Memorable

When I was a kid, I'd be reading along and would stop to jot down memorable lines on 3x5 index cards. Once I was done I'd stick 'em in a file box and forget about 'em for a few weeks or months.

I ended up with a collection of quotes from a diverse group; Billy Graham, Louis L'Amour, Lee Iacocca, Thoreau, and Dostoevsky just to name a few. You, my lucky reader, get to read over my shoulder without rummaging through my personal time capsule of a desk drawer. Some are funny. Some are reflective. Some might even make you seriously wonder about the sanity of this author.

I've shared just a couple here for you to enjoy on your Friday. If you've got your own short list of inspirational scripture or memorable quoatables ... I'd enjoy reading lines you've collected.


"A man is a hero, not because he is braver than anyone else, but because he is braver for 10 minutes longer." R. Waldo Emerson

"Set higher standards for your own performance than anyone around you and it won't matter whether you have a tough boss or an easy one." Rick Pitino in Success is A Choice

"The Almighty does nothing without reason, though the frail mind of man cannot explain the reason." Augustine of Hippo

"It is not what happens to you that determines how far you go in life; it is what you do with what happens to you." Unattributed

"The irony -- and the tragedy -- of our society is that it appears that one doesn't have to risk anymore. Without too much effort, in our society you can live an entire lifetime without getting really hungry, really thirsty, really cold, really hot, or really challenged. And the sad part is that all too often -- usually when it is too late -- we discover that we haven't lived our lives to the fullest." Tim Hansel in What Kids Need Most In a Dad


"He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8

PK 2007: Chicago?

It has been suggested that the closest Promise Keepers event in 2007 is in Chicago around May 22-23. (Don, thanks for the news!) Some of you may recall we took about 40 guys to Promise Keepers in Indy a few years back.

If we organize a group to go this year, would you be interested in the PK Chicago event?

Let me know if you're interested and we'll make a decision early this spring. We'll settle for a statement of interest for now...paid registrations would follow in a couple of months.

Cordially, Eric

Colts: Breaking Barriers

If you are even a casual fan of the Indy Colts, then you likely know about the personal faith and tremendous character of Coach Tony Dungy. Indy Star columnist Bob Kravitz has an article today (1/23) that puts an exclamation point on it. He writes:

Two Significant Barriers Were Broken on Sunday.

One, there's the barrier you know about, the one you're going to hear plenty about in these next two weeks, the racial barrier and the fact that this Super Bowl will not only feature the first black coach to lead his team to the big game, but two black coaches, the Colts' Tony Dungy and the Bears' Lovie Smith.

But there is another barrier that's being broken, less socially significant but still, enormously important in its own way.

The two men who will coach in Super Bowl XLI are both devout, quiet, self-contained head coaches who break the mold in a league that has long featured profane, myopic workaholics who proudly proclaim they have no life outside of football and demand the same warped accountability from their players.

"Even more important to me (than the breaking down of the racial barrier) is I know the type of person Lovie is, that he has the same Christian convictions in the way he runs his team,'' Dungy said after a long Sunday night that ended around 4 a.m. at Palomino's. "I know how those guys are treated in Chicago, how they play tough, disciplined football even though there's not a lot of profanity from the coaches, not a lot of the win-at-all-costs atmosphere. And for two guys (Dungy and Smith) to show you can win that way, I think that's just as important for the country to see.''

Full article is at the Indy Star website.

This is one of those articles that you clip and share with your kids. It is outstanding to see two men of such great character get to the Super Bowl!

Task Ahead photo

Gents,

Don Alban sent this photo awhile back. Sorry to be so slow in sharing it with you... but it was too good not to pass along.

~ Eric

Godly Discipline

On the topic of Discipline*:

"Most men have values and priorities that they keep in their minds, but many have difficulty incorporating those priorities into their daily schedules. Many would say that God and family are their top two priorities, but in reality, God and family are often given less time and commitment than work and other pursuits. Consequently, many men feel guilty every time they are faced with the issue of their values and priorities.

"Men need to know how to excel in the basics of the Christian life...[and] be taught the fundamentals of the faith in order to live a purposeful and productive life in Christ. To grow into maturity and productive service for the Lord, men must be given the necessary tools for Bible reading, prayer, Scripture memorization, witnessing, and discipling others. And he must learn how to incorporate what he learns about the Word of God into his everyday life.

"These habits and skills don't come about by accident but only be a concerted effort by the leaders of the church. God intends that men develop under the helpful influence of mature believers. "

Hebrews 13:8 says, 'Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith."

* Quotes continue to be pulled from Effective Men's Ministry, Phil Downer, Editor.