Author: Ethan Bethune

Ethan lives in Alabama with his shelter dog and cat, Simon and Francis.

Legacy

The book of James says, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (5:16b ESV). Other translations say, “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (NIV) or “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (KJV)

Pray…
There’s still an old way
It’s a calm quiet way
It is held by a calm faith and assurance …
To lead and raise your family and build a legacy of faith…

“And some from among you shall build the old waste places; raising up the foundations of many generations; and be called The repairers of the breach, The restorers of paths to dwell in.”

“far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you.”

“Why did you wish me milder? Would you have me false to my nature? Rather say I, play the man I am.”

— Coriolanus

God is not shaking his head and trying to figure out what to do with you or your life …
Banks may fail and rivers flood…
But he is not surprised …
Marriage is hard and raising children harder…
Being leaders of our homes is a responsibility but it is worth it…
We are called to be fathers and husbands and be active and present …
To raise up an old foundation …
A sober foundation …
Of faith and love.

-E

Steadfast

The world says whatever you’re doing is fine…just follow your heart…
Follow your passion…
If you’re not happy find new experiences …
How many failed marriages …
How many lost careers…
How many perfect situations
And arrangements
With no accountability?
Before we understand a truth…
——
You must lead …
Lead your heart…
Take on responsibility
Forge ahead…
Take courage and be bold…
Set your face like flint and face your future and your life and hold fast…
Because the storms are coming …
The water is rising …
But you go and lead…
Plant your harvest and do the work…
——
There’s short cuts coming …
Just slow down …
Just have some drinks…
Just splurge a little …
——
Whatever you’re building …
There’s going to be a shortcut appear …
Run from these …
Short cuts have harsh consequences …
They result in addictions
And poor health …
Lost connections
Lost trust
Poor habits…
They don’t create the follow through
The track record of faith
And experience you’re looking and working for …
——
Do the work …
Lead your heart and your family …
Keep building …
It’s worth it in the end.
It’s worth it in the end.

-E

Repair

“And some from among you shall build the old waste places; raising up the foundations of many generations; and be called The repairers of the breach, The restorers of paths to dwell in.”

  • Isaiah 58:12
  • “far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you.”
  • 1 Samuel 12

There’s always going to be plenty of excuses…
If you’re looking for them you’ll find an endless supply of them…
There’s takers in life
People who wait for some hero to come along …
Or you can be someone that is a problem solver…
Someone who gives back …
Builds up those around them …
Someone who takes initiative …
Dreams dreams even…
It’s ok to understand reality…
Yes, it will take longer than you think…
Be harder than you want …
But the reward is so much greater than you dreamed…
You can’t live in a harvest time all the time …but you can sow seed…
You can prepare…
you can see a need and meet it …
You can build back what’s been forgotten…
Walk firmly and gently in what you can control …
You can give …

  • E

Lead

“How you do anything is how you do everything.”
-Martha Beck

“Get the fundamentals down and the level of everything will rise.”

-Michael Jordan

Get the basics down. Don’t “practice” just live it out…
Life isn’t waiting for you…there is no waiting room…
Flip the switch…
Be about your life, your business,
When you’re at work be at work when you’re home be home…
But be there…
Someone said leaders can’t be tired…
Notice they didn’t say don’t get tired …
They said, can’t be tired…
Show up…
Everyday…
You set the tone for your home and your team…
So it’s going to be hard…
Ok…
It’s going to be uncomfortable…
Ok…
Get the basics down …
How we do anything is how we do everything…
The world will tell you…
Dive into your emotions and your feelings and live there …
Your happiness is the most important barometer for your life and health …
But there’s something stronger than all of that…
Pride and respect and responsibility…
It rises above the status quo and raises the standard…
Get the basics down …
Write your personal philosophy and live by it …
Lead your family , show them grace and strength…
Lead your business…Develop and build, impact your community…

There is so much more than what we have seen and heard…

So it gets hard …
You get tired …
Flip the switch …
Be a leader …
There’s something deeper and stronger than what you’ve been sold …
It’s a life well built …
It’s a legacy …
It’s a culture that can’t be bought…
In the home and business …
It’s rooted in the process…
The fundamentals…
The small details …
Day in and day out …
Whether you win or lose …
You show up…
Living the fundamentals …
Raising your sons and daughters …
Developing your team…
Leading your family…
That’s how champions are made …
That’s how legacy’s are built …
There’s pride in that that can’t be bought or stole.
It’s yours.

