Top 10 Moments of 2017 (and, as always, honorable mentions)

With so much that has happened this year and even more happening RIGHT NOW... I'm both excited to post this and yet sad to realize it is only my third blog post in the past 12-months (there will be many more this coming year, get ready!)! 

In a nutshell, 2018 is going to be crazy!!  We have spent the entire year laying groundwork to finally launch the 'Modern Day Agoge' (Spartan Code's monthly training plan) THIS MONTH!!  Not to mention, I have started yet another new position, still within the Walmart family but new focus, AND yes with all that and the fact that my family is still my number one priority, it's going to be a bumpy ride.  

All that being said... Let's do a quick look back into the top 10 moments of 2017 (Reminder that not all moments are great but they are the biggest "moments" of the year).

Honorable Mentions:
*) Dallas Cowboys (This past season has been a big let down, however, last seasons' playoffs were also in 2017, so they balance out)!!

The $20 Bill

"Who would like this $20 bill?" the man said holding a new crisp twenty dollar bill in his hand.

Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you - but first, let me do this."  He proceeded to crumple the 20 dollar note up.  He then asked.  "Who still wants it?"  

Still the hands were up in the air.

"Well," he replied, "what if I do this?"  He dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe.  He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still wants it?"

Still the hands went into the air.

"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson.  No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value.  It was still worth $20.

Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way.  We feel as though we are worthless; but no matter what happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. 

Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless.  The worth of our lives comes, not in what we do or who we know, but by ...WHO WE ARE.  

You are special AND worth it - don't ever forget it."

- Author Unknown

“Butterfly Courage”

Walking down a path through some woods in Georgia in 1977, 1 saw a water puddle ahead on the path. I angled my direction to go around it on the part of the path that wasn’t covered by water and mud.  As I reached the puddle, I was suddenly attacked!

Yet I did nothing for the attack was so unpredictable and from a source so totally unexpected. I was startled as well as unhurt, despite having been struck four or five times already.  I backed up a foot and my attacker stopped attacking me.  Instead of attacking more, he hovered in the air on graceful butterfly wings in front of me.  Had I been hurt I wouldn’t have found it amusing, but I was unhurt, it was funny, and I was laughing.  After all, I was being attacked by a butterfly!

Having stopped laughing, I took a step forward.  My attacker rushed me again.  He rammed me in the chest with his head and body, striking me over and over again with all his might, still to no avail.  For a second time, I retreated a step while my attacker relented in his attack.

Yet again, I tried moving forward.  My attacker charged me again.  I was rammed in the chest over and over again. I wasn’t sure what to do, other than to retreat a third time, after all, it’s just not everyday that one is attacked by a butterfly. This time, though, I stepped back several paces to look the situation over. My attacker moved back as well to land on the ground.  That’s when I discovered why my attacker was charging me only moments earlier.

He had a mate and she was dying.  She was beside the puddle where he landed.  Sitting close beside her, he opened and closed his wings as if to fan her.  I could only admire the love and courage of that butterfly in his concern for his mate. He had taken it upon himself to attack me for his mate’s sake, even though she was clearly dying and I was so large.  He did so just to give her those extra few precious moments of life, should I have been careless enough to step on her.

Now I knew why and what he was fighting for.  There was really only one option left for me. I carefully made my way around the puddle to the other side of the path, though it was only inches wide and extremely muddy.  His courage in attacking something thousands of times larger and heavier than himself just for his mate’s safety justified it.  I couldn’t do anything other than reward him by walking on the more difficult side of the puddle.  He had truly earned those moments to be with her, undisturbed.  I left them in peace for those last few moments, cleaning the mud from my boots when I later reached my car.

Since then, I’ve always tried to remember the courage of that butterfly whenever I see huge obstacles facing me.  I use that butterfly’s courage as an inspiration and to remind myself that good things are worth fighting for. 

