When Dietrich Bonhoeffer began his school of ministry… his colleagues came to tell him he was too extreme…too radical…just calm down…Relax…take it easy…
Bonhoeffer took them up the hill…and looking out over the valley there was a Nazi training camp…pointing to his school of ministry he said to them “THIS….must be STRONGER than THAT…”
This must be stronger than that. —— When I think about marriage and fatherhood… I know I have a picture in my head of what these things look like… The awesome responsibility, ——
Christ felt that weight … He stumbled and fell three times carrying his own cross…
He prayed until his sweat became blood…
Job cries out “though he slay me!! …” “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him!”
——— This must be stronger than that… Than all the things screaming for our attention… Than streaming , internet, apps, alcohol, shortcuts… Everything out there and within … ——- Christ said to Peter, “upon this ROCK I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” ——
We are appalled at education and schools but then we hand our children phones with access to the world eternal… ——
I don’t want to just be a dad… Who gets a trophy just for showing up… Bare minimum…base value…here’s your card for best dad of the year…
There’s a foundation to be made … There’s leadership we are called to…
I want to be a father… A mighty oak within my family … So there …all the time … that there isn’t a question in their mind as to the stability… Nor the consistency of my presence … Like the fact that the sun is going to rise tomorrow…
This must be stronger than that…
Begin today… Begin…
What will I leave behind? Maybe We are called to be mighty oaks within our family legacy … Steadfast … Proven… Faithful Leaders … Is it too late? Begin today… What else is there? -E
In case no one told you lately… You CAN do hard things … You can get sober … You can get control of your finances … Save and invest…build wealth for your children and change your family legacy… You have a future … Without addiction and bad habits … Who’s going to raise your children? Lead your family? Streaming services? Apps? Or You…
You get to decide… Decide … Build … Change your legacy… It’s hard … But it’s worth more than you realize or can even imagine … Lift that weight Carry that responsibility … Be unfazed by any headlines … Control the controllable …
Greg Maddux could have pitched faster …but he chose to have more control … He was in his pitch… Take control of your life and lead ….
“In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has”— Proverbs 21:20
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
Hebrews 12:11
Imagine having more than enough… Imagine being disciplined Focused I’ve spent 20 years in grocery When I left to come to my current company They didn’t just jump to take me They interviewed me twice And told right you front “This may not be for you, the culture, the standards, it’s not for everyone.” Right now there are 7 million men refusing to join the workforce … I remember the housing crisis I remember the stacks of applications It scared me I wanted more than enough I wanted security I wanted ownership I wanted to stand and grow Discipline is hard But it’s more than just adventure and experiences It’s slow It’s painful It’s sacrifice But it’s worth it You’re worth it And you get to decide -E
“Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.”
Proverbs 4:25,26
Be content where you are, knowing you’re building something to leave your children…
I paid off my credit cards … I’ve been smart and I’ve been real, real stupid, I’ve been debt free and I’ve gotten right back in it.
Working for a debt free company opened my eyes to the freedom that brings in a new way and how it has to be intentional, everyday…
So many things really are about lifestyle… How you choose to live and work… It has to be intentional… Nothing just happens…
Now when I look at my son, I know he is watching everything I do…not just what I say…
It has to be a lifestyle …
“You not only have to be right, you have to look right.”
Seneca said, “It is not that we have a short space of time, but that we waste much of it. Life is long enough, and it has been given in sufficiently generous measure to allow the accomplishment of the very greatest things if the whole of it is well invested.”
We need a long term vision and we must pass that to those coming after us… We must bring our best everyday…why would we bring anything less than our best?
It takes a sense of urgency A lifestyle New habits Someone said we could retire with millions BUT it takes ownership and commitment and time. Nothing happens overnight. Move forward … Long term vision and accepting reality… Where we are and the role we play in it… And then an action based plan to move forward…
Regarding Samuel 