“ Mind Set” is a two word phrase that is used in the Bible a dozen times, and used today by those who study people in regards to why some are successful and why others don’t do much with their life. “Mind Set” is that predominant way we think about life. There are a number of descriptions of “Mind Set” that are contrasting ways of thinking in response to life. One of these is “Learners vs non-learners”. Non-learners assume that we are stuck with our present level of intelligence, skill, and abilities, who we are is who we are. Therefore they don’t seek wisdom, new knowledge or new skills, because it won’t change anything anyway, so why make the effort. Learners on the other hand seek wisdom, knowledge, and skill like it was gold, silver, and valuable treasure. Learners love challenge, because it results in growth. Learners love correction, because it results in new knowledge and perspective. Learners don’t fear failure because they have just learned what doesn’t work. Learners grow rapidly in life, and eventually succeed at almost anything they put their hand to because they keep learning until they do succeed.

Non-learners on the other hand fear failure because it is permanent in their mind. Non-learners usually have low self-worth, and the only way to bolster it is to be better than someone else so they compare, and often criticize others so that they appear better. Non-learners do not appreciate correction, and become defensive when they are corrected. Non-learners blame others for their failures in an attempt to preserve their self worth.

If an adult does some honest reflective thinking, and comes to the conclusion that they are a “Non-learner”, they can change. They will need some help from others who will coach and encourage, but it is possible, rare but possible.

One of my goals for 2017 is to build a Pacific Dory.  It will be wood covered by fiberglass, 23 feet long, eight feet wide at the widest point, and  it will weigh about 1,000 lbs.  I am going to build a trailer for it as well. I worked on it most of today, and built the strong back which the boat is built on upside down, got almost all of the 7 ribs finished,  the transom, and the breast hook done. It is going to be a nice boat when I get it done. I have been watching You Tube video’s of dory’s like mine launching and loading up on the Oregon coast at Pacific City, and on the beach in Ninilchik, Alaska, and also the video’s that have been made of fishing trips on these dory’s as they fish for Halibut, bottom fish, and salmon both in Alaska and Oregon. I get more and more excited about finishing and using mine as I watch the videos as I ride my stationary bike in the evening.

Someone asked me recently about some of my goals like building a sail boat, bicycling across the USA and other equally crazy projects and goals. They wanted to know where they came from. All of my goals start with an idea, a thought that is prompted by an experience that I have, seeing someone doing something that is unique, something I read in a book, or as a result of something that frustrates me. This dory project seed was planted last July when a group of us were up on the Kenai peninsula fishing for Sockeye salmon. A number of us decided to rent a charter fishing boat and go out for Halibut. It was very expensive $280 per person, but we decided to go anyway. We showed up at the office of the charter company the day of the trip and they told us the trip had been canceled because of weather. At least I got my money back. I was curious about what the fishing was like where we were supposed to go, so, just for fun, I did a little research on line and watched a bunch of You Tube video’s of fishing in Alaska using dory’s and launching from Ninnilchik.   My thought was, “I can do that”, “that looks like fun”, “I am going to do that”.

Thursday’s are good days. I get up at 5 am, shower, shave, and brush my teeth and head off to Shari’s in South Salem for an accountability meeting with about 5 other guys at 6 am. On the drive in I pray for my kids and their spouses and all the grandkids, my Mom, and Patty, which is 30 people. It takes me 20 minutes to get to Shari’s from my house so I have to pray succinctly and quickly to get every one covered. During our meeting I usually eat an omelette and give the hash browns and pancakes to another one of the guys. During the hour meeting I also drink about 3 cups of coffee which tastes really good. We each take turns sharing how we did the previous week on our personal goals, which includes Bible reading, personal prayer and praying with our wives and 9 other goals. Most of the time everyone does well on their goals, not perfect usually but progressing. We don’t usually get on each other’s case to bad if someone doesn’t do well on their goals, it is bad enough just confessing a bad week to the guys, nobody likes to look like a wimp to his friends so we all are motivated during the week to be disciplined and faithful to our goals and commitments. I enjoy very much the sharing of our goals and the general conversation that we have each week when we meet, it is more than worth the drive into Salem each week.

