Thomas Edison is credited with saying, “We often miss opportunity because it’s dressed in overalls and looks like work.” Work is something many people seek to avoid or dislike, but it is work that leads to opportunities.
Day #6 – Opportunities
Opportunities lead us to places were never thought we would go. They challenge us more and take us to levels we never thought we could achieve if we will take advantage of each one.
At an early age, my imagination ran wild and each day began a new opportunity. I found early that each opportunity was a moment in time to be grasped.
There will come a time, when the words, “I wish I would have..” will be words of regrets. While we are still alive, let us take advantage of the opportunities ahead.
As I have progressed through the Black and White Photo Challenge, I have violated the rules and posted words along with each photo. Each photo tells a story, and the words draw out the story through clearer eyes.
Day #5 – The Road
One of Willie Nelson’s most loved songs is “On the Road Again.” Many people identify with that song because they travel along with Willie as his songs speak of his journey’s along the roads.
Over my short years, the road as represented many travels to many places; some planned, some not planned, but all were unique.
I can only think of one car I ever owned that never made it to 100,000 miles before it was sold. The problems started early with that poor car, but it could still tell a story.
My travels and miles have not been as far as most, but the stories are beyond imagination. I have been blessed to travel for speaking engagements, workshops, lectures, vacations and sometimes, just out on a long drive.
Continuing in the photo challenge, I will let you in on the quick history of the Preacher’s Pen website.The website has become a part of my ministry, my writing, and my life. This is just a small history of how it began.
Day #4 – The Preacher’s Pen
In 2003 I began writing online with various articles and random thoughts. The site was a simple site shared with family and friends through email. The majority of the articles were coming from a small weekly email I was sending out called “Small Talk.” Along with the email “Small Talk” I was printing a newsletter edition every so often and sending it out through regular mail.
In the beginning, I had no idea what a “Blog” was; it sounded like a sickness more than a writing medium. As the articles were posted to the internet, the number of emails slowed down because people from all over the world could access the articles online.
Around mid-2006, after moving to South Carolina and changing the design of the website, the domain name preacherspen.org was purchased. From that moment; all ministry-type articles would be separated from others and posted strictly on the Preacher’s Pen.
Over the years, the site has changed several different times and have a varied amount of traffic throughout the world. Currently, I have taken a break from writing to work on some projects, but now, the writing is resuming at a slower pace.
From a small site to the site it is now, the Preacher’s Pen website continues to encourage others to create a better day today for a better life tomorrow, based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.
As I continue through the “Seven Day Black and White Photo Challenge” I have found myself examing a few things I do and how to improve. One aspect of the photo challenge is to post photos relating to various aspects of your life that define your character. Today, I speak of journaling.
Day #3 – My Journal
I have written about journaling several times before, but this time it is a little shorter. You can read some previous thoughts here: Some Thoughts on Journaling.
Thanks to the teaching of Jim Rohn, I have been keeping a journal for several years now and have experienced many benefits I never considered. Here is a YouTube link to Jim Rohn speaking on journaling.
I started keeping a journal after listening to Jim Rohn speak on the benefits of keeping a journal and realizing this could play a great part in my creative process. At first, journaling was something I had heard before but never followed through on the plan. I decided to purchase a journal and begin writing as much as I could. I tried writing in the morning and evening, but I found it best when I wrote as a thought hit.
My journal goes with me where I travel, and it has become something I refer to and see how my life is progressing.
I do not use my journal like a diary, but as a collection of thoughts, lesson notes, quotes, shopping lists, project planning and various writings. It is a catch-all for ideas, sketches, plans, and failures. There is a structure, and it is to collect thoughts on paper to review and meditate on at a later time.
My favorite part of journaling is the ability to look back on previous journals and see how I have progressed and matured in my thinking. Having a collection of ideas and thoughts aids in gauging your growth.
As Day #2 of the seven day black and white photo challenge continues, I thought I would share something that constantly changes my life. The more I learn, the less I know.
I know the rules of the Black and White Photo Challenge are to post a photo with no words, details, or information about the picture, but I have decided to change the rules. While a picture can tell a thousand words, explanations help to complete the story.
Day #2 – A Book for Life
I must confess something which several people already know – I graduated high school having never read a book. Throughout all the book reports, tests, term papers, etc., I escaped high school having never read a book. You can call it a reflection on the educational system or you can realize I figured out a way to make it happen. I never liked reading and could not find enjoyment thumbing my way through hundreds of pages for hours.
Then I read one book. It was my freshman year in college, and I decided to read a book. For whatever reason, I was going to make myself read. Within a few days, I had read my first book cover to cover. It was from those few disciplined days; I began reading more and more. I always read articles, magazines, etc., but books were different.
Today, the tradition of reading continues. I am usually reading 2 or 3 books at a time.
There is one book that changes my thinking every time I read it.
This book is the Bible.
It is a book of intrigue and challenge. Whether you have read it or not, it would do you well to spend some time in the Proverbs. These wise sayings apply to every aspect of life. From there, you might want to move to Matthew chapters 5-7 and discover the Sermon on the Mount.
Most people know of the Bible, but takes it words for granted. I would encourage you to spend a few minutes each day and open this book which has lasted thousands of years and see how it can change your life.
It will change you. Just give its words an opportunity.
Several people have tagged me to post a black and white photo for seven days on Facebook describing some aspect of my life. While I typically pass on these things, this one does not sound to bad. Since I am going to write a small blurb to go along with the photo, I thought I go ahead and share these on the Preacher’s Pen website as well.
Day #1 – My Relationship with Coffee
Coffee is in my blood.
Several of my first memories involve my family sitting around and drinking a cup of coffee. It didn’t matter if it was a snowy West Virginia morning or if it was a blistering August day, there was always a cup of coffee to drink.
When I was younger, the thought of drinking coffee was pretty disgusting. I didn’t like the flavor, I didn’t like the taste; then in my college years I discovered the wonderful taste of coffee.
As a student at West Virginia University, I was walking about a mile and a half to campus everyday. During those times I would drink a cup of coffee on the way to class, then after class, make my way to the Student Center for another large cup of coffee. Those days began a habit which would last me for years. Even when I wasn’t drinking a cup of coffee, I still wanted one.
When I wasn’t living near campus, I was driving everyday from Bridgeport, WV and I would have a nice steaming cup of coffee along the way. After class, once again I found my way to the student center for another cup of coffee.
This continued to my travels at Freed-Hardeman University, where I actually burned out a Mr. Coffee 4 cup coffee maker. I called home one day and my mom asked me what I needed. I mentioned that I would really like a new coffee pot. A few days later, a new coffee pot arrived. This only made the matter worse because the next coffee pot was a 12-cup coffee maker.
Hence the relationship still continues.
Every morning I get up there’s a cup of coffee fixed by my beautiful wife.
I drink more coffee than most things these days. It may be a sign of getting older, but I happen to enjoy it.
There is more to coffee than caffeine and the aroma, there is an atmosphere about coffee. The atmosphere is a relaxed time with friends, family, co-workers or someone you want to get to know better. Hearing the words, “Want to grab a cup of coffee?” can take any stressful day and begin to make it better.
