A tool

Encounter was... well, it was amazing. It was another series in my destiny. Much like Eastland was last month. I, again didn't feel like going, but I was used as a tool in God's big picture. I have had a heart recently to impart, I am not sure what, but to impart to other business owners, encourage, lift up, etc. I recently started meeting with some other business owners, and last night was a glimpse of what is in store. I was sitting in the back of the auditorium doing my usher thing, counting heads, and just got this overwhelming sense to pray for business owners, not the business, but the owners. I told, Pastor Bryan and just really didn't know what to say. I asked business owners to come forward that there was an anointing in this moment for an impartation. I was amazed at the 15 or so people that came forward. As I prayed for people and laid hands on them I experienced something spiritual that I can't explain. It was as if there was some sort of spiritual victory that took place because of my obedience. My flesh didn't want to pray for people because of the fear that it may exalt me. Today at BRM business was amazing! We were so busy with orders and orders and orders, and at about 6 pm, a customer that owed me several thousand dollars called me and said that he was cutting the check tonight. I am really anxious to see the month end numbers tomorrow.
I am really thankful that I have a vehicle for free. My flesh hasn't wanted people to notice for some stupid reasons, but I am thankful God has really blessed me.
I am anxious to hear some other testimonies about God's goodness being poured out on those that were prayed for.

Analogy of Baseball

On the way to work today driving my, new to me, aztek. I thought of baseball as an analogy of business life. I am not a huge fan of pro baseball, but I keep track of who is leading standings and so forth and will occasionally watch a little on TV. I was thinking about how baseball is such a long season, 162 games or so. The best teams go on long loosing streaks 6,7,8 games, and then go on winning streaks. During the loosing streak, they still may be the best team in their league or division, but they are not successful at the moment. The same goes for players, The best home run hitter playing the game today, is in a slump. Barry Bonds is chasing the career home run record of 756 home runs a career. As of today he is at 753, but hasn't hit a home run in 7 games. Is he still successful at hitting home runs? I would think so. Is the best team that is slumping still a successful team?
I tried to apply this to my life in business. I am still successful even though I may be in a sales slump and haven't closed a deal in "7 games" or have been on a big loosing streak. The best teams and players always bounce back and have big games and go on winning streaks. So when I am in a slump, it's okay. It's bound to happen. I have to be okay with it, and not get discouraged but roll with the punches. I choose to look for the good things that happen instead of the bad that seems to always get the most attention because it's the squeaky wheel.

spewing

It is one minute til midnight and I just got home. I am calling it a day. a good one at that. I got a vehicle today DEBT Free! It is a pretty nice one at that. There is one little string attached. Whenever I sell it I have to pay the former owner what he wants for it. deal? Deal! The vehicle is worth way more than he wants for it so, Bam! I knew something Good was going to happen! I just drove 7 hours to pick the vehicle up and still feel like I am behind the wheel. Road time is good to process, pray and praise! I got a lot of answers to a lot of the spewing I didn't do on this mornings post.

God reminded me that he has an agenda and it's better than mine, and that He does everything (generally) in processes. He told me this very plainly. "Whatever can be built by man (in the context of business) instantly can be destroyed or torn down instantly, but whatever is built by my process over a period of time can not be destroyed or torn down." Example: Creation was created in 6 days. It has lasted all of eternity so far. Pretty Good huh. So I thought about that for several hours on the drive. I tried to think of instances when I had jiggy rigged something and it didn't last or "quick fix" something that didn't last. I think God might be on to something here. I need to confirm this in the Word, like a proverb or something. He told me this in context of business. Proverbs 13:11 says. Wealth [not earned but] won in haste or unjustly or from the production of things for vain or detrimental use [such riches] will dwindle away, but he who gathers little by little will increase [his riches].

save the spewing

There is probably a lot I could spew on you, but I will save you the misery. There are some minor frustrations going on right now. This morning I woke early with a heavy heart. I couldn't even pray. I sense something big is about to happen. Not just something local or even personal, but something body wide. I am not up to date on the latest prophecy or news even. I have pretty much been shut off this week from media and anything really. Physically feeling sore and weak is not very exciting.
I got out last night and played ball with Payton and felt like I was 85 years old trying to jump and run. This has been a great season in the natural, a nice cool rainy summer. I am ready for the season spiritually and circumstantially to change.
Car broke down, doctor bills, pickup broke into, taxes to pay, insurance bills are due, and on and on. I took a glance at my P&L yesterday and had to search hard to find the silver lining. Good thing this business isn't my provider.

