Well you can once again mark me down as a participant of National Novel Writing Month, which is affectionatly known as NaNoWriMo. This will be my 12th year participating in this literary challenge. I took this on as a personal goal back in 2005 and failed miserably. Finally in 2009 I crested the 50000 word mark to get my first winner certificate. Since then I have continued to play this game. This year will be no different. Here is an info graphic showing some stats from my 11 years of craziness.

Everyone who knows me knows I love The Shawshank Redemption. It is one of my favorite movies and I can quote much of it. The story isn't terribly complex but the narrative is rich and engaging. And Morgan Freeman is awesome no matter what he does.

Today I want you to stop worrying about what obstacles are in your path. I want you to get started today. Even if you can only take one step today. Commit to that one step and do it.

Then set a goal to take another one tomorrow and take it. Every day commit to taking one postive step towards your dream. Let me know what it is and I will cheer you on.

It really does come down to making a choice. I want you to choose to get busy living. I will to.

Carlton

I got this image in my inbox today and got a chuckle out of it as I do with most XKCD comics. I came back to it about about an hour later and thought about what I would write to my future self now. I did the opposite exercise back on my old blog. I'll have to dig through the archives to link to it.

There is something appealing in pointing an arrow into the future. When I was much younger, early teens I think, I wrote a list of things that I wanted to achieve before I graduated college. The list included things like, get published, start a company, work in video games, learn to give massages, meet my wife amoung others. The funny thing is that I completed most of those of them before graduation and had completed all of them before proposing to my wife.

After this I wrote a narrative of what I thought life would look like for my wife and in 15 years. We are coming up on year 15 and many of those milestones have come to pass. The pastor one was not even on my radar back then, but isn't that how God works.

So what would I share with Future Carlton? Much that I would share with Past and Present Carlton as well as my children.

Stop Being Afraid

There really isn't any reason for it and there isn't really any value to it. The pain of failure is nothing compared to the pain of missed oppurtunity.

Plan, Prepare and Execute

One of the best ways to defeat the monster of fear is to prepare now and then charge ahead. Course correct as needed. Before you know it you will be closer to that goal then you were when you started.

I'll be taking some time to think about Future Carlton and what I want to say to him. For you dear readers I leave you with a poem by Gavin Aung Than of Zen Pencils fame.

The Monster Named Fear

We all grown up with dreams of what we can be. In the playground shwing off our talents for all to see.

Anything's possible when you are laughing in school. For Instance: A ballet-dancing prodigy sounds prety cool.

How about a rockstar in a band? Or maybe a tennis pro with a killer backhand.

There's this one girls who makes you laugh till you cramp.
And another who wants to be World Wrestling Champ!

But the road to those dreams are filled with dangers. Obstacles in the way: Parents, Teachers and even some Strangers. Most mean well but some are just mean trolls shouting at you, they're downright obscene.

"*It's never gonna happen."

"You're so gonna fail."

"Why don't you just quit?"

"No! No! No!"

That's all they scream

"You can't do that..."

"It's an Impossible Dream"

But there's something worse than those doubters, you'll find killing more dreams than all of them combined.

It gets bigger and bigger crushing your soul unill it breaks free and goes out of control.

Your enemy speaks, its vice strong and clear. "Hi, pleased to meet you. My name is FEAR"

You smell a foul stench as it gets up realse close, scaly and slimy and disgutingly gross. But you're not bothered by all the mucus and goo, what's most disturbing is the thing sounds like you.

"I'm all of your fears and all of your stress. I'm your fear of the spotlight and fear of success.

"Fear of embarrassment and not enough training. I'm what scares you the most, I'm the fear of you failing!"

Some spend their whole lives running from fear, even when they have friends who support them and cheer. They get gobbles up and deveoured by the beast, their dreams turned to food for the monster to feast.

But don't worry too much, hope is not lost. Fear can be beaten if you are willing to pay the cost.

There are steps to take, steps that are essential. To make sure you don't live your life never reaching your potential.

You land the first blow when you decide to commit. Now it is time to mix hard work with a whole lot of grit.

Practice and practice the practice some more. Improve your craft even when it's a chore.

Get out of your comfort zone and you'll learn faster. You've got to be brave, don't let fear be your master. *. Those butterflies are normal you feel in your tummy. That's when you know fears there in the front row *sitting right next to mommy.

