Statement of faith

When you hear someone say something about a statement of faith, what comes to mind? There is probably a different vision in each individual's eyes. For me though a statement of faith is a statement of belief that everything is going to work out; all it takes is faith.

You might recall the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy that occurred in Newtown, Connecticut last year where 26 children were killed. Well, George Strait wrote a song in an effort to express his won emotion and bring what little comfort he could to the parents of those children. Here's the song:



"I Believe"


The night's as clear as a big desert sky
But it's hard to see the stars with these tears in my eyes
Yeah, it's hard not to cry
There's twenty-six reasons why

There's broken hearts that'll never be the same
Shattered lives still reeling from the pain
Of plans and dreams now gone
Oh, how do you move on?

But I believe
There's someone who's looking after me
Someone beside me night and day
To light the way
It's hard to conceive
Something you can't see
But I believe
I believe

There's twenty-six angels looking down from above
resting in his mercy, grace and love
Time may never heel
The sadness that we feel

[Repeat Chorus]

The rivers flow now that used to be dry
As people all over the world start to cry
But I believe

This song brings a message that rings true day in and day out for many people. The level of tragedy that those parents who lost their children cannot be compared with our everyday struggles. Our struggles are minute in comparison, but we do have struggles and this song is written for us too.

Sometimes it seems our plans and dreams are gone. We get frustrated and sometimes hopeless at life situations and we nearly give up. That's when we need to look up at the sky and see the "stars" in our life-the shining beacons of hope that give us faith because they believe in us. These "stars" in our life can be friends, family, co-workers, or just anyone. They are the people that believe in us and, as the song says, are "beside us night and day to light the way."

Faith is hard for some people and easier than others. However, the easiest way to have faith in yourself is to look at others who have faith in you. If they believe you can accomplish your goals, then why shouldn't you.

Count the "stars" in your life and believe in yourself...JUST BELIEVE!

Tonight, the measure of a man can sometimes be found in his ability to look at the "stars," have faith, and believe!

That, my friends, is just a few thoughts from a small town southern man!

I don't wanna think about tomorrow...

Run there, go here, work there, work here, study here, study there, study everywhere, juggle this, juggle that, sometimes we often feel like that...Well that's as close to Dr. Suess as I will ever get, but those words were meant to conjure some thoughts within you. You see, life sometimes seems like one big chaotic mess. We have assignments, tasks, and errands piling up to our eyeballs. We strive to seek a better future for ourselves but often just seem overwhelmed. It's happened to all of us at some point. Really though, we all wish for better tomorrows sometimes, but the key to a better tomorrow, in my opinion, lies in your contentment with today. Let me explain.

I've been stressed to the max before. We all have. It is when we are sometimes at the end of our rope that we realize we just need to learn to  take things one day at a time. Clay Walker's "Live Until I Die" demonstrates that point well. Here's the lyrics:

"Live Until I Die"

Skippin' rocks, skippin' rope
Laughin' at all my best friends jokes
Things I loved when I was a kid

Muddy roads, muddy feet
I didn't live on no blacktop street
Things have changed a lot but I never did

And I don't wanna think about tomorrow
I don't need anything money can buy
I don't have to beg, steal or borrow
I just wanna live until I die

Livin' right, livin' in this
Little old town I grew up in
But I still held on to my dreams

Standin' proud, standin' tall
Standin' smack dab in the middle of it all
I don't worry about things that I can't change

And I don't wanna think about tomorrow
I don't need anything money can buy
I don't have to beg, steal or borrow
I just wanna live until I die

And everything around me
Are things I dearly love
And every night I get on my knees
And thank the Lord above

And I don't have to think about tomorrow
I don't need anything money can buy
I don't have to beg, steal or borrow
I just wanna live until I die
I don't have to beg, steal or borrow
I just wanna live until I die

"I don't need anything money can buy." You see we stress ourselves out many, many times over striving for material things and worldly accomplishments and the praise of those we don't know. When we achieve those worldly accomplishments or that money or the praise from strangers, often times we just want more and we add to our stress level just to get there. When, in fact, happiness and contentment is right where we left it-in the calmness of realizing "everything around me are things I dearly love." We really should be getting "on our knees and thanking the Lord above!" 

I'm not saying that creating a better tomorrow from yourself is something you shouldn't strive for because it is something you should strive for. What I am saying is we don't have to "beg" for others to notice us as we strive for accomplishments and complete our tasks. We don't have to "steal" from the memories we make with those around us to make so called-memories with those that don't matter. We don't have to let others "borrow" our accomplishments for their own personal gain while they never return them so that we can benefit.

I'm not sure my message is coming out clear tonight, but what I'm saying in a nutshell is this: Be content with today and tomorrow will work itself out. Don't stop achieving your goals, but don't let your goals allow you to overwhelm yourself to a point where you forget how blessed you really are!

Tonight, the measure of a man can sometimes be found in his ability to be content with where he is in life, to be thankful for his blessings, and to be able to be happy with today and hopeful for tomorrow!