On the positive note, I have a healthy wife(pregnancy discomforts but healthy) 3 healthy boys, and I am recovering my health.

So today I am waiting patiently as I am diligent in what I can do.
Something Good is going to Happen TODAY!

muscles

The last few days have been miserable. Friday was a long day, then I helped my friend Cody lay sod grass in his 9,000 sq ft yard one piece at a time. Now that is hard work. By 11:45 that night I couldn't move a muscle. I just sat down in a chair and didn't move for several minutes, I should have stretched... so by the next morning I could not move my legs to get out of bed. It took me about 5 minutes to get out of bed, then I couldn't walk. Every muscle in my body had seized up overnight. Fingers, neck, calves, thighs, hamstrings, toes, shoulders, everything. My back was so tight I couldn't bend over to put my shoes on. So on Sunday I took the day off from ushering and just found a seat and sat there. I did enjoy having no responsibility on Sunday for the first time in several years. I think I am going to make it mandatory that my ushers take a Sunday off at least once a quarter. So the picnic wasn't too enjoyable. I was and still am in a lot of pain, mostly my lower back. Won't do much today except sit at the ole computer and write letters. I needed my grass mowed yesterday really bad and my 6 year old volunteered. He mowed about half the yard, all by himself. Only half cause that is all I asked him to do. He would have gladly done the whole thing.
Something Good is going to happen today!

for sale

For sale! $600.00 Won't last long. 93 Camry LE 108,000 miles. NEEDS transmission. Contact me now. 325-660-9191.

100 placesplaces I have been and things I have done and want to do (100th post)

1. lived in Higgins, Tx
2. LI - Wheeler, Tx
3. LI - Tulsa, Ok
4. LI - Abilene, Tx
5. LI - Enid, Ok
6. LI - Hamby, Tx
7. LI - clyde, Tx
8. Washington, DC (went inside whitehouse) he wasn't home.
9. Gettysburg, VA
10. Mt Rushmore
11. Anchorage, Alaska
12. Fairbanks, Alaska
13. Jenaeu, Alaska
14. Miami, Fl
15. Jacksonville, FL
16, New Orleans, LA
17. Houston, Tx
18. Amarillo, Tx
19. Oklahoma City, Ok
20. Costa Rica, Central America
21. Atlanta, GA
22. Nashivlle, TN
23. Memphis, TN
24. Denver, Co
25. Aspen, Co
26. Billings, Montana
27. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
28. Calgary, Alberta, Canada
29. Edmonton,Alberta, Canada
30. Cheyenne, Wy
31. Missoula, MT
32.Lafayette, Indiana
33. St Louis, Mi
34. Las Vegas, NV
35. Phoenix, Az
36. Albugquerque, NM
37. Little Rock, Arkansas
38. Tampa Bay, Fl
39. Wichita, KS
40. Valenitne, NE
41. Pierre, SD
42. Bismark, ND
43. Some place in North Dakota where they filmed Dances with Wolves
44. charleston, SC
45. Columbia, SC
46. Richmond, VA
47. Cedar city, Utah
48. Ft. collins, Colorado
49. colorado Springs, Co
50. Lamar, Colorado
51. Dodge City, Kansas
52. Branson, MO
53. Kansas City, Ks
54. Des Moines, IA
55. South Padre Island, Tx
56. Breckenridge, Colorado
57. Winter Park, Colorado
58. Mt. Mckinley
59. Played QB in High school
60. Tennis champ in High school
61. Male soloist in HS
62. Made a's and b's in HS
63. First Kiss when I was 17 (Rachel) one and only
64. Built an underground fort when I was a kid.
65. Went to one year of HSU as a business major
66. Had 12 different roommates in that one year
67. our 8th grade b-ball team was 17-0 (i was point guard)
68. Our HS was regional champs 2 years in a row
69. I was kicked off the basketball team by my dad (coach)
70. Started a real estate company when I was 22.
71. Went to real estate school and passed the exam after 3 tries
72. Was a youth pastor for 2 years
73. Installed carpet and tile while not being paid for being a YP.
74. Sold Rainbow Vaccuum cleaners door to door to make ends meet
75. Washed dishes in high school at a restuarant
76. worked at a filling station in high school
77. worked as a roofer in HS
78. rode a motorcycle to alaska our first year of marriage
79. Was a DJ on a local radio station in HS (this is how I hooked rach)
80. Went on a 72 mile hike in the mountains of Co.
81. Rode my bike to the next town when I was 11. 24 miles
82. Had 11 warnings for speeding in HS.
83. Have had 5 tickets for speeding in my life
84. Have a motorcycle license

