz. of water. I take one daily.

2) Daily Multivitamin - BORRIINNNGG!!! I know...not a sexy supplement but it is what it is.... I've been taking the Nutrilite Daily Multivitamin for about 2 years now as well. It gives me a good balance of energy to get through the day especially for the ability to get up for those 5:30 AM runs. You get 90 tables (3 mo. supply) in one bottle. Pill is min. size (I hate the horse pills). Take 1 pill per day with a meal.

*Disclaimer - I am not a paid endorser of these products, (although I should be!!) just a consumer. If I couldn't honestly sign off on these products I would not support them.*

So where can I get them?

Visit https://gillenterprises.wwdb.biz/pws/home.aspx to purchase any Nutrilite products. Allen Gill is the rep, also a member of Team I CAN, and he will take good care of you.

Again, feel free to share any nutritional supplements you can vouch for as well.

Take care!!

"I get to....."

2010-07-05T14:37:00.000-07:00

I just read a great article in Runner's World magazine. If interested, its in the May 2010 issue on p. 60 titled "Feeling Lucky?" It touched me because the message was so true and its one that I've actually used to stay on a steady and consistent schedule to working out and staying in shape.

The author, Kristin Armstrong, talks about looking at working out (walking, running, etc...) as something that you GET TO DO versus something that you HAVE TO DO. For those that are physically able, we GET TO go out for a run or go walking on that trail. I'm sure there are many that wish they had that opportunity but are not able. Do me a favor, before your next workout, get into the mindset of what you are getting an opportunity to experience. And guess what? If you like it, let's apply it to some other aspects of your life as well. Trust me, it works. Still not sure? I'll go 1st....

1. I get to wake up and go for a morning run.
2. I get to go to work everyday and earn an honest wage.
3. I get to pay bills.
4. I get to take my daughter to track practice and track meets. I get to sit and wait no matter how hot it is outside. ; )
5. I get to go to the grocery store.
6. I get to take my car to the mechanic and get a brake job and have an oil leak repaired. (just happened today...)
7. I get to go to the gym and lift weights until I get that burn that makes your muscles feel like jelly....
8. I get to run my own business and handle all aspects. Even the accounting....AGGHHHH!!
9. I get to return library books.
10. I get to watch what I eat and do it all in moderation.

Get the idea?......Now you try.

You can because He did.

For the Thirtysumthins'.....

2010-06-12T08:47:00.001-07:00

What's wrong with this picture?!?!

2010-05-26T18:56:00.000-07:00

I'm at a loss for words.....well, meet the smoking baby.....

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/video/article300101.ece?vxSiteId=0bc72527-aa8e-4487-a5e8-94aae448c9dd&vxChannel=Sun%20Exclusive&vxClipId=1347_SUN45366&vxBitrate=300

I Am

2010-05-18T19:15:00.000-07:00

"That boy good', "yeah good and terrible!"

2010-05-04T17:06:00.000-07:00

Wash Yo' Hands!

2010-04-19T18:19:00.000-07:00

I've held my tongue long enough, and after today I can't hold it off any longer. I've been quiet about this for too long. My hand has been forced.

FELLAS!! Please wash your hands after taking caring of business in the bathroom!

I will be petitioning that it be illegal for dudes who use the bathroom and don't wash their hands. For doing #1 w/o post soap = 1 year in jail. For doing #2 w/o post soap = 2 years in jail. Sentence has to be served like federal time, no time off for good behavior.

Maybe I'll start my own show, I think I'll call it "To Catch A Non-Hand Washer".

Do ladies deal with this same problem?

So what are we to do while we wait for me to get this law passed? Here are a few signs to look out for to identify a habitual non-hand washer.

1. Look out for the guy that's too eager to shake your hand. I don't know the correlation, just trust me.
2. Been known to drive a yellow car at some point in time.
3. Appears to be very neat and clean. (attempt to throw us off the trail...)
4. Nose picker (tissue not included).

Be careful out there, know that we all work with these guys and we need to flush'em out (no pun intended).

Good luck

Your Passion's Fruit

2010-04-05T18:34:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday, I had the pleasure of celebrating a major accomplishment with my best friend. She was being honored at a banquet as Teacher of The Year for her school. I'm so proud of her because I knew way back when (4 years ago), she was working a dead end job, hating every minute of it, and teaching was just a dream.

However, little did I know, God was busy orchestrating a major plan in her life. His plan was to FORCE her on course to pursue her passion. She had talked many years about being a teacher and working with kids but for one reason or another (being a mom, supporting her husband in graduate school, etc.) she hadn't gotten around to it. Now, she had to take a good hard look at her life and what she wanted to accomplish in a career.

