Omaha Beach

"Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. We know more about war than we know about peace, more about killing than we know about living. We have grasped the mystery of the atom and rejected the Sermon on the Mount." -- General Omar Bradley

General Omar Bradley was a 5-Star General in the US Army during World War II and was witness to many of the struggles faced during that time including the invasion on Omaha Beach…one of the fiercest and toughest battles of the war. A battle of proportion that the majority of us will never have to face.

I find the last sentence of General Bradley’s quote particularly interesting. As people with incredible minds and a vast amount of knowledge we have the tendency to over-think and over-complicate things. We do exactly as General Bradley mentions here. We dissect and figure out the mystery of the atom but we dismiss the Sermon on the Mount. While there is value and great benefit to be gained by figuring out the atom it is rather useless if we dismiss the simplicity of living to be gleaned in the Sermon on the Mount.

It is rather interesting to me also that Jesus, in all of his knowledge (of absolutely everything) shared what is considered…and rightfully so…the greatest sermon ever preached, and it basically amounts to about 10-minutes at the most of talking. In these several minutes of preaching Jesus laid out the principles for living. He gave us the knowledge we need to live successfully and peacefully. He laid out a plan to live our lives on and with purpose.

I think General Bradley in his experience and with what he saw and experienced during his lifetime was able to appreciate this. Having lived a life full of passion and total commitment to what he loved to do I believe he left very little on the table. He put it all out there. I totally believe that the reason so many people get caught up in complicating simple issues is because they have not totally committed themselves to what they are really called to do out of fear instilled in them by the world.

The world has set its standards and the world has laid out how you meet their standards. When you decide to persue something that looks different than this you are bound to meet criticism and skepticism. It is much more acceptable to work hard at something that looks more like the worlds accepted model but yet may not fit your purpose…and spend your extra time creating solutions to complicated issues that really don’t need to be solved…than it is to pursue your calling that doesn’t fit in the worlds box.

Jesus summed it up in the world’s greatest sermon that lasted ten-minutes or less. It isn’t complicated. It isn’t all that profound. But it is incredibly true and applicable.

If you’re called to grasp the mystery of the atom, then by all means do it. If you are called to sweep floors then do it well. But, if you’re called to grasp the mystery of the atom…don’t do it half-heartedly while dreaming of sweeping floors. And if you’re called to sweep floors don’t do it half-heartedly while dreaming of atoms.

General Omar Bradley had one thing on his mind as he and his men landed on Omaha Beach…he wasn’t thinking of anything else. That is the only way they made it through the invasion at Omaha Beach. Through perseverance and a commitment to his calling, General Omar Bradley had 35,000 men on the shore of a beach that stretched 5.5 miles long and a ½ mile wide. While they lost over 2,500 men…it could have been many, many more if any one of them had committed anything less than there all.

While you and I may not be in a battle that consists of bullets piercing the waters around us we know that the battle we are currently facing is no less real. The thing that will get us through is our commitment to stay true to our calling, and not allow the temptation to complicate the simple calling that rests on our life.

The truth is that even a calling that seems complicated to others will be simple to you if that is truly your calling.

Matthew 7:28-29 – “When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.”

Have a blessed day,

RodZ

© 2008 – Rodney Zimmerman – All rights reserved

The Market That Keeps on Climbing

It can sometimes be tough to stay positive when everything else seems to be taking a negative turn. The past couple of weeks have found the newspaper headlines and the anchormen and women on our nations news programs sharing the negative news of the day. Financial giants that were the epitome of success in the financial world have come tumbling down. Others were bought out at the last second by other financial giants just moments before they would have crumbled as well.

Now, I am no financial expert and I won’t offer you any investment tips on how to handle your money during these interesting times…other than this one. If you find yourself breaking out into a cold sweat every time a bank fails or an insurance company takes a plunge I would suggest to you that perhaps you are placing your faith in the wrong market. The greatest investment that you can make is the investment that you make through your giving. It is truly the one market that has never had a down quarter and has never failed and has never come crashing down.

We need to recognize the Lord as our true source for everything that we need and everything that we require. He will not fail us and he will not leave us without meeting our needs. While we have our fair share of due diligence that we must conduct in regards to the decisions that we make…if we operate within the realms of the guidelines that the Lord sets out for us…when we operate in faith in Him, He will not fail us. He will always take care of us and our needs will always be met.

This can be a tough lesson to learn…especially in light of the current economic conditions, but quite honestly I can tell you that while I feel for what some people may be going through, I do not fret upon reading the headlines or listening to the news. I do feel bad for those that have placed their faith in these markets and it seems as though all they have may be on the verge of diminishing to only a fraction of what it once was. But, I also recognize that many, many people actually know or have heard or have read for themselves that God desires to be our true and only source but have instead purposely made the decision to place their faith in their investments and in their own bank accounts, thereby placing their faith in their own investing strategies rather than placing their faith and trust in God.

While I would never embrace the “kick them while they’re down” mentality and I am not about to begin doing that now; I will say that the current state of our markets will certainly be an opportunity for those of us who have purposely made the decision to place their faith in God as their source for everything, to share a very real message of hope in the midst of what is despair for many people.