15 things I want to do:
85. get my pilots license
86. Go to Australia
87. Go to the mission field in Andes mountains
88. Go to the mission field anywhere else
89. Get a motorcycle
90. Go river rafting in Colorado again.
91. take my boys on a real camping trip this summer
92. Ride the amtrak across the country.
93. Go deep sea fishing
94. go para sailing
95. Take some classes on business finance
96. Take some classes on communication
97. Teach my boys how to snowboard
98. Go to Hawaii
99. Go to St. Thomas
100.Make enough money to let my wife fulfill her dreams

big deal

UPdate: I actually had two different appointments yesterday in Ballinger. One was very good, and the other "big" one was good as well. It was an initial meeting, with all the questions I ask about what they need and what their pain is. They agreed to do the next step which is a Demo of the software. They are willing to spend the estimated big $$$ that it will cost them to convert everything to digital. Something Good is going to happen today!

Hey guys, I have a big meeting this afternoon that could be a defining moment in history for me. The document scanning has perked a lot of interest and I have had several meetings about the service in the last few days, God has opened some amazing doors. I have butterflies and nervous. This could be really really big, or not. I have a God connection with a guy in California and he agreed to do a conference call with me with this company this afternoon at 3pm because he is an expert in the scanning and imaging field. Just be in agreement that I won't blow this opportunity.

how high

I came home today from a draining day and was pleasantly surprised to open our one and only piece of mail. Our electric bill was a whopping $182 this month! I am excited. (Now picture me being excited... can you do it?) What a day. I am having another boy and saving money to pay for his birth! We are switching to an even cheaper provider for this month that should make it around $120 for the month. How much was yours? These facts are what get me excited. I enjoy the challenge of making and shaving off money from the budget any way I can. :)

this should be easy

It's a Boy

the day after

The day after my last post, after stating that Something Good is going to happen, some things did happen. They don't seem to be good right now, but some of them could be. On my way to work Thursday, the transmission in my car went out. I had an appointment at 9 that I had to prepare for which was a conference call to a new business contact in California. Just as I pulled over next to the funeral home in Clyde, Cole drove past. Perfect timing. He gave me a lift and I got my car to the shop, then Jesse came to get me. I get to work and the email with the phone number to the guy I am supposed to call is not in my mail box any more. Remember, something GOOD is going to happen today. So I am behind on my 2 appointments that I have for the day that actually didn't cancel. They were both good meetings, then I get an "out of the blue" call from a local company that wants to scan about 200 boxes of paper. $$$$$. I work up a proposal and they shot it down, After reworking a few things we got it down to at least a price they would consider. This is all taking place while I am in the midst of adding this new scanning service on a broader scale. I know I am on the right track, even if I don't get the two jobs that I am in the mix for.
So the car is in the shop and it is very difficult to run my business with one car. a friend is going to be out of town next week and is lending me one of his. So I have some extra time to figure out what to do about a vehicle.
The spiritual part of this was to try and crash my faith, because that out of the blue phone call was from a company that I have had on my "believing God list" for a couple of years. If I were to get up set and lose heart about the transmission and the lost phone number and running late, would the phone call have come? My bet is that it wouldn't have. So keep the faith, God is somewhere doing something on your behalf, even when the transmission goes out.