She decided to pursue her life long passion of becoming a school teacher. Now I must tell you, it didn't start of all peaches and cream. She went from a well-paying salaried job to working at a daycare for an hourly wage (how much an hour? she didn't know or care....seriously!). I thought it was nuts....little did I know, I was the nut.

I can only assume that $$$ and all that other stuff didn't matter because she was pursuing her passion. From that point on, I've watched her bear beautiful fruit from pursuing her passion.

The moral? Pursue your passion. Even its not in the form of a career, maybe its a hobby. But do pursue your passion and watch in amazement the kind of fruit you can bear. What's your passion's fruit?

I'm very proud of my wife and little does she know, her story has been a major inspiration in my life and I share it whenever possible to help people realize what can happen in their lives when they go after their passion.

Don't Be 'Scaarrred'!

2010-03-14T09:33:00.000-07:00

My people, my people, my people.....I missed you all. It has been a while because I've been sick. For those of you who know me personally, I thank you for your prayers. They worked. I'm not 100% yet but I am well enough to type, so here I am.

This post has been weighing on my heart for a while to share and I couldn't wait another day to post. It is comprised of Bible study notes I gathered from my former pastor, Bill Langley in a series dated 2/11/2009.

My notes are condensed as best as possible so you get all the meat and none of the fat, gristle...you know what I mean? The best part of the pork chop, that little round section that's the most tender part? I call it the "booty" (See Exhibit A), sorry I don't know the formal term. You know I'm country! I digress. Sorry. Let's go!

Exhibit A

This lesson is on the topic of fear and worrying. How do we cope on dark days? Why did this happen to me? What did I do wrong? What if ______? I don't know if I can make it....etc.

Read Psalm 23

Dark days are inevitable.
Dark days are unpredictable. They are unexpected and can come at the worst times. Jeremiah 4:20 - Disaster follows disaster; the whole land lies in ruins. In an instant my tents are destroyed, my shelter in a moment. (NIV)
Dark days don't play favorites. No one gets a free ride. (Us Christians included....) Matthew 5:44-45 - ..........He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (NIV)
Dark days are temporary. 1 Peter 1:6-7 - In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (NIV)
Dark days have a purpose. Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (NIV)
Dark days help me develop character. Some may say, "well..I've had enough character development in my life!" : )

SOLUTION: What to do in the dark days!!!

Refuse to be discouraged. Never forget in the dark what God has shown you in the light. Psalm 23:4 - ....I will fear no evil.
Remember that God is with you. God not only promises His power but also His presence.
Rely on God's protection and guidance.

In closing, a few facts to know about shadows ("shadow of death")....

Think about it, shadows are always bigger than reality.
Shadows can't hurt you.
A shadow can't exist without a light.

I pray this is helpful to someone, like I said its been on my heart for a long time to post these notes. It has helped me out a lot. Have a great week (Spring Break! for some of you)!!

Are you finished yet?

2010-02-15T16:53:00.000-08:00

I was talking to my homeboy Chauncey the other day and somehow we got on the subject of "finishing". Actually, it came up when he started telling me the story of how he was playing a game of 21 with his buddy and the score was 20-15. He had the 20 and was at the free throw line with the opportunity to score the winning basket. "Ant?" "Yeah?", I replied. "Do you know that I lost that game?" He went on to say that it didn't matter how well he played up to the 20 points, he didn't go all the way.

I began to ponder the times in my life when I wanted to quit something. There have been times when I wanted to quit and I did, and other times when I wanted to but didn't...thankfully the latter is more often the case in my life. I gotta tell you, the pain of finishing is nothing in comparison to the pain of NOT finishing. Why run 26 miles and not finish out the 0.2 Crazy, right?

Here's some tips on helping you finish:

Proverbs 16:3, Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. (Self explanatory)
Surround yourself with people that have either done it or are working towards a common goal. I love positive peer pressure.
One bite at a time. (i.e. Don't think about the 4 years to complete the college degree, focus on one semester at a time...)

"No Outside Food or Drinks!" Consumers Unite Rule #4

2010-02-03T17:08:00.000-08:00

"Dad! It says no outside food or drinks!" I crack up laughing to this day when I think about one time when I took my daughter to the movies and I thought I'd be slick and smuggle in a few "homemade" hotdogs into the movies for us. She outed me as soon as we walked up to the movie ticket counter and she saw that "NO OUTSIDE FOOD OR DRINKS." sign. Wow, one of the few times when I felt like laughing, a little angry, proud, and embarrased all at the same time. You gotta love being corrected by a 7-yr old.

