Carl Edwin Prude Jr.'s Blog: Sack Lunch Blog

While eating dinner the other night, my wife casually commented, “Did you know you didn’t open my door when we came out of the grocery store?”

Before you jump to the assumption that she’s demanding or high-maintenance, let me give you a little background. When we first started dating years ago she resisted letting me open the door for her.  She said it was unnecessary, that she was healthy and perfectly capable of opening her own door. Furthermore, she didn’t need to be patronized.

I told her that when I open her door, it’s one of the ways I remind her of how much I appreciate her companionship and respect her.  Every step I take on my way around the car to open her door is a step that reminds me to be thankful for having such a wonderful partner into my life (if you've been in bad relationships--personally or professionally--you learn to appreciate the good ones).  

So for me, opening her door is not just a mere matter of gentlemanly courtesy, it’s more a matter being thankful to god for bringing us together and for having someone in life that I really connect with. So by now she’s used to it…and she notices when it’s absent.

Everyone likes to feel appreciated, and when we consistently express that appreciation beyond a spoken “thank you,” we take the game to another level. This same attitude applies to business. When we show (emphasis on “show – not just say”) our associates and clients that we appreciate them through consistent, tangible actions, it increases the loyalty factor, which, in the larger scheme of things, will make the business relationship much more meaningful and rewarding.

There are other things I do for my wife every chance I get. Every morning when she gets out the shower she has a hot cup of coffee sitting on the vanity waiting for her. We never ride in the car together without me touching her hand.  I’ve sent her a picture and a special message every day since we started dating.  Everyone in our house has a night to clean the kitchen, and on her night I make sure we I go down and help her (who knew doing the dishes could ever be fun?).

Our kids say that she’s spoiled. I disagree. She’s not spoiled—she’s special, and I want to remind her of that as often as I can. I use the same approach with clients, co-workers and associates.  I intentionally think about how I can contribute to their day--beyond whatever service is expected of me. 

Little things can add up quickly, and when you treat co-workers, business associates and clients like they’re special you grow beyond your current boundaries, and amazing things start happening in your business and life.

©Copyright 2015 Carl Prude Jr.

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About The Author: Carl Prude Jr. is Director of Centermark Learning Solutions, a Performance and Work-Life company. For media, speaking engagements, or permissions, contact – http://www.centermarklearning.com

Stop me if you’ve heard this story: you’re introduced to someone for the first time, they enthusiastically tell you their name...which you promptly forget within ten seconds!

Sound familiar? It happens at client meetings, social gatherings, home bible studies, and even job interviews. The scenarios vary, but the transgression is the same...and the consequences are never good.

Glen Zelmer, my first sales manager, told me that remembering names is a lost art that only peak performers learn to master. I took this to heart (after being stung a few times by the cold silence and uncomfortable stares of decision makers whose names I forgot...and whose business I lost).

Once a horrible name-forgetting transgressor, today I can meet fifty or more people at a single event and remember each of their names, job titles, and anyother important information they share. Here are some of the proven techniques I use and teach that took me from being a flagrant name-dropper to a tip-top name-keeper (I've broken them up into five segments that match the five sessions of my Memory Workshop):

Part I: "Hi, My Name Is...."
1. Ring the Bell. I had a professor who rang a bell whenever he was going to give the class a pop quiz. The sound of the bell caused the students to perk up mentally and prepare for a short test. Similarly, whenever someone is about to tell me their name, I have a mental bell that goes off in my head. This tells me to prepare mentally to focus for the next thirty seconds or so - I know I’ll be tested later.

2. Clear your Head. When you’re about to be introduced to someone, quickly clear your mind completely of any other thoughts, and focus on what you’re going to hear for the next thirty seconds. Don’t think about the presentation you’re going to give later, the wasabi appetizer you just ate that's burning a hole in your tongue, or the co-worker who’s running late. I usually imagine an ocean wave splashing into my brain and washing away all the mental debris.

3. Listen Actively. Listen with the sole aim of repeating verbatim what you are being told. Think about repeating their name perfectly with the correct punctuation.

4. Eye To Eye. Look the person directly in their eyes while they’re speaking. Don’t be distracted by anything they’re wearing, their physical appearance, or even a speech oddity. Keeping eye contact helps you eliminate distractions and make a deeper connection with them.