That, my friends, is just a few thoughts from a small town southern man! 

Pull up a seat! I'll tell you something crazy!

I'm long over due on a post about love, but I'm really feeling the love here lately and I want to share something with you. Just recently a special someone asked me if she was using the phrase "I love you" too much. My reply was: No! Allow me to explain.

About four years ago, as I rode the winding roads of the Smoky Mountains headed for a vacation I remember distinctly being sick and tired of one particular song that just kept coming on the radio. It seemed like every other song just so happened to turn out to be "Love Like Crazy" by Lee Brice. I told myself then that I would never ever like that song again anymore because I heard it so much! Boy was I wrong! You see, I really wasn't paying attention to the lyrics then as much as I do now. For then, I had no idea what crazy love was or how to love like crazy. Pull up a seat because now I do!

First though, let's check those lyrics out:

"Love Like Crazy"


They called them crazy when they started out
Said, "Seventeen's too young to know what loves about"
They've been together fifty-eight years now
That's crazy

He brought home sixty-seven bucks a week
Bought a little 2 bedroom house on Maple Street
Where she blessed him with six more mouths to feed
Now that's crazy

Just ask him how he did it
He'll say, "Pull up a seat
It'll only take a minute
To tell you everything"

Be a best friend, tell the truth
And overuse "I love you"
Go to work, do your best
Don't outsmart your common sense
Never let your prayin' knees get lazy
And love like crazy

They called him crazy when he quit his job
Said them home computers, boy, they'll never take off
Well, he sold his one man shop to Microsoft
And they paid like crazy

Just ask him how he made it
He'll tell you faith and sweat
And the heart of a faithful woman
Who never let him forget

Be a best friend, tell the truth
And overuse "I love you"
Go to work, do your best
Don't outsmart your common sense
Never let your prayin' knees get lazy
And love like crazy

Always treat your woman like a lady
Never get to old to call her baby
Never let your prayin' knees get lazy
And love like crazy

They called him crazy when they started out
They've been together fifty-eight years now
Ain't that crazy?

Be a best friend:

When you were a kid you know you answered the question: Who's your best friend? A lot of times you answered quickly and moved on. Over the years, perhaps your best friend has changed. But, in this song I think we're talking about a true best friend- a friend for life. This is a friend who knows your every flaw and still loves you in spite of that. This a friend that knows how to cheer you up when you're down. It's a friend who knows how to make you laugh. This is a friend who cries when you cry and hurts when you hurt. It's a friend who enjoys spending time with you no matter the occasion or the time. This is a friend who rejoices in your accomplishments and encourages you in the midst of life's setbacks and trials. It's a friend who truly is the best! It's a friend that love! A best friend love's like crazy!

Tell the truth:

Truth is so vital in love. It's important to know everything about the person- good and bad. A relationship-love-is about being honest and letting the other person know how to help-how to make the relationship stronger. We all struggle or have disagreements, but by telling the truth, we're able to work things out. A truthful person loves like crazy!

Go to work:

What does working and loving like crazy have to do with one another you might ask? Well, how many husbands and wives do you know that have worked hard to provide for their families all because of love. It seems these days that they are few and far between, but let me remind you they do exist. It takes work in a relationship. It takes work to love like crazy- physically and emotionally. A person that truly goes to work loves like crazy!

Do your best:

I think people inherently always want to do their best, but sometimes they need a little push-from themselves. You see, too many times, we give up and quit trying. However when you have a love like I do. When you have a love that is worthy of loving like crazy, you strive to do your best. I know I do! People who do their best love like crazy!

Don't outsmart your common sense:

I'm not known for my common sense. I never have been. I guess that's why Jeopardy is one of my favorite television shows. However, I'm not the only one that outsmarts my common sense from time to time. As humans, we tend to over-complicate things sometimes, when really we just need to go with our gut! If you feel it's right then do it! People who don't outsmart their common sense love like crazy!

Never get too old to call her baby:

I hear people all the time say something negative when someone uses a pet name for their significant other. Personally I think it's really nice and says a lot about how the couple feels about one another. Sweetheart, sweetie, honey, sugar, baby-whatever you call her- don't ever stop. Keep the flame burning! A person who never gets too old to call her baby loves like crazy!

Always treat your woman like a lady:

Respect goes a long way in this world, especially in love. When a person knows you respect them, love can only grow stronger! Some people try to love a woman with no respect for her dignity. It's not possible to truly love a lady without showing her respect and treating her just for what she is- a lady. Opening doors, making decisions alongside of her, and always keeping her wishes foremost in your actions, in my opinion are the keys to treating your woman like a lady. People who treat their woman like a lady love like crazy!

Never let your praying knees get lazy:

Prayer is essential in love. We should always pray for our loved ones and not just a standard run-of-the-mill prayer either. We must pray a powerful, purposeful, passionate prayer from the most humble position-on our knees. If you've never prayed for someone down on your knees, you should give it a try. I can assure you you will then know the true power of prayer. A person who never lets their praying knees get lazy loves like crazy!