Hey, can you blame me? I didn't feel like paying $20 for 2 hotdogs...... Before you call me Mr. Cheepo, check out this CNN article, http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/108729/americas-biggest-ripoffs

Oh, and yes she and I grubbed out on our "homemade" hotdogs. What's my rule? I guess I'd have to say every once and a while we all have to step back and assess the value in what we are buying. Am I willing to pay a 900% markup on popcorn? Maybe, maybe not. Its different for all of us, but know your limits. I don't suggest breaking the law to get there, but I do suggest being creative when the opportunity lends itself....

Tip: When wrapping up your hotdog in foil only use the really thin foil, you know the kind the lady at your church used to serve the hotdogs in during lunch at Vacation Bible School back in the day. Some of yall' know what I talkin' about. It still keeps it warm and isn't as noisy..... Grabbing condiments at the movies is real suspect, I suggest doing that at home.

Consumers Unite! Rule #3

2010-01-27T19:38:00.000-08:00

Ahhhhh!!! Don't you just love that automated person you get when you are calling a company's customer service?? I'm convinced you have to imitate their voice for them to understand you correctly. ""Y-E-S" "N-O"....I said "N-O-O-O-O-!-!"

I wonder why they don't use them when you're calling to sign up for their product/service. Oh yeeeaaah, I remember, because they suck!!

A buddy of mine sent me this link that I must now share with the world!! http://gethuman.com/customer-service.html

Don't you love the name of the site. It sure beats what I normally do. I just scream "OPERATOR" at every prompt until I finally get someone with a pulse....(try dealing with this in a cubicle environment, everyone thinks you're nuts)

Hopefully this will help you avoid waiting while calling various company's customer service 800 number and quickly get you to a live person. I hope this helps, enjoy!

Just a little bit.......

2010-01-21T18:54:00.000-08:00

Sorry people, its been a little while, my goal is to post at least once a week, but I refuse to post something just for the sake of posting...here we go!

I won't get on my soap box again about New Year's Resolutions since I video blogged about it last year this time www.youtube.com/icanclothing but I can't help but touch on the resolutions thing again.... The bottom line is I want everyone to accomplish their goals whether they started Jan. 1 or Nov 1., doesn't matter.

As we all plan our goals/resolutions/draw our lines in the sand let's remember that Rome wasn't built in a day. Let's look at some typical New Year's resolutions.....

Lose 15 lbs.+ or
Gain 15 lbs.+ (hey! skinny people like me need love too!)
Join a gym and workout 3 times a week.
Read a book a month.
Get finances in order.
Run everyday.
Walk everyday.
Lose weight.
Get in shape.
Lose weight.
Get in shape.
Did I mention lose weight and get in shape?

Alright, nothing wrong with any of these resolutions or any combination of them. I think we all should just remember to take on a little bit at a time. Hey! You wanna to read a book a month and you haven't finished one book in the last 3 years. Maybe start with today's newspaper. I wanna blog everyday and I have trouble blogging once a year. Maybe I start once a month. Baby steps... We want to run a marathon and we haven't started walking. It can be done, you just need to "take your time young man, momma used to say!" (sorry.....old school "Mama Used To Say" - Junior)

I heard Dr. Ian Smith recommend to focus on just one goal every 6 weeks. I liked the idea and it made a lot of sense. Focusing on one goal helps keep us from getting overwhelmed. Once we get one goal under control and on track, then we can add on.

Just remember, we need to focus on one thing at a time and we can get there. We won't let one or two slip ups, mess ups, screw ups, trip ups, stop us from our goal. Anything we're doing now towards our goal is an improvement to what we were doing before (we hope, right?). Let's give ourselves a little credit.

It's 21 days into your New Year's Resolution, if you've fallen already, GET UP, dust yourself off and start today.

Have a wonderful 2010.

Can I Blend My Way to a Healthy Diet?

2010-01-04T18:24:00.000-08:00

I was in Sam's Club a couple of months ago and this guy was doing a demo of the "Vita-Mix 5200". I'm a sucker for those in-store demos....My daughter and I made the mistake of sticking around for the demonstration as well as tasting the smoothie he mixed up for us.

Now since that time I can't get my mind off of this high-powered super-megatron blender. A little history...In the last 2 1/2 years I've gone through 3 blenders....I'm simple fascinated with this thing, not sure why...maybe...

1. Its because I never thought I'd be pondering the insane idea of spending $450 for a blender...

2. Because I hate raw vegetables and this sounds like a great idea to get'em in....

3. Because I don't have a blender as we speak, the last one broke down 2 weeks ago. Debating on whether to save up for the "big dog" blender or spend less than $40 for another one to destroy in a year.