5. Playback - Rewind - Playback. Find a way to repeat their name twiceimmediately after they introduce themselves. Example: Suppose someone introduces themselves as "Tanya Portman". I will follow up something like this:“Tanya Portman?" (I first usually repeat their name in question format to make sure I heard and pronounce it correctly) "Wow, Tanya, you're the second Portman I've met this month...but the first Tanya Portman.” Hearing yourself repeat their name more than once helps embed the name in your memory.

Part II: Name/Image Association Techniques
Whenever possible, try to associate images with names. Remember, your brain doesn't think in "words", it thinks in "pictures". For example, if you hear the word "dog" you don't come up with a mental image of the letters "D-O-G", you come up with the image of Lassie, Scooby Doo, or Cujo.

Use images often, and create a set of images for specific names. For example, I use an image of steam for the name “Steve”, a can of Spam for the name “Sam” or“Samantha”, a microphone for the name “Mike” or “Michelle”, a masked robberfor the name “Robert” or “Roberta”, etc.

I also have a set of images I always use for common last names. For instance, I use a snowball for the name “White”, a blacksmith’s anvil for the name “Smith”, and a generic chocolate bar for the name “Brown”.

Example: Suppose I'm introduced to a person named "Robert Smith". I'll create a mental image of a robber’s (Robert) hand being smashed on an anvil (Smith). I then connect that image to the person with what I describe as “mental action glue”.

Part III: You Wear Your Name Well
Another effective technique is to use a person’s appearance to create a memorable name and image association. For example I recently met a CEO whose name was "Amy Wagner". Amy had a heart-shaped emerald pendant on her jacket, and wore her distinctive silver hair in a bun. For her first name (Amy) I created an image of cupid  AIMING  an arrow at the pendant. For her last name (Wagner) I imagined that her silver bun was a covered  WAGON  traveling on her head.

Part IV: Remembering A Lot of Names 
Create several personal “Image Number Lists” to help you recall a lot of names. For example, I have a  “1 - 20 List”  that uses specific images to represent the numbers one through twenty. The image for number “one” is a Christmas Tree (because it’s a single vertical image); the image for the number “two” is a Roman Coin (because it has two sides); the image for “ten” is Moses’ Stone Tablets (aka Ten Commandments), the image for “fifteen” is a Giant Paycheck (because the fifteenth is payday for a lot of people), etc. As you meet people during the event, you simply attach them to an image on the list.

Here’s how this works: Suppose I’m at an event where I’m meeting several new people, and the first person I’m introduced to is named "Steve Brown". I create a picture of an angry Christmas Tree decorated with chocolate bars instead of Christmas ornaments, and hot steam coming coming out its top (steam = Steve; chocolate bars = Brown). Next, I'll create a mental picture of this Christmas Tree growing on the person's head - or some other ridiculous, unforgettable image that makes it easy for me to recall their name (even years later).

Part V: Getting it "Write" in Meetings
One of the easiest techniques I use when meeting with groups of people is something I call “Name Diagramming”. I draw a rough diagram of the meeting area, and place each person’s name on the diagram, along with important information about them. This is especially helpful in meetings where there are round table introductions.

This technique allows me to write the person’s name next to where they're sitting as soon as I hear it. I can apply other memory techniques to their name as the meeting progresses. Here’s an actual name diagram I made with my iPad during a recent meeting with some new potential clients:
Dale Carnegie said,  “Remember that a man’s name is to him the sweetest and most important sound in any language.”  No matter how bad you are at remembering names, you can improve...and don't be surprised if you start experiencing a lot more success along the way!

Thanks for taking a moment to read this article. Hit the “RSSf” button if you’d like to be notified when new posts arrive! If you appreciate these posts, please hit the ‘like' button and share via Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Facebook or other social media platforms. I’d also love to hear your opinion...so feel free to join the conversation, ask questions, or leave a comment!

About The Author: Carl Prude Jr. is Executive Director of Centermark Learning Solutions, a best selling author, and a Performance, Achievement, and Growth Strategist who teaches people how to connect the dots between Career, Family, Faith, Experience, Community, and Opportunity.  


For media or speaking engagements contact – http://www.centermarklearning.com/speakingmedia-request-form.html  or contact 855-517-5551.

The Christmas/New Year’s holiday season can be an especially challenging time for those of you who want to (or have to) work through it. It's not the easiest time to try to get things done.

For example, when you call your customers or vendors, you can’t reach most of them because they’re on vacation. And Good luck if you have a glitch with a computer system, software, or something technical – because help desks and support teams are typically understaffed during the holidays, if not shut down altogether.