I also have an accountability group on Thursday evenings at 6 pm with a different group of guys, and it is good as well. Everyone writes their own dozen goals to pursue and give a report on. Some have weight loss goals, some have dating their wives goal, we all have spiritual goals. I am of the opinion that anybody that is serious about growing rapidly spiritually ought to be in one of these kinds of groups. God gives us grace through others.

You have probably heard this story of the young guy who came to Socrates to gain wisdom; “O great Socrates, I come to you for wisdom.”
Socrates led the young man through the streets, to the sea, and chest deep into water. Then he asked, “What do you want?”
“Wisdom” said the young man with a smile.
Socrates put his strong hands on the man’s shoulders and pushed him under. Thirty seconds later Socrates let him up. “What do you want?” he asked again.
“Wisdom,” the young man sputtered, “O great and wise Socrates.”
Socrates crunched him under again. Thirty seconds passed, thirty-five. Forty. Socrates let him up. The man was gasping. “What do you want, young man?”
Between heavy, heaving breaths the fellow wheezed, “Wisdom, O wise and wonderful…”
Socrates jammed him under again Forty seconds passed. Fifty. “What do you want?”
“Air!” the young man screeched. “I need air!”
“When you want wisdom as you have just wanted air, then you will have it.”

A question I ask myself periodically is “What do I want, really want?” I am content with the amount of money I make, and with the amount and quality of my possessions. But I am not content with the level of spiritually maturity I have, I am not content with my relationship with God, and I am not content with the amount of fruit I have born. I want, really want more, and more, and more.  Maintaining the level of “want” in me, and even increasing it is not easy, but essential to growing both myself and my ministry.

Those who want the most pray the most, work the most, and accomplish the most. Becoming passive, and  comfortable with where we are and what we have accomplished happens so easily, and often we will spiritualize it, and call it trust or contentment, or blame it on our temperament.

I build “want and desire” in myself by examining my life and ministry, and seeing all that could still be done, and I pray for it. The discipline of praying over and over for those things that should be happening and aren’t is for me a major cause of passion and fire.

We had a “Trunk or Treat” event tonight in the church parking lot. There were lots of people who had cars, pick ups, trucks, school bus, fire engine, swat rig all parked in JBC’s parking lot with games and great decorations, and they all had pounds of candy to give away to the kids as they came. There also was free hot dogs, chips and hot chocolate in the gym with a bouncy house. I had my 1949 Ford pick up, and I sat behind it in a camping chair handing out candy to kids as they came by. I gave out about 5 gallons of candy. We have had this event for a number of years, and this is the first time I can remember having it with no rain, that was so nice!! I really enjoy being part of this event because of all the kids. It is so fun to have them walking by in a steady stream for two hours saying thank you as I put some candy in their bag. Jesus said that if you give a glass of water to a little child that you will be rewarded by the Lord at the Judgment Seat of Christ at the end of the age. What we do for children is evidently very important to God. He also said that if we cause a child to stumble that it would be better for us if a mill stone were hung around our neck and we we were dropped into the deepest sea. My goal tonight was to bless each of the kids who I gave candy to. As I put a couple pieces of candy in their bag I would pray for them asking God to protect them and to make Himself known to them so that they would believe in him, and serve Him forever.

I read one chapter of Proverbs each day as part of my Bible reading plan. There are 31 chapters in the book of Proverbs so I get through the book every month. I have been doing this for about 40 years so that is quite a few trips through this book, but every day I see something that seems brand new to me in its emphasis. Proverbs is a book of cause and effect, that is, “if you do this, than this is going to happen”. There are about 10 major areas that are the emphasis in the book of Proverbs, certain areas of life that are repeated often. In reading these major areas of life it seems that what were problems 3,000 years ago are still the big problems today. One of these areas is the amazing power of the words we speak to do good, to build up, to encourage, to communicate love, to change another person’s life, and to bless God. They also have the power to do the opposite, to cause great pain, to destroy others, and to destroy our own life. Proverbs 29:20 says, “Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” Because our words do have so much power for both good and evil we should be careful, and thoughtful concerning what we say to people, and we should be constantly thinking about and reflecting on our skill level in the use of words. My personal mission statement in speaking is, “I will thoughtfully use words as an artist uses brush strokes to create amazing beauty. I will practice, evaluate, and learn, constantly pursuing greater skill as a great artist.”

