Imagine the Potential
We all struggle. Every single day we struggle with something. It could be time management, relationships, or diets. I don’t think anyone can lay their heads down at night knowing they have no struggles in life.
I know why we struggle, but I don’t know why we continue to stress about our struggles. You may not be a believer, but there is no denying the fact that the Bible holds the answers to our lives. If you open up and read God’s word, you’ll see that we aren’t suppose to stress about things. We aren’t suppose to fear the events going on in our world today. When a door closes on you, it’s because God is opening up another one right around the corner.
Take a second and close your eyes. Imagine the earth and how it would look if everyone walked closer with Jesus. Imagine how people would deal with adversity if they knew there was no reason to worry and stress. Jesus tells us to not worry about tomorrow. If we truly have faith in Jesus, then we know that he will take care of the things neccessary for us to survive. That may mean you don’t get the car loan for your new car, or your credit card will get declined for that big screen you want, but continue growing with God and you will see first hand that there is no reason to stress out.
Why are you stressed out? Your life has been mapped out for you. Life can get rocky when you lose your job or a loved one becomes sick, but you will find confort in prayer and knowing that there is a reason for everything that happens. It may not seem fair, and it may be hard to deal with, but have faith in Jesus that when our lives are all said and done you will truly understand why things happened the way they did.
I would be lying to you if I said I didn’t stress out and worry about everything. I’m a work in progress just like you, and your family, and your neighbors. What I wrote above is what I am striving for. When life throws the toughest curveball at me, sometimes I’ll look up and say “good one” to God. I do that because I know that seemingly bad things that happen to me in life will have a lesson learned at the end. God keeps us on our toes, we are not to become complacent, and we are not to live a life of struggle.
I do close my eyes once in a while and imagine how this earth would look if everyone followed the Bible. I picture people helping people, ego’s casted aside, and people not losing sight of the things that truly matter. Login to Facebook right now, how many people are excited because they just saw a celebrity, or boasting about their new car, their new tattoo, or about how drunk they got last weekend? Now think about how much better it would be if everyone posted words of encouragement, photos of their families, and spent time planning events to help less fortunate people instead of a beer pong tournament.
You’d be amazed if you knew how much it meant to somebody to just smile and say good morning to them. Instead of keeping your head down as you pass people, keep your head up and greet others. It’s tiny gestures like this that can really make a difference within yourself and within others.
Everything I’ve talked about here are things that I need to work on. I do stress, I do get irritated, I do get caught in negative gossip circles, and I do find myself losing focus of the things that really matter. Every day I acknowledge my struggles, and everyday I strive to realize the potential the God has given me.
Add comment September 2, 2009
Bruce Springsteen
“Born to Run” just came on 95.5 KLOS, and nothing quite brings me back to the memories of growing up with my Dad as much as hearing a good Bruce song on the radio. I often stop whatever I’m doing and reflect for a bit.
You know you had a good childhood when you spend a lot of time reminiscing about the good times you had.
Add comment August 28, 2009
1:20 am
Not pleased with my performance this week. Don’t think I met my goals. I will wake up and try to salvage the week.
2 comments August 28, 2009
Mark Sanchez named Jets Starter
Nick Wass/Associated Press
Congrats to Mark Sanchez (USC) for being named the Jets starting QB for the upcoming NFL Season.
NY Times Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/27/sports/football/27jets.html?_r=1&ref=sports
Add comment August 26, 2009
A Challenge for All of Us
I’ve reached a point in my life where I truly can say, “There aren’t enough hours in the day.” I’ve said that before, but it was because I didn’t have time to do something stupid like play a video game. As I sit here and think about everything on my plate, it’s a feeling of optimism and not a feeling of stress. However, I always have the feeling that I’m not making the most of my time. Just because I fill my schedule with things that “sound” good, doesn’t necessarily mean I am doing things that allow me to live up to my potential.
This week has to be productive. It’s my last week off before the Fall Semester starts for me at CSUDH. I gotta answer the bell at 6:00am. I gotta block out the negative vibes at work and be myself. I have to be ready to practice soccer with Bella as soon as she gets home from school, and I need to read to her before bed. I have to be equally as encouraging and energetic to my wife, as I would be to a client who calls into the office. I have to love her as I did the day after our wedding. I need to go the gym at least every other day. I have to cut out soda’s, and I need to be strict on my diet. Nothing is ever going to change if I keep putting everything off until tomorrow. I’m going to call my Mom and check in on my sisters and, and I’m going to call my Dad and check on my brother. And I need to spend time with the foundation of it all, the word. I need to be more diligent in reading God’s word.