Copyright 1997 Dave Kuzminski

101 Reasons I Love My Wife

- Her smile (specifically cheeks)
- Her heart
- Her transparency in life
- Her passion to Christ
- Her loyalty to others
- Her commitment to me
- Her discipline to be better
- Her vulnerability with me
- Her leadership of others
- Her drive to compete 
- Her intentionality with the kids
- Her willingness to love me
- Her willingness to serve me
- Her look when she's flirting
- Her look when she's mad
- Her desire to be held
- Her need for me
- Her allowing me to lead
- Her encouragement of me
- Her love for her family
- Her family
- Her love of my family
- Her athletic ability 
- Her voice when she's sad
- Her voice when she's happy
- Her laugh
- Her "brown" hair
- Her butt
- Her ability to lead in any situation
- Her desire to know the kids
- Her frustration of running late
- Her word
- Her excitement for candy 
- Her passion
- Her faithfulness to me
- Her deep blue eyes
- Her passion for adoption
- Her sneezes 
- Her smile when she's mad
- Her frustration yet love for the dog
- Her making up words to songs
- Her focus of things I miss
- Her spelling ability 
- Her direction 
- Her sense of humor
- Her desire for deep friendships
- Her friendship to me
- Her ability to bear everyone
- Her competitive edge 
- Her love of excel spreadsheets 
- Her giggle that turns to laughs
- Her "coke bottle" glasses
- Her habit of leaving tags on the floor
- Her slow creep to the middle of the bed 
- Her work ethic
- Her middle toe
- Her commitment to run
- Her love of sleep
- Her love of darkness
- Her traveling "procedures"
- Her willingness to listen
- Her need to feel safe
- Her trust of other people
- Her discernment
- Her voice of reason for me
- Her constant attention to detail
- Her go-getter spirit 
- Her soft tshirts
- Her dancing
- Her desire to make me happy
- Her honesty with herself
- Her willpower to win
- Her ability to be just about everyone 
- Her hair when it has "The wave"
- Her excitement when she has a surprise 
- Her inability to not be surprised
- Her need to raise the bar
- Her education
- Her life experiences 
- Her lack of need of me
- Her need of me
- Her mental toughness 
- Her singing to the kids
- Her apologies 
- Her hesitancy to use bad words
- Her lack of remembering
- Her pride in seeing the kids
- Her prayers for the future 
- Her job
- Her lack of finding a trash can
- Her finishing attitude
- Her resolve to never quit 
- Her belief in me
- Her healthy fears
- Her need for speed
- Her willingness to follow 
- Her strong shoulders
- Her physical toughness
- Her confidence she gives me
- Her courage when she has to
- Her Love 

#HappyAnniversary

Children See... Children Do!!

Disclaimer: This video is an actual ad that was ran in Australia and is very real. There is no language but there is some hard scenarios, please do NOT watch with your children!

Can I ask you a couple questions:
- How did this commercial make you feel?
- What was the most offensive part of the video to you?
- Why is a kid giving someone "the finger" often more offensive than the domestic abuse?

Bad News: Jesus said, "And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck."  

Good News: Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

Full Context: Mark 9:35-50

We have a very unique and high calling as parents and leaders. 

May we live to honor Him and lead our kids in humble obedience!! 

I don't think I want to say much more, instead just let it sink in... 
AND let's discuss in the comments below!! 

So when will you talk about sex?

10 things… You Should Know About Teens & Tweens

Dating & Sex

-       “1 in 4 teens gets an STD before they head off to college” (NCPCF)

-       “1 in 3 teens experience some kind of abuse in their relationships” (dayoneny.org)

My thoughts on approaching the topic of Dating & Sex

-       Don’t “demonize” sex or over “glorify” it (trying to make it great & special)

-       Modeling healthy relationship with the opposite sex in front of teens (honor & service)

-       Teaching an “Others-Focused” approach to dating relationships (It’s not about you)

According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

-        Teens rated their parents as the most influential factor in their decisions about sex.

-        78% of all teens surveyed believed that teenagers should not be sexually active.

-        89% of those surveyed would advise their own brother, sister or friend not to have sex until at least finishing high school.

5 Tips when thinking through Teen Dating  (Adapted from Homeword.com)

-       Talk and set the rules for dating before it actually starts. Gather their opinions about such things as curfew, where and with who a date looks like, dealing with distractions.

-       Learn about their dating readiness by asking good questions: How do you know you can trust someone? How do you know when you like someone? Lust vs. Love?

-       Know when to listen and keep your opinions to yourself. An ill-timed negative comment about the current boyfriend/girlfriend could send your teen rushing back.

-       Offer your own teen dating stories, at a time when your child is receptive to hearing them. And be truthful. Let your child learn from your mistakes.

-       Listen to their stories. You may be naturally inclined to tune out the pre-teen saga of who said what to whom each day. But this is the way this age group communicates…

o   *Think about signing your pre-teen-ager up for self-defense or assertiveness training classes. Make sure they have the tools to stand up for themselves.

Legal definitions … The State Law (Oklahoma): http://www.lsb.state.ok.us

-       Consent for sex in Oklahoma is 16 & older, HOWEVER, only within two years apart

-       14 year olds and older can consent to testing, treatment, adoption, abortion, etc.

Couple quick thoughts about Sexual Orientation...

-       Be Safe: Express Warmth & Empathy (Regardless of your feelings!!)

-       Demonstrate unconditional love and acceptance 

-       Find some resources and ask for help from experienced leaders

**If you are interested in my personal three-hour training of the '10 Things YOU Should Know About Teens & Tweens' please e-mail me for a FREE copy of the manuel and video link!!

**Follow Jeff, also known as "surgeberg" on: Facebook, Twitter & Instagram