It takes time to get better, I know progress is slow. Just roll up your sleeve and keep giving it a go. And for those sitting at home, thinking it's too late. Fear can be beat no matter your birth date.

Practice and practice, then practice some more, after so many battles you'll be winning the war. Slowly but surely, you've faced fear head on. Now the beast is no more it's finally gone!

Oops, sorry. I lied, I must take that back. Fear never leaves, it's always waiting to attack. It's lurking up there inside of your head. Sometimes it comes back just when you thought it was dead.

But this time you're in charge. There's no need to fret, the fear is so small, it's no longer a threat.. Thanks to persistence and focus and much * follow through*, the monster has shrunk to the size of a shoe.

Fear's scary no more, not even a fright, 'cos you've put in the work night after night. Year after year and the end is in sight, now, at long last you're ready.

Time To Finish The Fight!

Get out there, dream and then execute my friends.

Where trees provided shade and the grass was the only blanket you needed. When I talk to my daughter I don't detect the same level of wonder as she interact with the world. Maybe it is the difference between boys and girls. I remember sweeping adventures that went from one end of one neighborhood to the far end of another.

We had tales about the old homes in our neighborhood. From the story of old man Barry who had killed his brother to assume his familes property to the old boarded up house that was packed full of boxes of money. Then there were the old things we would find in the woods In between the neighborhoods. We would regularly find old cars in the woods and think how did they got there.

These paths were the wormholes to distant lands. Pushing through the undergrowth was emerging through a portal to elsewhen or otherplace. I guess I was just an imaginative kid. I don't know.

In my life God used this sense of awe and wonder to draw me in. As I look back over my life I see how he had set eternity in my heart. How His very creation pointed to something beyond the conventional. Even in my very hidebound mind I see that he was placing in me eyes that were always looking for the miraculous.

Having children is one of the greatest gifts that God gives to his men.  Only the gift of a wife has a bigger impact on the life of a man.  Embrace those whom God has given to you.  Remember your responsibilities to Provide, Protect, Honor and Teach those in your charge.  When God asks what did you do with what I gave you let it be said that you were a good steward.My prayer for you today men is that you live for the glory of God.  That you let that filter cover every interaction with your family.  That you would see your children and spouse as God sees them in Christ.The picture above is of my oldest.  There was a time when she couldn't ride her bike without training wheels.  There was a time when she only wanted to ride if I rode with her.  Those days are just about over.  While she enjoys riding with Dad she asks to ride on her own.  She is starting to want more independence.  One day I'll blink and she'll be leaving our home for college or holding my hand as we walk down the aisle.This life is a flicker gentlemen.  Don't miss these moments in the hustle and bustle of "everyday" life.  Stop, Look, and Listen to what is happening all around you.  Prioritize and execute based on an eternal standard.Hope your day goes well and that you let God lead as you lead in your home,God's Man

1. Lower Your Voice and Speak Slowly

2. Typically, the raised voice and rapid speech are telltale signs that we are out of control — that super-heated emotion is taking over. In those frames of mind, we usually come across as angry, hostile, controlling, but not in charge even of ourselves and our own emotions. A cool, calm low voice sends the message that we are not only in control, but that we have something of significance to offer the stressful situation.2. Say You Care

3. Conflict arises when needs are not being met or when wants and desires are at cross-purposes. The underlying message is that the offending party “really doesn’t care.”  One is not concerned about how the other feels. It’s “My way or the highway.” “He/she never considers what I would like to do.” “He and I never seem to be on the same page. He always gets his way!” The conclusion drawn from such statements is that the other doesn’t care. Conflict is moderated when there is affirmation that one is truly loved and cared for.3. Communicate Commitment

~~~~~~~~~~~

There are moments where I can still hear the voices. Like echoes through time I can still hear the battle raging. I wonder if I will ever get beyond that moment.

The smell of smoke and the clanging of weapons. The shouts of battle reflecting off of the armor of warriors who had seen both their first and last battle. Their young faces seem far to young to have been part of the carnage around them.

The heat of fire still cascade through my mind. We had tapped into something in those days that no one even remembers in this age of peace. Time is short for one such as I and at my age you would think I would have all the answers. However because of my age I know how crazy an assumption that is. For every answer we have found there continues to be even more questions.

I mean I was around when we hit that moment. The moment that should have been out most prized moment. Everything understood, catalogued, and accessible by everyone. We had found a way to link it all together. We had found a way to link all of us together.

No more confusion. No more separation. No more division.

But we had forgotten one thing. One very important lesson. In the run up to building this amazing thing. A group of us had come up with a way to connect our minds. We could live whole lifetimes within. Knowing and being known. Inside there was no limit. Inside there were no boundaries. We could be everywhere, do anything. We even figured out how to to touch the outer world. We could create whole worlds and began to invite others in.

We decided that we would connect our worlds. United as one mind there would be nothing we could not do.

We we so foolish...

We had not idea what we would unleash...

We would come so close to losing it all...

