Today I turn 50. What have I learned?

• I guess I am finally not a teenager anymore. Maybe I will grow up and act your age.
• You are only as old as you are. ha ha ha.
• Spell check helped me find out that ‘this’ and ‘shit’ have the same letters. Typing too fast can make a mess when you leave the ‘o’ off of ‘hello’ in greetings to important people.
• Why are so many HR employees bad with people?
• Networking with people is how you find better jobs. The internet will suck your life away.
• Baby wipes help adult males stay clean. Clean yourself up since you are just a big baby anyways.
  

Now that I finally graduated from being a teenager, here are a few insights I have gleaned from my long life:

• Make the main thing the main thing. Don't make mountains out of mole hills. Most things are mole hills.
• Solve problems and issues, not people. There is an unseen enemy who wants to destroy all humans and their relationships. Be patient. We are all works in process.
• Never watch reality TV. Immoral brats behaving badly will damage your brain cells and soul.
• Fear, worry and procrastination are wastes of time. Stop them!
• Persevere, work hard, be productive, think deeply, pursue truth.
• Buy gifts for people that they want; not so you might partake too.
• Be the team member you want your co-workers, family, church, etc. to be. Build people up into someone better than they think they can become.
• All people are spiritually blinded by the unseen enemy and their own rebellion until the One Who loves them removes the blinders. We all have blind spots and need loving people to gently help us past them.
• The death of a child is horrible and takes many years to stop crying over.
• Failing as a husband and a pastor stripped me of my identity and dreams, but neither of those really defined me and could not destroy me.
• Neither health, wealth, world travel, cool stuff or great experiences determine the quality of one's life. You can have hope, joy and peace without any of those things.
• Your body is a finely tuned, amazing sports car; feed it good fuel and you will feel much better than when you give it treats that merely tempt the taste buds. This applies to most temptations in life. There is a difference between what looks or tastes good and what IS good.
• Love your children and pour grace all over them. The world will tell them what is wrong with them, so you tell them what is right with them.
• Believe in your spouse more than they do and you can turn them into your dream soul mate...if they believe you, know you love them and are willing to grow in a healthy manner.
• Allow God to love family, friends, everyone; even, your enemies through you as you become a humble, kind, gentle, honorable person.
• The hardest job on earth is being a step-parent and having a successful blended family.
• Never miss an opportunity to encourage someone.
• Jesus is more awesome, real, wonderful, miraculous, holy, creative and gracious than we can imagine. He alone is worth living or dying for. Because He rescued me from sin and adopted me as His son, I am filled with hope, joy and peace. I know I will celebrate and worship Him for eternity. Death no longer scares me. It is merely the door this body passes through so we can meet our Creator and Savior. Do you know Him? Nothing else on earth matters if you don't.
• Got to drive my fantasy car today. WOW! Fantastic, but not even slightly close to how awesome my wife is!

• Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit are the One God Who created and sustain everything. Yes, it is too complex for our simple minds that do not understand something that is eternal and not created. God is good. God is a community within Himself. That is why He created the family to mirror heaven's own perfect relationship. Seek to know God. Relationship with Him is why He made and loves you.

Have a great day. Get to know the Author of life.