Stay strong and stay positive. Put your faith in God and know that he has promised to never leave us or forsake us. He is always there for us and He loves us.

Hebrews 13:5-6 – “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’”


Have a blessed day,

RodZ

© 2008 – Rodney Zimmerman – All rights reserved

New Every Morning

Lamentations 3:22-24 – “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”

It is very easy for me to recall the moments in my life that I lived with regret. The times that I second-guessed my actions and decisions. In fact it isn’t just me, I’ve seen it in people that were in the worlds eyes extremely successful. People that others would never envision as having to second guess what they had done or decisions that they had made. But when you get close to them. When you earn their trust…it comes shining through loud and clear. I’ve given up living like that. I no longer choose to second guess my decisions, rather I strive to make the right decisions in the first place as guided by the Holy Spirit and if it does appear that I have moved in the wrong direction I will learn from it and move on.

Many people live their lives in regret or in guilt of previous decisions or actions. This lingering guilt prevents them from totally experiencing the joy that the Lord desires for them to experience and because of this it also prevents them being all that they could and should be. If you have been a Christian for any length of time you have heard the scriptural phrase “His mercies are new every morning.” We have to recognize the fact that God’s love never ends. It never gives up. And his mercies renew us each and every day. The failings we may have had yesterday are gone today if we accept the Lord’s mercy and his forgiveness.

The cool thing is that we don’t have to pray for the Lord’s forgiveness because he has already done everything that needs to be done. It is finished, to put it in His own words. We just have to accept it and go with it. When we fall short…accept his mercy. When we mess up…accept his mercy. When we sin…accept his mercy. It is there, just waiting for us. It allows us to continually move forward in spite of our shortcomings and sinful nature.

While I don’t want to downplay the significance that the past plays in the lives of many people, I also want to recognize the significance that the Lord’s mercy can and will play in our lives if we accept it. For some people, it may require time dedicated to overcoming and dealing with the decisions that you have previously made. But for many, it may be as simple as accepting God’s mercy and forgiveness and applying it to the areas that are attempting to bring you down.
Today, make it a priority to forget the past and look forward to all that God has for you. Learn what you can from what you have already done and accomplished…and anything else from your past that doesn’t help or serve a purpose…forget it. Put it behind you and move forward. Better and stronger from what you have learned and not at all hampered by what you may have messed up because of the Lord’s mercies that are new every morning.

What a great way to start the day!!

Have a blessed one,

RodZ

© 2008 – Rodney Zimmerman – All rights reserved

Yes...I Have a Facebook Page

I have a facebook page. Yep…a few months ago I decided to set up a facebook page. My children and my wife kind of thought I was a little nuts. But…that is nothing really new. I did it because there were several good friends that I had established relationships with over the years that now lived in other states and I thought it would be a way to keep somewhat connected. And it has…and I have enjoyed it.

I have noticed something though as I have been able to see how people interact on facebook. I see people with hundreds and hundreds of friends…and there is nothing wrong with that…unless people are spending hours and hours of their time interacting through the computer to the point that they have no time for genuine relationships.

I believe that in our culture we have begun to drift away from real genuine relationships of quality to surface relationships in quantity. I have always been a person who would pick quality over quantity any day. Even as a child…I would pick the higher quality toy over a lower quality toy even if it meant I would receive less in the end. As I grew older and began to buy things for myself I did the same. I built my stereo system as a young child in pieces because I would always buy the highest quality piece I could afford…even though it meant waiting to get the rest of the pieces I needed.

Now, relationships are much different than stereos and toys…but, the point here is this…if you begin to fill your life with strictly surface level relationships that use up all of your time to the point that you have no time left for real genuine relationships, then there is a problem.

Take a real look at the time you are spending on things that are not all that important. The things that really don’t add any level of quality to your life or living. Now consider what you could really do with that time if you chose to do something that did add to your life. Facebook is fun and great…but if it is consuming hours of your time sustaining relationships that won’t ever go beyond a computer screen, I think you may need to reconsider the value of what you’re doing.

Even Jesus knew that it was wise to choose a select few to have relationship with rather than a strictly surface level relationship with many.

Luke 6:12-13 – “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:”

Have a great and blessed weekend,

RodZ

© 2008 – Rodney Zimmerman – All rights reserved

But...what are you really capable of?

I think Christians sometimes confuse the idea that since life isn’t guaranteed to be easy once you embrace your relationship with Christ then that must mean that we are doomed to a life of struggling and mediocrity. I really don’t believe this is the case at all and I am sure many of you don’t either. But, as we strive to push forward and we decide to accept our position in Christ you are likely to encounter those that have this belief and will question your motivation for more.

As I wrote several days ago…it isn’t our position to judge other people, and I am very thankful for that. So the person that decides to be satisfied with very little…I am not going to judge, just as I won’t judge the person that desires more and more. But, I also would like to see more people opening up to the idea that God desires to bless us and prosper us. For far too long it has been accepted teaching that we should not pursue more and more. And we shouldn’t…if all we are doing is pursuing things for the sake of having more things. But, if we are doing it because we have been blessed with certain gifts and abilities to produce great things…then to do any less is dishonoring to God and it is like the servant who went and hid his talent so he wouldn’t lose it rather than produce more with it.