But don’t despair. Peak performers have figured out how to actually use the holiday “slow-down” to gain momentum. Here’s a list of how many of them use the holiday “break” to their advantage:

1. Get Organized. A lot of peak performers use the holiday slow-down period to organize their workspace. They update their databases or filing systems. They reorganize their workspace to make it more efficient. The holiday slow-down allows them to complete these tasks without feeling guilty about using premium business-hours to do them.

2. Get Smarter. Many peak performers use the holiday break to upgrade their skills and increase their value. They take courses to learn how to use new software products, or how to use existing software products better. They also take classes on leadership, sales, or other products and services to enhance their personal skills. Since many of these classes are available online, they can complete the courses as it suits them best.

3. Get Clarity. Many peak performers use the holiday slowdown to re-evaluate their goals, measure their year-to-date performance, and make necessary adjustments. It’s a great time to sit with a cup of coffee and focus on what you’ve accomplished, and what adjustments need to be made to reach your goals.

4. Get Healthy. Sometimes peak performers drive themselves to the edge of poor health. They can be chronically tired, have constant headaches, or just feel lousy in general. The holiday slow-down is a great time to get a few extra hours sleep, drink more water, spend an extra thirty minutes in the gym, and allow your health systems to reset.

5. Get Caught Up. The holidays are a great time to get caught up on those low-priority tasks that eventually need to get done. Input those business cards into your contact database. File those expense reports that have been piling up for months. Catch up on assessments and reports. Update your benefits package information. Clear your inbox.

6. Get Ready. Peak performers understand the importance of preparation, and they use the holiday slow-down to strategize how to move forward after the holidays are over. They also prepare their workspace and position themselves to optimize their productivity come January 2nd. They subscribe to the four-second, eight-word seminar taught by entrepreneur TD Jakes: Get Ready, Get Ready, Get Ready, Get Ready!

Thanks for investing the time to read this article. If you’d like to be notified of my weekly blog posts, simply hit the "follow" button. If you appreciate these posts, please hit the ‘like' button and share via Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Facebook or other social media platforms. I’d also love to hear your opinion...so feel free to join the conversation, ask questions, or leave a comment!

About the author:  Carl Prude Jr. is a Performance, Achievement, and Growth strategist who teaches people how to connect the dots between Career, Family, Faith, Experience, Community, and Opportunity. He currently holds positions with Centermark Enterprises and DirecTech Connect, Inc. For media or speaking engagements contact – www.centermark.org/speaking—media

The familiar Christmas nativity scene is a reminder that the baby Jesus was born in a hollowed-out cave where animals were sheltered. He had a feeding trough (manger) for a crib. Not an impressive start by any measure. But it’s a reminder to each of us that were you come from isn”t as important as where you are - and where you are isn’t as important as where you are heading.

What's more problematic, however, is the reason the baby was born in those conditions to begin with. The popular thought is there was no room for them at the Inn. Maybe an oversight in planning, or a lost booking reservation. Whatever…but before you just accept that fact…take another look.

It all started with a government order that everyone return to their native towns for a kingdom-wide census. Jesus’ parents, Joseph and Mary, were from Bethlehem, so they returned to a place very familiar - a place were they grew up. It’s where all of their relatives and childhood friends lived.

But it was actually the worst time for them to travel. Mary was in her ninth month of pregnancy, and each bumpy step by the donkey had to be incredibly uncomfortable. Motion sickness. Animal smells. Dusty roads. It certainly wasn’t a picnic for her (and we all know that if mama ain't happy, then ain't nobody happy!).

That’s were a lot of you are right now. It doesn’t seem like the best time to make the changes you need to make to pursue the things that are in your heart. Well, it’s never a perfect time...but that doesn't mean it's not a good time!

When they arrive in Bethlehem, they’re told there are no rooms available. Okay...let's think about this. If the inn was full, why didn't they simply stay with relatives or friends? I know that whenever I travel back to my hometown, I’m usually bombarded with offers from family and friends who insist that we stay in their home while we’re in town. In fact, I have people who will get upset if they find out that we stayed at a hotel.

It's odd that none of their relatives or friends offered to make room for Joseph and his very pregnant wife. Hmmmmm… But hey, we can all relate. Think about the times when things were lined up in your life so that the cards where stacked in your favor. You made the right plans. You were connected with the right people. The funding was available. Your motives were admirable. But in spite of all that, things didn’t work out the way they should have. Disappointed. Disillusioned. Discouraged. Angry.