This is a week in which I will lay it all out on the line. Does good effort in every sector give you a more complete feeling when your head hits the pillow at night? I’m throwing this challenge out to everyone reading this. When you wake up tomorrow, don’t put anything off for 1 week. Try your best at everything you do, don’t be lazy. Let’s see how we feel at the end of the week.
Good luck, and have a great week!
2 comments August 23, 2009
310 Bums Basketball: Practice Poll
Add comment July 19, 2009
Blitz: The League II (Review)
Release Date: October 13, 2008
Platforms: PS3, 360
Total Unit Sales (as of 5/12/09): 40,000
The Blitz series seems to be one of those games that spark the interest of gamers, but not to the point where the gamers purchase this title in droves. I admit that I was one of those people, and I didn’t purchase the game until Best Buy had their $9.99 sale a few weeks back. What I’ve encountered is game that gives me some hope that things will continue to evolve in sports gaming.
The campaign mode is what it’s all about. I immediately fired up a campaign, named by team the Los Angeles Trojans, and headed into season 1. The Blitz League is broken up into 3 divisions. The goal is to take your expansion team from Division 3 to the big time of Division 1. This is done by winning the division championship. Aside from compiling W’s and L’s for your team, you also create a “Franchise” player. You choose his nickname, position, etc. Throughout the campaign you are faced with choices on how to act towards outside influences, whether or not to use steroids, hook up with girls, etc. It’s really a mix of Grand Theft Auto and Pro Football.
When you’re not playing a football game, you can make use of your time by upgrading your training facilities, juicing up your players, and reviewing the stats in your league. Before each game you are given a goal for your franchise player (ie; get more touchdowns with your franchise player than the star player for the other team). At the end of each game you will see a list of all the things you’ve accomplished including in game bonuses and achievement points.
The gameplay itself is solid, and the first time you see somebody get a major injury will be an enjoyable visual experience. Visually the game is a breathe of fresh air.
As of this writing I have won both the Division 3 and Division 2 championships and have my first Division 1 game coming up.
The Blitz franchise has created it’s own football universe, and it’s easy to get sucked into it. Blitz takes us back to the days when games were made to be fun. You can find this game at Amazon for $19.99, and probably less at other places. If you are a football fan and want a difference experience, I highly recommend Blitz: The League II.
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
1 comment May 12, 2009
Damn it Manny!!
To say I was let down by this is an understatement. When I saw the news that Manny tested positive for a banned substance, my jaw literally dropped and you could see goosebumps on my arms…I’m serious.
My passion for the Dodgers and the Dodgers players has always been a part of who I am. When something like this happens to our organization, it just leaves a pit in the stomachs of fans like myself.
Earlier in the day yesterday I was excited that Manny really didn’t do something bad. I was thinking that he did take something for his “little problem” and it triggered this failed drug test. That was until I talked to some friends and read the reports that what he took is the very same thing that steroid users take to recoup their testoserone levels from previous steroid use.
I know we are grown men, but we still become enamored with our favorite players. We still get excited when they come to bat, and if we see them in a public setting we jump on our cell phones like high school girls calling all of our friends. It’s very disheartening when things like this happen.
I had this same feeling a couple years ago when I found out via the Mitchell Report that Eric Gagne used steroids and that Paul LoDuca was involved with that as well. I was so happy for Paulie when he splashed in the majors after seeing him trudge along the minors for so long. And Gagne, my goodness, this guy was one of my favorite Dodgers of all time. Right up there with Gibby and Hershiser. All the memories he gave us with the stadium entrance and the 80+ save streak means nothing to me because he cheated.
All of these years of hating Bonds for cheating the game. All of us Dodger fans yelling “Barr-roids” from the bleachers. Talk about putting a foot in our mouths.
Manny, you let me down, and you let millions of fans in Los Angeles and around the world down. We embraced you, and you lied to us.
It just makes me sick.
Add comment May 8, 2009
