What I'm Reading...

One of my goals while I'm on "leave" is to work on my heart and mind...and not just the physical heart...I want to gather all I can during this time and not regret wasted time...with that in mind, I grabbed these books to read while I'm "out"...looking forward to learning from some great leaders...

I have wanted to read this book for a long time...have heard AMAZING things about it (actually my book cover doesn't look like this one...I have an OLDER one!)

I have to read this book for an on-line class I'm taking to renew my teaching license. Good information so far.

I have always LOVED President Reagan...I remember "voting" for him in a mock-election in elementary school. I look forward to learning more about him and his journey...

I heard Mark Driscoll speak at a conference a few years back...he has a depth to him that challenges me...I look forward to learning from him...

The elders and pastors are going through this book...I've read about 75% of the book...should have it done today...GREAT stuff...see my post from yesterday for more nuggets...

Change up

Woke up this morning feeling pretty tired...fatigued...Every morning so far, I wake up feeling a little better and ready to go...I have been aggressive with my walking. The only guidance I was given from the hospital was "do as much as you feel like you can." OOPS! I told them that probably wasn't great advice to me! So since I've been home I've done A LOT of research on target heart rate after a heart attack...exercise plans and such...I realized this morning that the plan I have in place is probably too aggressive right now. So, I backed off a bit today...still walked, but not at the same pace. I'm still going to walk every day, but going to switch up the pace each day...so allow my body to bounce back better. Figure I'll be learning what I can and cannot do for a while...the goal? Be better than I've been in years...to not have to tell Jaden "Sorry bud...can't play football with you right now." I want to be playing football and basketball with my grandkids...SO, restructuring today, so I don't have to later!

Follow up to "Tough Decisions"

Just read a friend's blog...he is a PASSIONATE leader in our community...he cares about this city like I do...His church LOVES ON THE COMMUNITY...Yesterday, I posted about the tough decisions that our school board has to make...Sam had a post today that I believe is a GREAT example of how to handle this...he loves the Southside of South Bend and he is looking to fight for his cause AND get more information so he can give solutions...I like that! Here is a link to his blog... http://www.sambarrington.com/

"Killing Cockroaches" by Tony Morgan

This has been a very good book...I have a few more pages to go, but have really enjoyed the book...the idea is that too often leaders spend time on killing cockroaches...on tasks that take up way to much time, therefore they don't spend the time on what is most important. Some thoughts from my reading yesterday and today...

-Are we just adding to people's already loaded schedules or is what we are doing in the church making a maximum impact on them and the community
-Christ came to give LIFE...not to drain people and burn them out
-People will put their $ where their heart is. (convicting and sobering!)
-when a cause is big enough people will give their time. (OH, we have seen this!!)
-Mark Batterson was quoted as saying "I need to know less and less about more and more." (He was talking about if the church was to continue growing, he didn't need to be in on everything. I say AMEN to that one! Get capable people around you and let them lead...I was already working on this...NOW I have too!)
-Don't say yes because it is to hard to say no. (OH MAN! CONVICTING!!!!)
-Church can't be EVERYTHING to EVERYONE or they won't accomplish ANYTHING...OK...this one is mine...something that came out of the book. We have to love families to Jesus and be careful that we don't get spread too thin
-Train your assistant to handle all requests for meetings (You have to have an assistant for this to be possible!!)
-Our message has to cut through the noise of people's lives
-While a building program cannot make an unhealthy church healthy, it can equip and inspire healthy churches to become healthier. (We are experiencing this right now!!)

Tough Decisions

I do not envy the South Bend School Board...the group has a HUGE mountain in front of them! THEY HAVE TO CUT $8million off of the budget...YOU GOT IT...$8 million!!!! Picture that for a minute...think about that task..then think about the fact that the WHOLE COMMUNITY WILL BE WATCHING AND OFFERING THEIR INPUT...Tough job!

Here is the deal...often people fight for their cause...fight WITH PASSION to keep this or that program...AND I AM GLAD THEY DO...Hey, I did when I first started teaching in SB...they cut 12.5 music jobs after my first year here, including mine...band and orchestra was going out of the schools...it was a good cause to fight for...the arts are important part of a child's education. There will be many causes to fight for over the next weeks...and I ask our community members to do a few things:

PRAY for the board members...pray for wisdom

TREAT THEM WITH RESPECT...You can disagree...state your thoughts STRONGLY, yet show respect. They are people AND the PUBLIC voted them in! (BTW if you didn't vote, you might want to next time or don't complain!! A little Boucher Soap Box right there!!)

OFFER SOLUTIONS...this is a big one...far too many people are more than willing to fight for their program, but NEVER OFFER A SOLUTION...Can you imagine the job they have in front of them...what would you do? what would you cut? Something has to happen!

FIGHT for the programs you believe are most important...DO IT! It helps the board know what matters the most to the community...helps them make better decisions.!