-E

Change

“Encourage us in our endeavor to live above the common level of life.
Make us to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong, and never to be content with a half truth when the whole truth can be won.”
-The Cadet Prayer, West Point

I hope you know you can change
You can take ownership of your life
You can choose a greater good
Truth, compassion, courage, dedication, determination, dignity, discipline, integrity, loyalty, perseverance, responsibility, service, and trust…
These are virtues carved in stone at West Point
Let them be over your heart and life …
You can choose and you can build and you can change…
Take ownership of your life and where you are going…
Anything is possible but not everything
And when you fail or fall rise up and stay humble and build back stronger .
Life doesn’t happen by accident …
Success and sons and daughters prepared for life and equipped doesn’t
Happen by accident…choose and lead by example.
Maybe it’s not normal
Maybe it’s not common
But why not now
Why not change
Why not today…
What else is there?
-E

My son

Dear, son. It is my belief that the world is active and present…it has many disappointments and horrors and we have to choose to be in it.
Every moment in my life up to now was just running with water pistols…
Having children, spending days in the hospital, (this) bonding experience…
(This) is live ammo…
You don’t come out of this the same …
You’ll think you know but you won’t …
——
You will meet magical thinking …
You will meet poetic dreams …
You will meet “soulmates.”
Remember, the world is here…waiting …you have to choose to be in it…
Right now …from the moment you’re born …Until adulthood…
Choose…
Choose to be successful
Choose to build
Choose to love
Choose to stay
Choose your life …
And live….

Life is for the living and the bold …
There are no short cuts
Be courageous
Be strong
Be patient
And choose …
You will be fine
Take your life and choose it
I’m already proud of you…

-E

Life

My son…
Life is – building –
It’s habits countless routines …
Oh maybe
We inherit a windfall of perfection or finances …
Maybe a new house…
90 days in …
Look at it …
Your habits…
Your standards
What is acceptable to you …
They are in front of you…
The clutter or maybe debt …
Account balances …
My B…
She looked for reasons NOT to be with me…
I asked her more than once to date me and more than once to marry me…
My consistency paid off on all accounts.
But that’s very different from what people are used too…
We are told again and again
It’s good enough to just show up in life …
People and businesses will look for reasons NOT to pick you…
Limit those reasons make them as few as possible …
Create good habits …
Build other successful people …
This is your life your standards …
Adjust them…edit them…remake yourself …until you get it right …
You are building…
Oh but you don’t understand
We should take it easy
Someone will get us out
Someone else
Some hero
Some other election …
No…
No one is coming to save you…
Take ownership…
Why do you never see the military in jeans ?
The marines standing beside Air Force one …in jeans and a t shirt?
Commitment to excellence …
A standard …
A unit, everyone rises and falls together …
We hold eachother accountable to excellence and success …
My B…
She will send me pictures of dust or dirt that I need to clean…
If I left an ink pen on the counter …
I know I’m getting a picture of it…
Everything has a place and a home …
Everything gets cleaned every day…
Hold each-other
And yourself accountable to success…
Build your life …
Build people up and help them succeed …
Shine your shoes …
Iron your shirts…
Save your money …
Shave with a safety razor …
Take the time…
Look right be right and do right.
You will be very successful in life and at home…
Build …
This is yours.
Take it and grow.
-E

History

Our destiny is made by our choices …
Our emotions are not reality
We are emotional creatures but our emotions are not reality they are only indications of where our attention is going and where we are headed …
Someone comes along and tells us we shouldn’t be happy
We should be terrified
The world is burning
Our future is in ruin
Our emotions latch on
We look around and we will find things to agree with that …
Suddenly we are in the ditch …
Why do I believe what I believe ?
Where am I headed?
Why can’t I ever find what I need?
I’m unorganised …
Fix it …
Be organised
Be intentional
Know yourself
Move forward
Build
Be constant
Consistent
Forge ahead
And adapt and learn
Be self aware and grow
What an opportunity
We’ve been here before
We know what to do
History repeats
Ask your grand parents
Ask the boomers
Build
What else is there?

-E