4. Because I watched this guy pulverize whole apples, oranges, cauliflower, and spinach into a delicious shake.

Does anyone have this blender or something similar? Is anyone creating smoothies out of raw fruits and veggies?

Disclaimer: I do not own a Vita-Mix and obviously I'm not a paid endorser.

What's Up Doc?

2009-12-21T18:04:00.000-08:00

My wife and I recently had a big scare last week when our daughter had to be rushed to the emergency room due to her asthma. All is well now thank God and she is back at home excited about Christmas like the rest of the kids her age.

Throughout this 2-day ordeal at the hospital and dealing with the doctors and nurses I could not stop thinking about that commercial.....you know the one with the chick is asking all the questions at the restaurant and then she sees her doctor during a health exam and doesn't ask a single thing...

All I kept thinking about was that we needed to make sure we weren't one of those people not asking any (or enough) questions. We made sure to ask any and every question we could possible think of not matter how stupid they may have sounded. Here's a few tips...

1. For many going to doc can be very nerve wrecking depending on the circumstance, etc. For that reason many times you're not thinking clearly so write down questions ahead of time...if that's too anal, take a notepad and write them down while you wait in the seating area.

2. When it comes to health, it doesn't matter how embarrassing or stupid your question sounds, so suck it up and spit it out. I'm sure you're not the first with that weird growth on your baby toe.

3. You are the customer (patient) thus you are in charge. If the doctor is rushing you, stop them and tell them you feel like you're being rushed. Its your right.

4. If you don't understand what you just heard, have them explain it over, (its OK!) tell'em to pretend you're a 4 yr old. Sometimes doctors can be intimidating because they're "Dr.s", but its never impressive when people talk over their audience no matter the title.

5. When in a situation where you don't like your current physician and feel like you're not getting the care you need, find a new one. I understand some people may not be able to switch but if possible, do so. Again, its your body and you only get one.

Good job US Dept. of Health for pulling together a thought provoking commercial.

http://www.ahrq.gov/questionsaretheanswer/level2col_1.asp?nav=2colNav00&content=09_0_videos

The Strangest Thing I've ever seen at the Starting Line!

2009-12-10T16:57:00.000-08:00

As you read my blogs hopefully they can be thought provoking, inspirational, and/or provide you with helpful information. Today's entry is none of the above.

I ran the Jingle Bell Run 2009 Sundance Square Fort Worth, TX this past Saturday (12/5) and I saw the craziest thing I've ever seen in my 20 years of racing. As I pushed and squezzed my way to the front I ended up next to this middle-aged guy getting prepped for the run.

As I bent over to get that final stretch of my hammies I by chance happened to look at this guy's shoes (don't ask my why, I always look at other runner's racing shoes...). Anyway, I noticed a puddle of water under his feet as well as a stream of "water" pooling into the puddle. To my disbelief this guy was "relieving" himself at the starting line!! Thankfully it was just #1.
I've never seen anything like that in my life. I wondered if it was a pre-race ritual that I've never heard of, or maybe he just didn't have time to hit the porto potty and get back to the start in time so he figured no one would notice. Who knows? I guess I'm writing about this with hopes that maybe someone has an explanation for why?

FAQ

No - I didn't ask him why he was taking a leak on himself at the starting line.

No - I didn't shake his hand and wish him good luck in the race.

No - He didn't get out of line to go clean up.

Yes - He did take off when the gun fired and I lost track of him...he might have beat me, not sure.

Inverted Relationship Fast Food and Age

2009-12-04T01:40:00.000-08:00

Why does it seem that the older you get the less fast food you eat? I've noticed over the years that in each year that I get the older, the less I'm able to stand the taste of fast food. Its at a point now that I'd almost rather come home and eat crackers than stop and pickup one of those combos.....

Possible theories on this phenomenon....

1. I'm sick of getting my orders screwed up and begging for extra ketchup.

2. Foods are more processed than ever before and they taste terrible.

3. In the age of information, I've been exposed to too much "behind the scenes" info on what really goes on in restaurant kitchens...thanks Anthony Bourdain! thanks Food Inc.! thanks Super-Size Me!

4. The older I get, the more I'm aware of my mortality, thus making me more health conscience and focused on taking care of my body.

5. Times are tough, save the $6 bucks on a combo meal and sack lunch a ham "sammich"...hey it adds up!

Any suggestions? What do you think?