I can only imagine how disappointed Joseph felt when it looked like there was no place for them to stay. At some point he had to think, “God, where ARE you? I’m alone, I’m broke, I don’t have any answers, I’m scared”.

Finally, someone offered to let the family spend the night in a cave, and they were more than happy to accept the offer. At least the family wouldn’t be completely out in the cold, but Joseph also probably felt the sting that a man feels when he’s unable to provide the basics for his pregnant wife and unborn child. It certainly wasn’t a high point, no doubt it was a low point—but for sure, it was a lonely point. The thoughts of “NOBODY CARES ABOUT YOU OR YOUR FAMILY!” just screams inside your head during times like these. He felt alone...all alone.

Loneliness is the weather-beaten rest stop that lies somewhere between our high points and our low points.

This is one of those "when one door closes, God will open another door" moments. I believe in that saying, but I also know that in between, it can be hell in the hallway!That’s where faith and mental toughness come in, and also where character is developed.

At the very time Joseph was struggling with his loneliness…at the time when he was being strangled by his poverty…at the very time his young wife was pushing out the baby in the midst of camel urine and cow manure…at the very moment that Joseph was wondering how he was going to care for his family, unknown to him, three important strangers were making their way to the same indistinct cave. When they arrived, things changed.

Three strangers...three wise men...three kings. Whoever they were, they brought some amazing gifts. It was the first recorded baby shower. The gifts were of Gold. Myrrh. Frankincense. Jewelry. Precious ointments. Not one bag of diapers, wet wipes, or musical crib mobiles in the lot. The value of their gifts was enough to provide for the family for the next three years.

So here are three takeaways from the problem with Bethlehem:

1. Don’t give up on your journey.

Faith isn’t always about making something materialize out of nothing, sometimes it’s simply a matter of staying the course until you encounter those things on the road you’re already traveling.

2. Be generous.

The wise men gave gifts, and generosity is always a component of true wisdom. I want to encourage everyone reading this blog to make it a goal this holiday season to be one of these “wise men”. Give something to someone that will really make a difference in their lives. If you have strained relationships with relatives or friends, pick up the phone and make the call that breaks the ice—let that phone call be your gift. If you don’t have the courage to make a call, send a card and include a personal note suggesting reconciliation.

3. You don’t have to have all the answers to move forward with your life.

No one knows why none of Joseph and Mary’s relatives and friends didn’t help them. Perhaps some didn’t like the scandal of Mary being pregnant before they were married. Maybe Joseph burned some bridges long ago and had to leave town. Maybe they owed money and were too embarrassed to ask for additional help. We are never given the answer, however, we do know that things turned out great for them. We won’t always get the answers that we want, especially when unexpected difficulties with other people (especially haters) pop up. Let it go, and allow yourself to move forward.

Don’t let your trials distract you from your trail. Remember, the pathway forward always begins with the very next step.
Copyright: Carl Prude Jr. 2014

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Dr. Myles and Ruth Munroe I was very sorrow to hear the news of the deaths of Dr. Myles Munroe and his wife Ruth from a plane crash this past weekend. 

Dr. Munroe was a prominent speaker and author who focused on leadership, potential, and vision. I personally have several of his books and on average listen to at least one of his audio teachings a week. I've learned a lot from him over the years, I quote him in some of my books and presentations, and I want to thank him and his wife for what they've given me personally and the world.

Dead at 60 years young...the question arises, "Why did such a bright star have his light extinguished so soon"?  It's a legitimate question, especially when you consider that he also was the executive pastor and founder of one of the largest ministries in the Bahamas -- why did God let him die like that?

I've asked myself the same question when one of my closest friends died of colon cancer at 32, when my brother-in-law died suddenly of meningitis at 47, or when my dad passed a few years ago.  You could probably add the names of people like John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., or Keith Green to the list of people who we feel died too soon.

First off, I don't think these people had their lights extinguished. Their lights shown, and we still sense the glow, which is why we're still talking about them.  I believe in each case these people accomplished what they were sent here to do. Had they been allowed to continue living, no doubt they would have added to their accomplishments, most likely in the same area. They finished their races. They ran their courses. They were done. And, if you consider that Jesus Christ died at 33, these people actually had rather long lives (comparitively speaking).  