Ephesians 4:29 is one of my life verses, “ Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only words that build up and give grace to those who hear”. When I say “life verse” I mean a verse that I would really like to live 24/7. Sometimes I blow it and say something that does not give grace to those who hear. It is usually said without thinking, impulsively, trying to look cool, but said. Later as I think about it, I grieve over my stupidity, and pray like crazy that no one who heard me will quote me or repeat what I said. Later as I journal about it, I pray and ask God to please forgive me, and to give me the strength and wisdom to never sin with my mouth again. I know I will, but I am going to press on to the goal of Ephesians 4:29 more and more, little bit by little bit.

Today was my birthday and it was wonderful, in that so many people connected with me and expressed appreciation and acknowledged my birthday.  I like to think that I am a tough guy and that I do fine without people’s encouragement or praise, but today sure was fun. I think we truly are relational by God’s design and that we are happiest and most productive when we have healthy relationships where there is a genuine give and receive of grace and we have a strong sense of being loved appreciated, and accepted, which I have in super abundance from my family and friends. A day like today ends with a very strong feeling of being incredibly filled with joy .

As I think about today about the blessing I have as a person I ask myself the question I always ask about everything, “Why”? In the midst of a host of sins, character flaws, and major mess ups I have for most of my adult life sought the Lotd with all of my heart. Seeking His will for my life, seeking His His strength, seeking his face, and seeking to please Him in all that I do. I seek the Lord by faithfully reading His Word and spending time with Him in prayer every day. When we seek Him He promises that He will abundantly bless us. 

It is now October 27th and I am 69 years old. This whole getting older thing is a mystery. It happens so gradually that you don’t notice anything changing from day to day but then all of a sudden there you are, an old man, full of aches and pains, and all that you used to be able to do a fading memory. I think a lot now about eternity, my glorified body, my first impression and thoughts when I see God, what He will say to me, what He will think of me, what the Judgment Seat of Christ experience will be like, whether I will have any regrets, and a whole long list of similar and crazy thoughts. I also find myself regularly in this sort of frenzied state where I want to do so much more, and I am afraid I am going to run out of time, but then I get tired and run out of gas , and decide I can do it tomorrow. I am working hard at making myself focus more and more on spending time in reading the Bible, memorizing it, studying it, and writing about it. In spending more time talking to God, seeking Him, and trying to learn better how to hear His voice and know His will. The older I get the more questions I have, and the more I realize that I don’t really know very much, but I wish I did, and I try and resist the urge to pretend I do.

Probably my greatest struggle in life is in knowing my own heart and knowing what motivates me to do what I do. I want to walk humbly with the Lord, and I also want to teach, encourage, and motivate those who God has put into my life to live for the Lord and to successfully live life as husbands and wives, as parents, as followers of Jesus, and to attract people to faith in Christ. A key way that I can do that is by being a model and example of how to live life Biblically so that those I influence and teach would be motivated to live in the same way. 1 Peter 5 gives instructions to Pastors saying, “be an example to the flock that God has given you”. The Apostle Paul said, “do what I do, and live the way I live, as I model the Christian life for you”. I understand that models and examples are very important for us to have as we pursue the character of Christ. I have had some wonderful examples and mentors in my own life that made a huge difference in my life. I have some areas in my life that I have grown in and can be a good model for others in, but there are a bunch of areas that I struggle with and hope that others don’t notice them. My big struggle is when I share my successes and strengths in counseling, sermons, lectures and blogs, am I doing that motivated only by the desire to help others grow and succeed, or is there a desire for glory from others creeping into my motives. I think about it often, and it really bothers me that I as I examine my motives, I am often unsure. I know that the Lord is apposed to the proud, and blesses and uses the humble. The prayer of David in Psalms 139 has become my daily plea to God, “ Oh Lord, show me if there be any wrong in me”!