Docs Orders

I was shoked last week when the doctor told me that I would have to take a month off of work. I hadn't cried yet about having a heart attack, but that about made me. I LOVE WHAT I DO! LOVE IT! The thought of "checking out" for a month, because I was forced to...really disheartened me! I LOVE WHAT I DO!!!! (Did I mention that already?!?!) I was expecting a couple of weeks, but not 4+ weeks! What I didn't realize was how long it would take to feel better...yesterday I finally got to get out of the house. I drove (boy did that feel good!) the family to a park...watched the kids play...walked some...shot a couple hoops with Jaden (which got me in trouble with Kels!! I got a call from her from over at the playground..."I can see you over there Tim!")...it was really fun to get out.

When I got home, I was EXHAUSTED!! We weren't gone for 2 hours and I was tired...CRAZY!! It was crazy...didn't feel bad while I was out, but took a 15 minute nap when I got home...I'm OLD!! Looking forward to getting my energy back and I understand why the doc gave the orders now...

Monday Reflections

I had my own Sunday service yesterday...I played a few songs on iTunes and then listened to Jim's message on-line that everyone else was seeing that morning. It was a deeply moving time for me...At one point, Kelsey called me and put her phone on speaker so I could hear Jerimae and the band leading...I had tears in my eyes...

Songs I listened to:
New Beginning by Jerimae...he wrote the song for our church and our new beginning at a new location...for me it rings true very personally. I have a new beginning in my life right now...this is a whole new chapter in my life...I'm seeking God's heart for all he wants to teach me.

"Slow Fade" was next...I don't want to slip up as I'm getting restored to health...don't want to slip up personally...but I really got convicted as I listened to this song...realizing that I run to snack foods and junk when the pressure rises...I cried as I realized how I need to change...how I need more self-discipline...self-control in my life. (THEN Jim touches on that in his message too..the Spirit was coming for me!!) VERY convicting...

I was planning to listen to another song, but "I will Rise" came on and I was undone..."Jesus has overcome...the grave is overwhelmed...the victory is won..." OH MY WORD! How true...I still still get to share that amazing message with people, because Jesus didn't call me home...what a privilege...an honor...a responsibility I have...POWER!

GREAT time experiencing God through song...I would listen and worship through the song and then I'd sit in silence, reflect and write a response...Powerful time...moving time...good to be with my Savior!

More to come...

Random Thoughts

Random Thoughts:
-It's hard for me to sit for long
-Walked a mile this morning on the treadmill...
-Got my heart rate up to 114...felt good
-Can't believe how tired I still feel
-I have a hard time just sitting!
-People have brought AMAZING food
-GREAT times in the Word...reading through Revelation
-I told a friend a couple of weeks ago that everyone is expendable...everyone can be replaced...of course we should be missed, but the church goes on...I didn't want God to prove that through me so quickly!!
-My family is amazing...I cherish them
-What do people do without having family and friends that care?
-I never want to be back in the hospital and know that I could have helped to prevent it!
-The staff at Memorial was amazing...they genuinely care for their patients
-If Jaden beats me at one more game, I might end up back in the hospital!
-Had a friend bring some "older" movies over for me...Red Dawn...Italian Job...Masters of the Universe (REALLY!)...Mission Impossible and more...haven't seen a whole movie yet
-Missing Jaden's last bball game today...
-Chloe is home "watching" me!
-Chloe made me lunch today...warmed up some venison stew!
-Grateful...every morning...for another day.

Make the most of today!

What happened?

Many have asked me what was the reason for the heart attack...how did this happen? The biggest reason is family history...genetics...I did a family tree in college and half of it was all heart disease...I had a cousin die at 41...an aunt with a heart attack at 40...my mom had by-pass surgery in her 50's and most of my relatives on my mom's side have passed away due to cardiac issues.

ALSO...I need to rope in my diet and exercise...If the average guy would eat what I do and be as active, he may never have a problem...BUT with my history, I must make changes! I will try not to drive Kels NUTS as I look at labels on foods! Sodium...Saturated Fats...Cholosteral...protein...fiber...I never realized how much I needed to look at...and how bad some of this stuff was on my body...It's more than just eating in moderation...there's some stuff that needs CUT OUT of my diet...

I had a couple of injuries last year on my feet and then got out of the habit of exercising...this must change as well...got to ease into it, but from the research I've done they want you to start right away.

SO I'm off to the treadmill for some walking!

Thanks.

I am grateful today for life...I often wake up in the morning and thank God for another day...now, after having a heart attack at 36...I mean it even more...so I say...Thanks to God for sparing my life...giving me more time here on earth to love on my family, friends, church and community in his name...for allowing me to see my kids grow up...Thanks to Kelsey for all of her love...for the way she took care of the kids and ahead of time for the next weeks...months...as I recover...Thanks to my kids, who I love more today than I did before this...can't explain that, but I just feel it...Thanks to family and friends...for your prayers...your visits...phone calls...concern......love...Thanks to the doctors, nurses and staff at Memorial Hospital...I received amazing care and I am grateful. I cried when I got home from the hospital today...just overwhelmed with the love that I and my family were shown over these days...

thanks.