For me, the more pressing question is, given the unpredictable state of life, how can I make sure that whenever my time to go comes, I can be sure that I'm actually finished doing what I was put on earth to do?

I address this in one of my books (Anchored in Light), in the chapter titled "Pace Yourself", let me summarize.

To "Pace Yourself" is to allow acts of serving others to be your daily metronome - serving selflessly to benefit someone else.  Pacing yourself is a matter of putting a priority on making strategic, determined contributions to situations that you find yourself in. It's about using your resources intentionally for the benefit of others -- doing things that may not directly benefit you, but that move a situation forward and move people in the direction of progress.

Obviously there will always be situations that you have nothing of or in yourself that can help the situation.  But there will be just as many in which you can make a difference.

So Pacing Yourself is about keeping your antenna up for those opportunities, and when they present themselves, you make a contribution to that situation that makes a difference.

A day in which you decline the opportunity to move someone else's life forward is a day wasted, in my opinion.  Partly because of what it does for others, but just as importantly, what it will do for you.  When we give away from ourselves we exercise muscles of benevolence and goodwill that return residual rewards to our spiritual, soulful, and physical nature.  In a culture in which we are encouraged to look out for ourselves first, the adage still holds true that the person who tries to hold on to his life will lose it, and the one who chooses to lose his life will actually find it.

Find yourself by losing yourself - what a strange way to approach preparing for the inevitable day of departure...but it works Do something today that helps someone be successful with no thought of personal reward.

Pace Yourself.

Rest in Peace Dr. & Mrs. Munroe. 

I’ve been on something of a hiatus for the past several months, and have had the opportunity to spend some considerable time in the quiet and solitude of the giant Coastal Redwood forests in Northern California.

I don’t think I could improve on a quote from John Steinbeck, who said, “The Redwoods, once seen, leave a mark or create a vision that stays with you always. The feeling they produce is not transferable. From them comes silence and awe…they are not like any trees we know, they are ambassadors from another time.”

There’s no getting over the immensity of these ancient, giant trees…or the unexpected silence of these forest lands, but, upon pushing past my initial reaction to seeing living things nearly 40 stories tall, my inevitable question was, "why"?

Why did these giant trees exist at all - and why only in this one place on the entire planet?

I did some research and discovered that the Coastal Redwoods are actually a rain forest. I learned that there are two types of rain forests: tropical rain forests (like the popular ones found in South America), and temperate rain forests. The Redwood forests are temperate rain forests. Some of the trees in the remaining forest lands have been around for over 4,000.  And they are simply magnificent.

Rain forests  have been aptly called the "earth's lungs". They absorb 40% of the harmful carbon dioxide and other toxins found in the earth's atmosphere, and turn it over into valuable, pure, clean oxygen through photosynthesis.  Additionally, over 25% of all the medicines and pharmaceuticals used today come from resources found only in these rain forests.

So the rain forests are not only earth's lungs, they are also earth's medicine cabinet.

It is clear that the creator, in wisdom, placed these giant trees in this area of the planet to remove disease-causing toxins from the atmosphere, and generate vast amounts of clean, healthy oxygen for our planet. These millennial giants, with their immeasurably diverse biomass, are positioned to bring strategic balance across the globe, in order to provide an ongoing clean, healthy atmosphere for the entire earth.

Whenever we don't fully understand the complete, accurate purpose of something, waste, misuse, and ultimately abuse is almost inevitable. So, unfortunately, in the past two centuries over 95% percent of these magnificent Redwood forests were cut down for commercial purposes. Profiteers wanted chairs and land barons wanted dirt. It's little wonder that as the Redwood forests shrunk, and shrunk, and shrunk, there was a consistent decrease in air quality in the Northern hemisphere, as well as an increase in disease and even the development of new diseases.

Take a moment and think about your personal resources, talents and skills. You have an unmatched design, and have the capability of contributing to your life and the lives of others in ways that will never be forgotten.  But many of you are down-trading yourselves for as little as $15 an hour.  You’re made in God’s image…and you’re exchanging that incredible gifting for $15 an hour.  Hmmm.

No one really knows the exact correlation between the devastation to the Redwoods and the increase in disease, poor air quality, and even climate change, but thanks to the Save the Redwoods League and government intervention, the remaining trees are protected by Federal and State forest agencies. It is illegal to harm one of these trees.

We can all breath a little better because of that.

