Today is a great day, not because my new blog and website went live but because I choose for today to be a great day. You can choose to think positively no matter your situation or circumstance.

 A lot has happened in a week. This time last week I was looking to go live with my new site and we just couldn't get 'r' done, but now a week later here we are live on the world wide web. There are still a few bugs to workout and a lot to do on my end to access all the features of the club but we're up.  Hope you enjoy the new look, enjoy the pictures, find the buttons on the bottom for all the iphone users. I'm excited and will have a lot more to share about added features and new services from JWM. So have fun, take a look around and enjoy yourself and watch here for more entries, thoughts and rants from a old gray children's pastor who wants to spend the rest of his life teaching others what I've learned and what I'm learning. Thanks for joining me on the journey!

I'll never forget the day the doctor looked at me and said three little words that changed by life forever "It's a girl" that's been almost 29 years ago and I have loved every single day of being a dad. It's an honor to be a part of my girls' lives. I believe that my family is my greatest sermon. A few years ago I wrote a book about how to develop a close reltionship with your kids, it's called "Connect With Your Kid's check it out at my store. I believe it will be a blessing to you. I hope this Father's Day you'll choose to be turn your heart toward your family and strive to be closer to your family than ever before. The biggest difference between a dad and a brother or uncle is dad's want for their kids what they never had. They always want more! One of my ministry secrets has been to be a dad to whom ever needs one and to every ministry I am over. Dare to be a dad in every area you can it will make a difference. Happy Father's Day Dads!

We all win or lose by the way we choose. I choose to commit to being effective over the long haul. I want rely on pass accomplishments I press forward! I choose to do whatever I need to do to possess power to last. Never become weary in well doing. Remember Galatians 6:9, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

01. See yourself as a finisher! Have a vision of the finish line. You must see it by the eyes of faith before it comes to pass. I love this verse in 2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” The good fight is a fight that finishes. Another verse that has taught me how to fight a good fight to finish is found in 1 Thessalonians 1:3, “We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” Did you catch these three keys?
1. Work by faith, go after the finish line even if you can see it with your natural eyes, and see it through the eyes of faith. Obey the voice of the Lord. You are His sheep. He is your shepherd, you know His voice, the voice of a stranger you will not hear!
2. Do everything you do in love. Love never fails! Our labor must always be prompted by His love that He gives us.
3. Endurance is inspired by hope in Jesus! A key to having power to survive the decades is to never loose hope in Christ Jesus!

03. Don’t believe your own press kit. Another thing my mother told me my whole life is, “Things are never as bad as you think they are and you are never as wonderful as you think you are either.” Never forget God is your source!  Don’t work in your own strength. Yes you have skills and gifts but remember who gave you those gifts. I am nothing without the Lord. We are all just a pair of overalls that the Holy Spirit wants to put on and empower us. Give God the glory or every victory and accomplishment. Be thankful always! Keep a file or journal of the victories God has given you and give Him the glory for the good things He has done!

02. Set a goal and don’t stop until you hit it. Then when you hit your goal then set another goal. If you want to have power to last learn to think in steps. Make a plan based on those steps and goals and then walk in out. Don’t seek a quick fix, don’t take leaps, jumps or shortcuts. Follow the Lord’s leading and His timetable.

#4. Do something new and different. I think one reason people give up is that get tired of doing the same things. Choose to always be on the lookout for a new and better way to do everything you do. Most Children’s Pastors I know are pack rats. A great way to stay relevant and fresh is not to keep tons of stuff to re-use. You’ve heard me say this many times but I’ll say it again, “Same action brings same results.” Try something you’ve never done. I’ve found doing new things keep me fresh. Just because something worked once doesn’t mean I should keep doing it. It doesn’t take leadership to quit something that isn’t working. It takes a true leader to take something that’s working well and change it and make it better. That kind of leadership produces results that bear much fruit,

05. Choose to not let attacks, set backs and bad situations hold you back. The secret of longevity is to determine to turn lemons into lemonade! I could fill up this magazine with stories here. We all could insert our own “Somebody done somebody wrong song here. We could all blame others, make excuses for our unforgiveness and hold bitterness in our hearts but I choose to forgive and let others go. I have spent my life telling kids about the power of forgiveness and I am going to practice it because it is the only way to receive forgiveness for myself. Failure and heartaches don’t hold you back it’s what you choose to do after they happen that hold you back or cause you to fail forward.

06. Make changes and improve yourself constantly. I’ve had to reinvent myself as I’ve ministered to young people in the 70’s, the 80’s. the 90.s and now in the 00’s. Be a student of leadership. Improve your skill sets and abilities. Do what works! Evaluate, network, brainstorm with others. Choose to be a lifelong learner! Have a mentor or ministry friend coach and critique your service, your abilities or a meeting that you are leading. Have a makeover in your hairstyle or wardrobe. Wanting to improve is the first step in actually improving.