Going Through

2009-11-29T14:24:00.001-08:00

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. My family and I traveled to Austin to visit family and we had a wonderful time. My wife and I had a chance to visit with my old college buddy who I hadn't seen in maybe 10 years and we had a great time hanging out. A reoccurring theme of this past week for me has been about "going through". What I mean is that as we go through our lives, we ALL have to at one point or another go through.

These are the trials and tribulations of life that make us stronger on the other side. The message from my Sunday class this morning was about being thankful for the pitfalls of life. We were studying Joseph and discussing many of his trials. The key piece of the equation is having that relationship with Christ through the process. Through prayer and being aware, God gives us the wisdom and reveals over time what is to be learned through that pitfall. Without that relationship one could easily think that, "hey, life is screwing me again" and become angry and bitter. How do I know? I've been there.....

I'm still learning as this is a life long process, but I am getting stronger in my faith and learning to trust God through the good, but especially the BAD.

Consumers Unite! Rule #2b - Follow-up

2009-11-15T17:16:00.000-08:00

Well, this is the final outcome of the dentist bill dilemma...wanna hear it? Here we go....

Where we last left off, the dentist office found an "error" and took off $166.90 from a bill of $440.70, which left me at $273.90. I was pushing for them to split that in half (50% their responsibility and 50% mine..even though it wasn't my fault). They ended up only taking 25% off. So I'm left w/ a bill of $205.43.

Let's see, because I asked questions and stood up for myself I reduced a bill by 53%!!!

Lesson learned....make dentist office provide print off of charges prior to having procedures done. Last but not least, find a new dentist office!!!

Consumers Unite! Rule #2a - Follow-up

2009-11-07T10:07:00.000-08:00

Quick update on my dentist dilemma....well guess what? After a few phone calls, my bill has gone from $440.70 to $273.90....and it may go down even further. The dentist office miraculously identified an overcharge of $166.80. What can I say? I guess I do have a voice.

RULE #2a- RULE #2 WORKS AND THERE IS NO NEED TO BE AFRAID TO SPEAK UP! ASK QUESTIONS, "DA MAN" THRIVES ON CONSUMER IGNORANCE, EDUCATE YOURSELF.

Be patient, I'm learning as well, I know this is a whole different way of thinking for some people, but trust me it works!

Consumers Unite! Rule #2

2009-10-31T04:54:00.000-07:00

I'm staring at a bill from my dentist office for $440.70. Hmmmmm, I didn't know I owed my dentist anything since my last visit was in April of this year. But guess what, between my insurance provider and my dentist office, THEY figured out a mistake was made.

Long story short, my dentist PPO plan told my dentist they were one fee schedule before billing, once billing was submitted, the insurance claimed to be on another fee schedule. Because of this, it was decided that I now owed $440.70 on top of the already $700+ I already paid. Why am I responsible for this error? Ohhh, that's right, I sign a waiver saying that any charges the insurance feels like they don't wanna pay, its on me....even when they screw up.

RULE #2- AS A CONSUMER AND AMERICAN CITIZEN WE ALL HAVE A CHOICE AND A VOICE. Did you know that 70% of this country's GDP is consumer spending? We can't be afraid to speak up for what is right. I don't know whether I'll win this thing or not, but its about principle and I'm going to try!

All I can think about is health care reform. It's this kind of stuff that has to stop. 1) I'm going to war w/ my insurance company to fight this charge. 2) Its very obvious to me at this point that something has to change in our health care system. We can debate public option and all of that stuff...fine...at the end of the day we've given these health insurance companies too much power. Its time to take a stand...so let me put in my $400+ orthotic inserts and I'm ready to stand up!

"Now ya know and knowing is half the battle", the other half is doing something about it. Please comment and let me know if this has happened before to anyone else.

Gotta Go Through!!

2009-10-26T18:05:00.000-07:00

Did anyone see 60 Minutes last night! There was a great piece on Tyler Perry. It was a quick reminder for me that we all have to go through. No one escapes. We never know what someone went through to get where they are today.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5419908n&tag=api

The Human Transformer

2009-10-15T07:49:00.000-07:00

Consumers Unite!! Rule #1

2009-10-13T20:12:00.000-07:00

We as American people need to take our power back as consumers. If you've never given your power away as a consumer then this post isn't for you. For everyone else, we give corporations, retailers, "da man", "the machine", whatever you want to call it, too much control on how we spend our money.

Rule #1 EVERYTHING IS NEGOTIABLE. I repeat, EVERYTHING IS NEGOTIABLE. Anything, anywhere, anytime. If you've never done it before, start out small...negotiate the price of a DVD at your local retailer. Know that in business and in everyday life negotiating is very normal. Only negotiate with the decision maker. If the sales associate does not have the power to lower the price then you're speaking with the wrong person, go to the manager.