[image error] This post is to all the tithers, sowers, givers, and harvest-minded believers...

If you’re like me, whenever a need arises in your life—particularly a need that you don’t have the resources to deal with—you almost immediately exercise your faith to handle the need.

The routines vary. You might prefer the prayer closet, a confession of faith, a declaration of spiritual dominion, or maybe touching and agreeing with someone.

Along the way, you may confess the hundred fold return (Mark 4:20), invoke Luke 6:38 (Give and it shall be given to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over), or pull out one of the big guns, Malachi 3:10 (Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and try me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you such  blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.”).

The bottom line is you take a stand on your spiritual resources to meet a natural need. As one believer said, “I’ve been giving into the kingdom….and it’s time to make a withdrawal from my heavenly account”.

And that might be the problem (the idea of withdrawing from your heavenly account).  Let me ask, how is that working out for you?

Naturally speaking, there are lots of times when my bank account is totally screwed up.  Post-dated checks hit earlier than expected, withdrawals outweigh deposits, unexpected fees, NSF (Non Sufficient Funds) charges…it can be depressing, to say the least.

Sometimes, the status of the account makes withdrawals just not possible.

When it comes to our spiritual needs, the same thing is true. We aren’t always in position to withdraw from our spiritual reserves…but don’t panic. That’s not what they’re for anyway (another time, another lesson).

When you have a need (whether it is for finances, health, peace, favor, relief from mental pressure—whatever), instead of looking to your spiritual reserves, remember this passage: “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

Notice, YOUR account isn’t mentioned anywhere in that passage. God will supply the needs, not according to YOUR limited, fluctuatious reserves, but according to the immeasurable, unlimited, ever-growing riches of Christ Jesus!

So the next time you find yourself needing to go to the throne of grace to meet a deficiency in your life, don’t go there with the thought of making a withdrawal -- go with the confidence of making a transfer!

Carl Prude © 2014
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“Bullying” is a big topic these days.  What often starts out as teasing can quickly blossom into full-blown intimidation. Wikipedia defines this way: “Bullying is the use of force, threat, or coercion to abuse, intimidate, or aggressively impose domination over others. The behavior is often repeated and habitual.”

Unfortunately, we see this kind of behavior everywhere today—on the schoolyards, in politics, at the grocery store, the cubicle next to yours, even in the pulpit.  I guess a lot of people think the way to get their way is through force and intimidation.

This brings me to the topic of the worst bully I have ever known.  The bully I have in mind has never used force or physical intimidation. Nope, this guy’s tactics are much more cerebral—and much more effective in my opinion.  He always tries to make me think I’m not qualified to do something that I attempt to do.

He tries to talk me out of it with language like, “is that really a wise use of your time?” or “you can go ahead and try that—as long as you don’t mind looking stupid!” Sometimes, he’s told me things that were much more direct and insulting, such as, “You always say you’re going to do this or that, but you never finish anything. You are just full of crap…that’s what you are, full of crap!”

The bully I’m talking about—the worst bully I’ve ever known—is also the worst bully you’ve ever known. The bully is my mind.

A famous comic strip called “Pogo” once said, “We have met the enemy—and he is us!”  I can’t tell you how many times I have allowed my mind to discourage me from doing the things that I wanted to do, or talk me out of doing the things that I needed to do. We all make excuses for not pursuing our dreams, and we try to dress those excuses up in professional clothing to make them seem legitimate. But I’ve discovered that there is no legitimate reason to avoid attempting what you feel you’ve been created to do.

 Stop bullying yourself! It takes courage to stand up to a bully. Courage isn’t something that comes through prayer, fasting, meditation, or self-improvement courses. Courage is generated by our human nature—we all have the capacity to be courageous—but it is ultimately a choice.

Courage doesn’t eliminate fear, or silence the bullies, haters or naysayers (whether they be external or internal).  Courage is simply the decision and corresponding action to do something, in spite of whatever contrary circumstances are against you.

So remember, as you travel on the road to pursue your dreams, you may occasionally step in a pile of crap. It’s going to stink for a while. But just remember that the crap is on your shoe—not in your shoe. Your foot is in your shoe, and as I always say, “the pathway forward always begins with the very next step”!

Take a step towards your dreams today, and as you go on your way, be encouraged!

[image error] I’m thinking on the things in life
That end up bittersweet,
The dreams we toss up to the skies
That fall down to our feet.

