If I would have known that

If I would have known that! Saturday question—Do you think when your earthly death occurs, some folks they will say—If I would have known that? Easter morning Heather and I went to the sunrise service at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre (i.e. it overlooks the valley of Denver). The setting of the city lights at 5:15 was really neat only to be topped by the sunrise. The service was attended by about 10,000 folks. It was 30 degrees! The service was really awesome! The message was “A Call to Action”. Then we got back and went to the 8:30 service at The Rock of the Southwest. Another great service. I hope I can live what I believe. And I hope I can do it today. Ralph Waldo Emerson said—We are always getting ready to live but never live.

Joesixpack says--Maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had, and what you've learned from them, and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated. MissPerfect says--Yabut Joesixpack, you don’t know all the experiences I have had. Some are pretty ugly! I mean really ugly. If I had known before hand, I would not have those experiences. GeorgeTheCrook says—Think about all the positive experiences you have had that you tend to forget ‘cause you tend to dwell on the negative toooooooo much. All of those experiences make us who we are (i.e. as my mentor says—we are all programmed much like a computer—what you put in comes out). Such is life.

LuckieEddie says—You must learn to resist negative thoughts before they hijack your emotions. Oh those emotions! Some folks are very emotional and others are not. Some folks’ emotions range real close to a line (i.e. a little above the line and a little below the line). Some folks’ emotions range from very low to very high above a line (i.e. they are considered very emotional folks). My mentor tells me—Things are never as good as they look or never as bad as they look. Soooooooo sometimes it’s good not to get toooooooo excited about something (i.e. this too will pass). If I had known that, I would not have got that excited (i.e. I over reacted once again I think). Do you know any folks who over react? Do you know any folks who don’t seem to have any excitement (i.e. boring)?

MissPerfect says--Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself. If you keep doing the next five years what you have been doing the last five years you probably will get the same results.

If I would have only known! Because I am a businessman, inventor and pastor, people often ask me about business or product ideas. This is a basic summary of the general information and guidelines that I give…I don't intend to be pessimistic but realistic. Roughly 80% of new products that are introduced into grocery stores will be off the shelves in five years. There is a 20% success rate among the big boys because if you get a product into a big chain store, it usually means that you are one of the major players…I never forgot what one of the top entertainment attorneys in Atlanta told me. We were entering into the music business decades ago and he said, "95% of the music the majors record loses money; they make their profit off of 5%. Whatever you do, don't go into this business with money that you need because the independents have a higher failure rate than the majors." That attorney gave me some of the best and most realistic advice that I have ever received. Those figures are not only true for the music industry, but they ring similar in many other industries…In five years, most startup businesses will simply go under. The figure ranges from 50% to 95% that fail in the first five years depending upon which source you quote and which industry. The reality is simply this: business, product and novel ideas are difficult and risky…I served on a bank board for years. On the bank board, the figure that we were given was that 90% of restaurants would fail in the first five years. The figure was equally high for night clubs and other entertainment venues…Often I have people come to me and they say that "God" told them to talk to me. Most also say that their idea came from God and that they are absolutely sure that it is divinely given and thus cannot fail. That's what 90% of the people say. Really, 90% of the people say that! Now I'm not questioning anyone's hearing from God, but I do know that the statistics of success of those who come to me are about average. With most of the concepts I can simply see from natural logic and experience that they are not likely to work. Perhaps that's why God did tell them to talk to me. It's not that the idea is bad, but there are a lot of factors to consider if it is to work…Someone with experience will be able to give you a realistic idea of how to go about your project or if it is even practical to pursue it (i.e. you need a good mentor). ~A MountainWings Original~Forward this issue to a friend or send them the link below:  http://www.mountainwings.com/past/10078.htm

When in CO we took Erin for a walk to the park. We went past many houses in which the yards were in a variety of conditions. It looks to me that some folks thought—If I would have known it was going to take this much work to keep it nice I would have not done soooooo much work to it or if I would have known it was going to cost this much to do my yard I would have done a different plan (i.e. only half completed and it looks like…). If I only knew!

LuckieEddie says—We become like whom we hang out with. If I had known that I would have emulated someone else! SusieQ says—Someone imitating you is the greatest form of flattery (i.e. someone is emulating you and you are emulating someone). Are you a lot like your parents? Our little Erin repeated the same words Heater used to discipline the dog. Erin hit the flashlight just like James did when it didn’t work. Huh, interesting. We had breakfast with Rach (i.e. our niece) and John her husband when in the Denver area. She sounds just like my kid sister (i.e. her mother) on the phone. Huh, interesting. A good life is one of love and sacrifice. Suggestion—Find someone who leads a life of love and sacrifice and copy that person. MissPerfect asks—Whom are you influencing and whom are you influencing? I remember this from years ago (i.e. it just sticks in my head)—I saw a crazy boat driver on a lake and asked a friend who that was; they told me and said he was the 2nd craziest driver on the lake—sooooooo who is the craziest—His father!

This week I had the opportunity to attend a seminar about changing the church. Is it possible you think? ANYWAY I rode to the seminar with a couple of good folks (i.e. smart, caring and exciting and they have good hearts—my kind of folks). I had the opportunity to talk to several folks and picked their minds. I asked CFNeal (i.e. a guy who seems to see the big picture)—So how is your church doing in changing—we have set up many of the things suggested but we have a hard time implementing them it seems; We need to get past the superficial and really get to know each other; our culture is a cocoon society (i.e. don’t really want to get involved with other folks personally). Ya, talk is cheap but it takes money to buy whiskey! My opinion—Churches need to change to the needs of the people and not what upper management wants (i.e. by golly you are going to do it the way we tell you cause we have always done it that way). After the church fails, they say—If I would have only known that! Are you a risk taker? Is your church a risk taking church? Are the leaders of your church risk takers? It’s a lot easier to do it the same way you did it for the last 20 years. It takes a lot less effort. It's easy to be average!  But the results are not soooooooo good. Like my friend says—Decisions have consequences!

His understanding I cannot fathom—God is God—And that’s just the way it is. When the goner gongs (i.e. our life on this earth is over) we might have a different understanding of a lot of things. We might think—If I would have known that I would of wanted to be more like Jesus (i.e. the perfect mentor). What do you think? GeorgeTheCrook says—Pondering this might cause me a “1,000 yard stare”.

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

KR’s thought of the day—Sometimes we have to replace “what ifs” with some good old-fashioned “so whats”.
TheProfessor’sPithySaying—Choose to have a vigorous mind rather than a vigorous body-Pythagoras.