A few key things to know about negotiating...1) information is power (be informed on the item/service you are negotiating, such as understanding its fair price), 2) When buying, hit'em low (below the price you're willing to pay), and vice versa when selling, hit'em high (higher than the price you're willing to sell).

Have you ever called your electric, cable service, or any provider to negotiate lower pricing? Try it out, it works!! Example: I just lowered my electricity bill today from 14.9 cents per kw to 11.9 cents per kw. How did you do that? I asked. Know that no one is going to call you and say hey we want to lower your bill today. Not gonna happen. You have to ask. What's the worse they could say?

Garmin Forerunner 201

2009-10-11T14:38:00.000-07:00

I was just telling a friend of mine about this piece of running equipment I've had for about 5 years now. Its the Garmin Forerunner 201 and its used to track distance, pace, time, etc while running. I can honestly say its one of the most reliable pieces of mobile electronics I've ever owned. And, NO, I'm not a paid endorser of Garmin. : (

If you check out Garmin's website I'm sure you'll find some newer models that are smaller and more expensive but at the time I purchased mine I think paid around $125... Money well spent.

Why I Run

2009-10-03T16:29:00.000-07:00

Wow, my earliest memories of running were going out to the gravel dusted track with my brother and father at the College of The Mainland (small community college in Texas City, TX). I guess I couldn't have been any more than 7 or 8 years old and I'll never forget my dad telling me how good I was at running. It was at that point when he verbalized it that I just knew in my heart of hearts that I could run.

Fast forward to high school and college cross country and countless track meets--I thought I was running for myself. I saw some success but also experienced some disappointments along the way. I wanted to excel so much that I would completely stress myself out before the gun ever went off.

This morning, I ran a local 5K Fun Run (The Vineyard Run - Grapevine, TX) and it dawned on me why I run today. As my relationship with Christ has developed over the years, I realize that I run for Christ. Running for me today is thanking God for the natural talents He's given me. I in no way, shape or form take for granted the opportunity to put my two feet on the ground. Running is a lot of other things as well; it’s therapeutic, a mental/physical challenge, and it gives me the feeling that I'm ALIVE.

While my race times are nowhere near as fast as they were as a young man, I can tell you that I run 10 times stronger and much more confident because I know I'm using my God given talent that no one on this Earth can ever take away from me.

Fruit of The Spirit (Galatians 5:22) - I Can Clothing Co

2009-09-27T18:20:00.001-07:00

Words of wisdom......

2009-09-24T19:05:00.000-07:00

"A man of fear lives always on the edge of insanity. A man of faith lives in perpetual reward."

Andy Andrews - Author of "The Traveler's Gift"

Artist: Dave Pressler

2009-09-15T19:04:00.001-07:00

Strawberry no C.R.E.A.M.

2009-09-13T16:59:00.000-07:00

First of all, I don't like baseball. Second of all, you don't have to be a baseball fan to like this book. I just finished reading, "Straw: Finding My Way" by Darryl Strawberry w/ John Strausbaugh. Myself along with all of the other public had heard about all of Darryl Strawberry's past problems via the news and tabloids , etc. I was curious to hear this man's side of the story about his own life.....hmmmm, sounds logical to me...

This book carries an awesome testimony about life, love, addiction, pain, struggle and what God is capable of doing if we just allow Him. My old pastor once said, "God doesn't want your best, He wants to show you his best." I love that statement. My best will never measure up to what God is capable of accomplishing through me. We ALL have demons and battles to fight, but through Christ we can overcome them. Darryl Strawberry's story is one in millions that is proof of that truth. In my mind, Strawberry, is living the "I Can" dream. This is what its all about. Can I have enough courage to utilize my God given talents to carry out God's purpose for me here on earth? Can I stand up to address my fears and shortcomings without creating addictions as an escape? I am in no way saying its easy, I'm just saying its possible.

I was thoroughly encouraged by this book and I encourage you to check it out if you get an opportunity. Let's go.

P.S. Mr. Strawberry, sorry man.......you do have a turkey neck.

http://darrylstrawberry.com/ds/

My favorite "samich" at Mickie D's is in trouble!

2009-09-11T07:02:00.000-07:00

http://www.inquisitr.com/36916/overfishing-endangers-majestic-filet-o-fish/

Born To Run?