Seek the Peace

The week....filled with canceled appointments from potential clients, 7 to be exact. What a silly attack. I have been tempted to be discouraged. I know God is everywhere doing something good on my behalf. I did get some good ideas on how to sell our new scanning service. It is a great service for schools, and anyone with accounts Payable. I need to spend about $$$$$$ to make it happen. I am waiting on a client to pay on a late pay invoice and that needs to happen tomorrow. I have come to realize in my short business career that if God wants me to go do something then he will open the door. He doesn't want us to make decisions that cause stress. Seek peace and pursue it. This is my moto. Seek the Peace, what decision do you need to make, make the one that causes you to be at peace. He has provided time and time again. When I needed a elevator lift for my new warehouse that cost $6,000 brand new i found one and only on Ebay not a day too late for $500. I had to do my part, which is to shop for the merchendise, He did the rest. When there is nothing left for me to do, I just have to wait. 1 year seems like a long time to wait on something, 5 years seems even longer, but He makes up for the "lost time" with big accounts and jobs. I have waited 2 years before on new clients to "finally" sign the deal. Today I did my part, I called, emailed, and sent letters to contacts from past appointments that I am waiting on. Something Good is going to Happen today. That is my confession for you.

"what ifs" fly

So I suppose I could say that I have been dealing with some long term stress. I am trying to figure out how to expand and keep up with the times and stay cutting edge in my business. I had a great birthday. Probably could rank it as top 1 or 2 of all time, but then life hits and stuff has to be dealt with. Decisions have to be made, research has to be done, education has to happen in order to make good sound decisions. I desperately need a board of directors or something. The "what ifs fly". And it is a battle to stay focused and moving forward, diligent is the word. There is no one to do it but me, I have to pull out the greatness from deep within. Oh the glamour of owning your own business.

top 10

birhtday #7: my friend Kyle had a horse role over him and he was in a full body cast, and still made it to my birthday party. I've got pictures of that somewhere.

birhtday #10: bowling party with all my cousins, and went to see superman

birhtday # 13: horseback riding in Colorado wilderness, Got a buck knife and still have it.
birthday #14: Costa Rica mission trip. I was the youngest one on the trip I made the cut off date by one day. I was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Birthday #15: Worked in 115 degree heat hauling hay. Got a car. 1977 Honda civic, that smoked like a steam engine.

Birthday #16: Mowed 40 acres of grass, then my dad drove me to Wheeler, 60 miles, with my car on a trailer and I got my license and went on a date.

Birthday #18: Rachel had a surprise party at her house. I thought no one knew that it was my 18th birthday. Nice Surprise. Got a new pickup, which I eventually wrecked a few years later.

#21: Motorcycle trip to Alaska, we were in Estevan, Saskatchewan Canada, and ran from a tornado on our motorcycles in a down pour. All we could do is look straight down at the yellow line to stay on the road. We had a radio and heard that there was a tornado close by, and had just come through a small town that had been hit.

#23: Another surprise party with our friends in Enid.

#28: The ultimate surprise party which included a scavenger hunt that I was oblivious to until the second or third stop.

Those are my top ten most memorable.