The plans that seemed to point the way
To futures bold and bright,
But somehow, somewhere on the path
They just didn’t turn out right.

But still, we look around and see
The progress we have made,
We view the hills that we have climbed
The prices we have paid.

An though some dreams be unfulfilled
And other plans seem dead,
There is a voice within us still
Who whispers, “Go ahead”.

It beckons us to trust beyond
What still does not appear,
To walk by faith and not by sight,
 To know that God is here.

A God who’s with us in the dark
And for us in the light,
A God who takes all of life’s wrongs
And makes them turn out right.

A God who sits upon the throne
And orchestrates all things,
His symphony is destiny...
And nature is his means.

A God who in your anxious moment
Brings you to a door,
A helping hand is what you seek…
But He plans something more.

He takes an ordinary day
And right before our eyes,
In his extraordinary way
He can transform our lives

And in a twinkle of an eye
God makes all things brand new,
He banishes our of emptiness,
He proves his word is true!

With that unique beginning
Launching into this new year,
You needn’t worry for a plan,
His plan for you is clear.

To trust in him with all your hearts
Is what you’re asked to do,
For this new path is his design,
And he will see you through.

So this year boldly seize the day,
And each day stride for stride,
No  counter forces will prevail,
For God is on your side.

He’s Alpha and Omega,
And all things in between,
And he will bring you to the place
Of joy beyond your dreams!

Carl Prude © 2013
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I think it’s safe to say that most of us (if not all of us) have at some point been a little envious of the person with the perfect life. You know the person I’m talking about. The pastor’s wife with the perfect figure, the dazzling dimpled smile, the godly husband, and talented honor-roll kids.

Or how about the sales guy who has already reached his monthly quota by the fourth day of the month, has a great car, great house, a wife in a power suit, great energy, and strong shoulders that announce themselves through whatever designer business suit he’s wearing?

They make us feel like we need to immediately stop by the gym, enroll in a Dale Carnegie course, get some hair extensions, stop buying our clothes off the rack at Penney, and maybe rent some Mensa kids to replace the inconsiderate video-game wizards at our homes who eat up our food, refuse to pick up their rooms, and whose smartphones have apparently grown into appendages.

My friend, you need to get it together. Seriously.  Look around you, if all these other people can multi-task at such an awesome level—exactly what is your excuse? If you have trouble figuring out how, you can flick on the tube and have the Cleaver’s, the Clampett’s, or the Cosby’s  show you how it’s done (technically, the Cosby’s were actually the Huxtables…but I was trying to think of families that started with the letter “C”, and it seemed to work).

Allow me to let you in on a little secret.  The people who seem to have it all together…don’t. I know, it sound like a shocker (or maybe status envy), but no one really has it together. Take it from me; I was always in the “Look-at-him-he-has-it-together” category.  I was a two-career professional: Senior Pastor of a growing church, and a Sales Manager with a leading technology company. All my kids were in the school’s GATE (Gifted And Talented Education) program. I built a spacious 5-bedroom home for my family in an exclusive community. We had the family car, the luxury car, and the spare car.

By the way, I was the guy who made his quota by the fourth day of the month.  Somehow, somewhere in the middle of all that, I started believing the hype. I was the ruler of my domain, and the spiritual leader of my realm. But then, God showed me something…something that I’ll never forget and a lesson I hope you’ll take to heart.

God took one step back, and he really allowed me to try to handle all this “success” on my own. Within a month, everything was literally in shambles. I realized that I couldn’t shoulder the burden of managing life’s responsibilities on my own—not that I tried to, mind you. Nevertheless, it was a very tough lesson.

I learned that chaos is crouching at all of our doors, and the only way to keep it from disrupting your life is by trusting in Christ, because in all honesty, He is the only one who ever really held it all together in this life. In the Bible, Hebrews 1:2-3 reminds us that, “He has created all worlds, and holds all things together simply by the power of His words”.

So don’t buy into the hype. None of us is really capable of having it all together. What’s vogue on the outside is often vague on the inside. So don’t stress. And, if you’re at a point in life where it seems like things are unraveling faster than a thrift store sweater, don’t panic. You can stop things from falling apart, but you can go to someone who can. Remember, prayer is the place where burdens change shoulders.

Give your troubles to Jesus. He—and He alone—can handle it!
Carl Prude © 2013
Thanks for taking the time to read this blog!  If you enjoy this blog, please leave a comment, subscribe, and share with friends!