2009-09-10T18:11:00.000-07:00

Ever had your bubble burst before? I have many times and it happened to me again last Saturday. I had just finished this great book called "Born To Run" by Christopher McDougall and based on what I read I was convinced I HAD to buy this new type of running shoe that would surely cure my chronic foot pain. If you're a distance runner you gotta read this book, if not, PASS.

I had already called the store and placed the shoes on hold and even had my lovely wife join me to witness this great moment. So what, you're buying a pair of shoes, you say, I say if you've ever had foot pain, you'd understand. The sales lady was kind enough to pull my shoes that were on hold but she returned with a look on her face that indicated she had some bad news..."Uhhhh, I'll sell you these shoes if you really want them, but I gotta tell you that in good conscience I can't sell them to you if you're having foot problems." She went on to give me her reasons and explain further (along with my wife somehow swtiching from wife to cautious mom mode and agreeing with the sales lady's recommendations.) 2 against 1, I was doomed.....

An hour later and a half dozen shoes tried on, I walked out with her recommendation which were a pair of Brooks instead of the Vibram Fivefingers (shoes for barefoot runners, it'll take to long to explain, read the book if you want to know more....) which I thought were the answer.

So now, I've been given a new running homework assignment and a strict schedule to hopefully get my feet back to normal. If I can do this, then I should be able to get the Fivefingers...we'll see. This story is to be continued.......

Finally Kidrobot is opening a store in Dallas...maybe I'll c u there.

2009-07-29T19:05:00.001-07:00

Gary Baseman

2009-07-25T08:44:00.001-07:00

Great words of wisdom

2009-07-23T18:51:00.000-07:00

I ran across this quote yesterday and had to pass it on.

"It's hard to not eat what you want when you want, or buy what you want when you want. Regardless of your age, emotionally growing up is what we are forcing ourselves to do when we delay pleasure. Our minds start to say that if we put off getting this, we'll have a better that. It has to drop from our brain to our heart and promote action. It's an intellectual behavior that affects will."

Source: Dave Ramsey website

This is one of the hardest things I've ever attempted but I trust and have faith in God that He will give me the strength to accomplish this sometimes seemingly impossible goal. If you want a different life, you have to do something different. Weird is good. Let's go!

Michael Jackson

2009-07-09T09:57:00.000-07:00

Our prayers go out to Michael Jackson's children and his family. I was and will always be a big Michael Jackson fan. I'm the designated Michael Jackson imitator in the family, so my memories of MJ are of me as a kid attempting to learn and imitate the dance moves from his latest video.....

He was the best entertainer and dancer I've ever seen in my life. I wonder...who would have won when MC Hammer challenged Michael Jackson to a dance off in the 90's. My pick would have been MJ hands down!

I'm a toy collector so I had to purchase the above MJ collector's item that was too hard to pass up.

Handbook 2009

2009-05-03T05:16:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine forwarded this email to me which outlines some great "guidelines" live by.... I'm not sure of the author, but I thought it was worth sharing...

HANDBOOK 2009

Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2008.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32.. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Last but not the least:
40. Please Forward this to everyone you care about

The Word can be delivered in many ways...

2009-04-30T18:35:00.000-07:00

http://www.tangle.com/view_video.php?viewkey=4ce7f62c8fa7541273d6&sp=2

News You can Use?

2009-04-30T17:44:00.000-07:00

I write today's message while we're days into the swine flu scare. Is this truly something to be scared about? I don't know. I have read stats that every year an average of 5-20% of the US population contracts the flu. Of those, about 200,000 are hospitalized due to complications and about 36,000 die from further complications and pneumonia. Maybe I missed something, but the swine flu is nowhere close to average annual stats of the regular flu we see every year.

I won't bore you with more stats, but my point is that I believe the media has a tendency to get ahold of a piece a news that sounds juicy and they don't know how to let go.....thus being prone to blowing things way out of proportion. Media were reporting that the US was in a recession (2 consecutive qtrs decline in GDP) back in January of last year and that had not yet happened. Guess what, if we hear enough of that type of news...People get scared, we start panicking, stop spending, and then what do you know....we end up in a recession.

What's the best source of news these days...any suggestions?

Graduated today....

2009-04-19T17:33:00.000-07:00

Today, I graduated from school, but not the kind you're probably thinking about...I graduated from Financial Peace University (FPU). FPU is a 13-week course taught by a guy by the name of Dave Ramsey. I gotta tell you, I've had financial planners, accountants, you name it, in terms of people to talk to about money and this guy's class has the most profound and insightful teachings I've ever discovered for me and my family on the topic of money.