~~~~~~~~~

Chasing after His Glory...

Posted with Blogsy

Transliteration: chazown

Pronunciation: khä·zōn'

Part of Speech: masculine noun

Root Word (Etymology): from chazah

Outline of Biblical Usage:

1) vision

a) vision (in ecstatic state)

b) vision (in night)

c) vision, oracle, prophecy (divine communication)

d) vision (as title of book of prophecy)  

What are you doing with God's vision for your life? Jump into finding it out!

• God's Man

• God's Man

Deontology Deontological ethics or deontology (from Greek deon, "obligation, duty"; and -logia) is the normative ethical position that judges the morality of an action based on the action's adherence to a rule or rules.^[1] It is sometimes described as "duty" or "obligation" or "rule" -based ethics, because rules "bind you to your duty".^[2] Deontological ethics is commonly contrasted to consequentialism.^[3] Deontological ethics is also contrasted to pragmatic ethics.

Teleology A teleology is any philosophical account which holds that final causes exist in nature, meaning that design and purpose analogous to that found in human actions are inherent also in the rest of nature. The word comes from the Greek τέλος, telos; root: τελε-, "end, purpose". The adjective "teleological" has a broader usage, for example in discussions where particular ethical theories or types of computer programs are sometimes described as teleological because they involve aiming at goals.
Teleology was explored by Plato and Aristotle, by Saint Anselm around 1000 AD, and later by Immanuel Kant in his Critique of Judgment. It was fundamental to the speculative philosophy of Hegel.
A thing, process or action is teleological when it is for the sake of an end, i.e., a telos or final cause. In general it may be said that there are two types of final causes, which may be called intrinsic finality and extrinsic finality.^[1]

I did not know that these 2 words existed before today and while they bear greater study I am richer for finding them.  That is one of the best Birthday Gift I could have been given.

This is another great gift for me in case anyone is feeling generous.

 Continuing to Jump in June...

-God's Man

I shared this a few Fridays back but since I am talking about words today this seems appropriate.  Stephen Fry on Language.

Enjoy Your Weekend...
- God's Man

Am I fulfilling this ministry of intercession deep within the hidden recesses of my life? There is no trap nor any danger at all of being deceived or of showing pride in true intercession. It is a hidden ministry that brings forth fruit through which the Father is glorified. Am I allowing my spiritual life to waste away, or am I focused, bringing everything to one central point— the atonement of my Lord? Is Jesus Christ more and more dominating every interest of my life? If the central point, or the most powerful influence, of my life is the atonement of the Lord, then every aspect of my life will bear fruit for Him. - Read the rest here So I ask you to *Jump *into finding your focus today.

-God's Man

As we look at the theme of Jump for this month's NaBloPoMo (National Blog Post Month) one of the things that we should make a habit of doing is trying new things.

I went into the shoe store last week and tried on a pair of the Skeltoes from Fila.  I had looked at them many times but because of the weirdness of my feet I have ignored any shoe innovation.  I buy the same type of New balance shoe that I know fits my custom orthotics.  A weird thing happened when I tried them on.  They fit.  Even without my orthotic I could move around and they felt comfortable.  I am going to get a pair and see how working out with them feels (winking at Fila).

Anyway,  Jump into something new today.  You never know what the outcome will be.

-God's Man

So as we continue to explore this month's theme of *JUMP. *Are ready to *Jump *into your marriage with this new focus?

Always Chasing His Glory
-God's Man