Overuse I love you:

You thought I had forgotten this one didn't you? I purposely saved the best for last. You see, I am firmly convicted that we can never use the phrase "I love you" too much. "I love you" speaks for itself and it speaks volumes. The person on the other end of the "I love you" knows if it's genuine or not and a genuine "I love you" never gets old. I should know. I hear genuine "I love yous" everyday! A person who overuses "I love you" loves like crazy!

Do you love like crazy! Will you be together 58 years from now! Will you be able to tell us about something crazy?

Tonight, the measure of a man can sometimes be found in his ability to love like crazy. Give it a try-it's the best form of crazy you'll ever know!

That, my friends, is just a few thoughts from a small town southern man!

Unlikely...

Unlikely-what does that word mean to you? This very word can be used in so many ways. Yet today, I was reminded of one of my favorite uses for the word-unlikely friendship. I've always been a person who has often tried to be very accepting of all people. I like to think that I make friends easily because I don't put friends in a "box." Society tells us to make friends who are exactly like us. I disagree and so does Erling Kindem. Erling Kindem is a 89 year old WWII veteran who once was a bomber but now is an unlikely friend to a 3 year old boy. T o read about the story, check out this link:

http://www.11alive.com/story/life/2014/07/08/farmington-next-door-neighbor-friendship-emmett-erling/12390649/

You see, unlikely friendships can often be the most satisfying ones. In my own life, I've formed many unlikely friendships. I've had and still have friends who are senior citizens. I have friends who are black. I've got friends that are white. I've got friends who are short and I have friends who are tall. I have friends who are young and friends that are old. I enjoy meeting people who are different from me. I've always been that way. I genuinely have an interest in people. More specifically, I have a genuine interest in souls.

You see, unlikely friendships are made because people allow them too.  You must genuinely have an interest in people and their well being to form unlikely friendships. Unlikely friendships take work just like any other friendship, but what sets them apart is the bonds that are form and the force for good they become. Just take Erling and his friend for example. Thousands of people around the world recognize the unlikely friendship that was made in this particular situation. Due to that realization, thousands of people have also learned the impact that an unlikely friendship can have on someone's life. Making an impact on the lives of others is often overlooked. People think that they can't make an impact or that they're not capable of doing so. I think differently. Just try being an unlikely friend with someone-the impact will find you both.

Tonight, the measure of a man can be found in his ability to be an Erling-in his ability to be an unlikely friend.

That, my friends, is just a few thoughts from a small town southern man!

Bet your hard earned dollar

Have you ever known someone that you just wanted to grab by arms and yell in their face, "Believe in yourself!" I've known many. I've always been a very self-confident person. I can thank my grandmother a lot for that. She stands out as the number one person in this world that has always believed in me. For that, I'm most thankful. Most of all though, she taught me to believe in myself. You see, believing in yourself is half the battle.

Travis Tritt's song, "I'm Gonna be Somebody" demonstrates this point well. Here it is:



"I'm Gonna Be Somebody"


Bobby played his guitar on the harder side of town
Where it's hard for a poor boy to find the money
He had dedication, he had the heart and soul
Somehow knew he was born to play

People say get a real job support your family
'Cause there's no future on the road your takin'
But he never said a word, the dreamer just kept on
Late at night you could hear him say, he'd say

I'm gonna be somebody
One of these days I'm gonna break these chains
I'm gonna be somebody someday
You can bet your hard-earned dollar I will

The road was a struggle, took him ten years to the top
And now he's number one on the stage and the radio
Still he can't believe how people come from miles around
When it seems like only yesterday when he would say

I'm gonna be somebody
One of these days I'm gonna break these chains
I'm gonna be somebody someday
You can bet your hard-earned dollar I will, yeah, yeah, yeah

Bobby played his hometown, one full moon August night
When He heard a voice in the front row singing
It was a sandy-haired river boy with same ol' hungry eyes
He looked up at Bobby and said

Mmm, I'm gonna be somebody
One of these days I'm gonna break these chains
And I'm gonna be somebody someday
You can bet your hard-earned dollar I will
You know I will, yeah, yeah

I'm gonna be somebody
One of these days I'm gonna break these chains
I'm gonna be somebody someday
You can bet your hard-earned dollar I will, oh yeah
You can bet your hard-earned dollar I will

You've got to tell yourself that you are going to be somebody. You will break the chains, despite the critics.

Friends, that is easier said than done. All too often in this world, people let others hold them back. You don't believe me? Just check Facebook and see how much people act alike. People are scared to be their own person and fulfill their own potential.

Inside each and every one of is lies a potential to be great at something. Yet, too many times we lack "dedication" and the "heart and soul." 

Well, I'm telling you now, "YOU'RE GONNA BE SOMEBODY!!! YOU WILL BREAK THE CHAINS!" Now, go believe in yourself!

Tonight, the measure of a man can sometimes be found in his ability to "be somebody." That ability lies in believing in one's self. What do you believe?

That, my friends is just a few thoughts from a small town southern man!