The whole goal of Dave's class is to teach you how to become debt free. If you're already there...Congratulations! Keep it that way...... If not, visit http://www.daveramsey.com/ He has a radio show that comes on everyday, his site will have the details on local stations, times, etc.. You can also listen online. In the DFW Metroplex his show is on from 1-4 PM CST on 570 AM.

He has a lot of different sayings but the one I connect with the most is "live like no one else, so you can live like no one else."

March 2009 Testimony

2009-04-19T10:45:00.001-07:00

Moving forward...all I Can testimonies will be posted via my blog....see below for last month's post.

March 2009
I knew about Jesus growing up. We went to church on Christmas and Easter, and once in a while I would go to VBS with a friend or sing Jesus Loves Me because that was the tune on my mind. I liked Jesus, actually. I thought He was nice and I loved the stories I heard about from the Bible—especially the ones about how He performed miracles. My favorite was story about how he healed a blind man because I am visually impaired, too. I wondered if someday God would allow me to be healed like that so I could see like all the other kids I knew. Jesus did that for the blind man, why not for me, right? I figured He could heal me if He felt like it, so every once in a while when I thought about it I would ask God to heal my eyes. Once I even wrote Him a letter and asked for Him to restore my eyesight. I left it on my desk in my room so God would see it. The next day it was gone so I figured God saw it and took it with Him to Heaven. (Mom saved it all those years and gave it back to me in a memory box the day I graduated from college.)

I found myself searching for “something” as I grew into adolescence. My family was enduring some significant difficulties during those years. It was a time of tumultuous divorce, poverty, family tragedy, and other life circumstances that would test the soul of even the most strengthened among us. It didn’t seem right that the trauma of events in such a young life were doing so much damage with no hope of repair. What else was there? How in the world would someone survive what our family endured? There HAD to be something out there to give us hope and peace and love amidst that crushing despair… wasn’t there?

I was introduced to the concept of having Christ in my life as my savior at Campus Life and Fellowship of Christian Athletes meetings in high school. I was invited to attend because the social side of it was fun, but there was something different about those meetings. It was clear right away. When the gospel was presented I heard it clearly for the first time and that’s when I knew who I belonged to all along. I didn’t belong to divorce or poverty. I didn’t need to be defined by deceit or anger or distrust. God took all of those labels off when I chose to give my heart and life to Him completely. I trusted Him as my one and only provider and my one and only guide. It doesn’t mean that the things of past and present and future will not be painful sometimes. But it does mean I now have a personal relationship with God, who loves me and forgives my transgressions so that I can rest in his arms in times of sadness or fear and know that His plans for me are perfect and that His grace is sufficient always.

Knowing that within my heart brings it all full circle, really. Although my childhood request for God’s healing of my visual impairment was always real, and I genuinely believed that God could perform a miracle if His will called for it, at that time in my life I didn’t know God as my Savior. As a young child, I wanted what “I wanted” from God. I wanted MY way. But I didn’t even know what a great and perfect gift He had in store for me—one far greater than eyesight. God gave His only son, Jesus, as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, so that he could die on a cross and rise up again and we can know Him in our hearts and have eternal life with HIM! That gift… the one better than eyesight… is the true vision of Christ. That His children would know Him and love Him and build the Kingdom of God’s children who will spend eternity with Him in heaven when their time on earth is done. Because I have that gift now, the true vision of God, being blind is really just no big deal anymore. Inconvenient? Yes. Frustrating? Of course, it can be. But is it REALLY what defines me? Not anymore. I share God’s vision now, which brings immeasurable, overflowing joy.

Funny how God’s plans put it all into perspective, isn’t it?

Andrea Kulberg is co-owner of Future Cheer, a UK based company that is the leading international Cheer & Dance event producer. She is also a motivational speaker and author, currently launching a new inspiring speaking series called “Rock Star U” with her identical twin sister, Aly. For more information about Future Cheer, visit www.futurecheer.net For more information about Andrea’s speaking series and Rock Star U, visit www.rockstarsrock.com.

Not Easily Broken

2009-04-12T16:51:00.000-07:00

I just saw T.D. Jakes movie "Not Easily Broken" and I thought it was good. I always rate my movies 1 out of 10 scale and I give it a 8.... Thought provoking content about marriage and what it takes to make one work. Dialogue was very real between husband and wife, trust me I know after almost 10 years. Its no longer in theaters but can be rented on DVD.

http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/noteasilybroken/

1st Blog

2009-04-09T09:20:00.001-07:00

Man....This is looooong overdue...."I can" be slow at times.. The goal here will be to keep everyone up-to-date on what's gong on with ICC and everything else under the sun.

Stay up and stay tuned!