#30. The boys surprised me about 4:45 yesterday afternoon. I was on a delivery and came back to the office and they were no where to be found. I walked to my office door and they jumped out and yelled "happy Birthday". Then started telling me what they were going to go and get me for my birhtday. When they got home they immediately opened my gifts and showed me what I got.
Payton got me a new baseball glove, which I have never had a brand new one since I am left handed we could never find one that fit growing up so I always had garage sale items.
Evan got me an Itunes gift card.
My mom and dad bought me a load of Omaha Steaks, and a fully loaded first aid kit.
Rachel got me a new bike, which she wants me to go and pick out.
Mine finally fell apart while they were gone. The pedal came off and the brakes broke. The day ended a lot better than the first 18 hours.

first things first

Update PM read AM first: The day just didn't get much better til now. Some customer at Stor & Lok locked himself in the elevator that is not supposed to carry people, just stuff. That took some time out of my morning and then I had software and scanner problems. I had lunch at Wild Wings and broke my TV fast, obviously can't go there on a TV fast. The fAmily just got here and just left again to shop for b-day.

AM.
Today started off great, then it all came to a head. It seems that each 4th of July it is a tradition for something to break or go wrong at Stor & Lok. Today it is the key pad at the gate. I am trying not to let crap like this ruin my day. Jesse if off this week too so that makes it even better for me, because then I have to make first things first and my "list" has to wait.

Yesterday was nice and relaxing. I worked most of the morning on my "list" and then went to the mall and people watched, which is greatly interesting, and then went to a movie and had dinner with some great friends. Cole, Cherith (who refused to sit by me?), Cody, And Ashley.

The boys and Rachel should be coming home soon!

2nd

2nd night at home alone. So I guess Bloomin Cactus' is blogging, on dial up.
didn't sleep much. and now I am paying by not having any energy or motivation to get my to do list done. I can't drink any cokes because of the fast, so I am running on E.
I did some things totally against my beliefs and personality yesterday.
After work I went to Academy, and Books a million, which isn't strange, but then I went to eat at Tamolly's, I read up on some of my magazines and eased dropped on a few conversations. Then I went to Starbucks and wasted money on a stupid drink. Two things that I would totally never do. The reason...I was reading one of my magazines and the owner of the company said it was healthy to get out of comfort zone and do something you would normally not do. It was actually not too bad of an experience. Then I went home and downloaded all the pod casts and had a podcast and Hold'em marathon til about 3 AM.

Vision

- Is a precise, clearly defined goal with a detailed plan and timetable for achieving that goal.

I almost forgot that this should be in the top 10 of success.

Solomon says:, without a vision the people perish.
I was reading a magazine today while sipping an outrageously expense drink at Starbucks. In it there were bios of different speakers for a Record Storage conference. Most of them in their mid 30's with a list of accomplishments and BA's MD's and all other letters. I was getting discouraged because my name has none of that, I am a college drop-out. I was driving home and was reminded that I don't need any of that to succeed, it might help, but I have a vision and that is what is propelled me to the point I am at.

A glimpse from one of my best reads: "The Richest Man who ever Lived"

Vision: it enabled a first-grade dropout to receive more patents than anyone in history, including those for recording sound, movies, generating elecricity, and of course, the electric lightbulb.

It empowered a fifty-two year-old salesman of milk-shake machines to quit his job and create the most successful restaurant franchise system in the world.

It enabled two college dropouts to turn a hole-in-the wall start-up software company into one of the most highly valued companies in the history of the world. Paul Allen and Bill Gates. Who started out in his garage and is now researches full time to find charities to give his money too, because he makes it faster than he can give it away. Hey, I started my business in my garage, sort of, a storage unit the size of a garage. I want to encourage you that no matter what you education you can be highly successful if you want to be.

I have recently had a burning desire to impart what I know to people, young people, business owners and blog readers. I in my self, don't have anything to offer, but I have learned a tremendous amount about life, business, The Kingdom, and believe that I should be raising up sons and anyone else who will listen. Jesus stepped into his ministry at age 30, so should I.

bloomin cactus

Rachel and the boys are gone to her parents for the week. Will probably be home Thursday. I doubt she will blog this week, no internet up there. I am home alone all week. I am fasting TV so last night I didn't know what to do. I ended up hanging out with the wilsons in there new outdoor paradise. It was fun. I didn't realize how much time I just waste watching TV. It has been hard for me to find creative things to do with no kids, and wife. Jesse is gone too, so I am working double for him and me...
That's all I have time for now.