I strongly believe that many Christians have bought into this thinking…either somewhere in the back of their mind or perhaps they are very open and honest about it. And this has pushed back the thinking of other people to the point where it has hampered the effectiveness of Christians all over. Even for those that think they are on board with the idea that it is a Christians place to be blessed; even for these people, many times they will be almost apologetic for what they have. While we certainly don’t need to boast about what we have we shouldn’t find ourselves in the position of ever having to apologize for it either.

The basic idea here today is that we shouldn’t handicap our potential to fit into somebody else’s limited thinking. If you are finding yourself producing less…in any way, shape, or form than what you are truly capable of because of what other people may think than I believe you are buying into the enemies plan to lessen your overall effectiveness for God’s kingdom.

Matthew 25:15-30 – “To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.' "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' "The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.' "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' "Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' "His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. " 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'”

Just some thoughts for the day. Let me know what you think at Word for the Day.

Have a blessed day,

RodZ

© 2008 – Rodney Zimmerman – All rights reserved

Road...What Road?

“Hope is like a road in the country; there was never a road, but when many people walk on it, the road comes into existence.” – Lin Yutang

A big part of succeeding where others have failed is the ability to see hope where others see none. Just as the quote above puts it in the context of a road that others do not see, so does hope exist for those who choose to see it where others cannot.

There are certainly those that are reading this today that are walking down a road that is currently overgrown with tall weeds, thistles, and even perhaps a few strands of poison ivy. As long as you choose to see the road that for most doesn’t quite exist you will arrive at the destination that you are envisioning. As you started down this path you could see the end. It was the very thing that spurred you on down this road that looked more than a little uncomfortable. It was the thing that caused you to keep going even though after just a few steps you were already feeling the effects of the first few thistles and weeds. It was the vision that allowed you to see the road that to others did not exist.

So what do you do when you reach a point that the weeds are so tall that you can’t see the destination any longer? You need to keep moving. You keep moving in the direction of the destination. You keep pushing through. The tall weeds won’t last forever and very soon you will again be able to see your destination. And before long there will be others following behind you, following your path, and this is how roads are made to places where roads never before existed.

It certainly is much more comfortable to walk the roads and the paths where they exist…but these roads will only take you to places that many people have been before. This is fine if “safe” is what you are looking for. But if you are looking to go where others have not yet gone…than expect to walk some roads that others cannot see.

Don’t turn back just because you’ve encountered some thistles and thorns. There will be a clearing just ahead that will again offer you a glimpse to where you are headed and what is in your future. It will again remind you of the very thing that set you down this path.

Isaiah 42:16 – “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.”

Have a blessed day,

RodZ

© 2008 – Rodney Zimmerman – All rights reserved

What Separates the Best from the Very Best?

In 1980 he was speed skating himself to 5 Olympic Gold Medals in Lake Placid. Five years later he was cycling himself to a U.S. Professional Cycling Championship. Today he is widely respected Orthopedic Surgeon. I would have to say that Eric Heiden is an ambitious guy. And I would also say that he learned some lessons along the way.

People will sometimes ask me why I pursue or why I enjoy endurance sports. They will ask me what would drive me to do an Ironman. A part of it is the quality of life it gives me. The feeling of being healthy and having the endurance to outlast your children. But the other part of it is the sense of accomplishment. The confidence that you gain when you set a lofty goal and achieve it. For me, it was easier to set a lofty goal in the physical realm and use that to spur me on in other areas. But for others, it may be quite different. They may have to use achievement in a different area to spur them on in the physical realm.

“Once I had that confidence, the sky was the limit.” – Eric Heiden

“What I think separates the best from the very best is the degree of mental toughness.” – Eric Heiden

While there may be the occasional overnight success…for most, if not nearly all…success is a process. It is a continual effort of putting forth your very best, and being unwilling to give up…ever. At some point in this process many people make the decision to give up…they cave to the pressures of mediocrity…they listen to the voices of those that have been in similar positions and gave up before they reached the success that was awaiting them. And the sad thing is that these people usually don’t want to see others succeed where they have failed. But for those that choose to stay the course and not give in to the negative thoughts and the negative words of others; they will have the opportunity to experience the success that awaits them

Take a thorough survey of your current situation…determine where you are in this process and what steps you should be taking and the steps you have already taken. Where have they gotten you? Where are you now?

God has incredible plans for you…plans to prosper you and give you a future. What are you going to do with these plans?

Psalm 33:11-12 – “But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.”

Have a blessed day,

RodZ

© 2008 – Rodney Zimmerman – All rights reserved

(Should) You Be the Judge?

How do you become the person that God has created you to be? Is it a formula or a particular track that you can take that if you follow steps a, b, and c will get you to where you want to go? I don’t really think so. I think the Bible has many moral absolutes that are purely black and white and you know exactly where you are based on the decisions you make in those situations. But outside of that I believe the Bible has very clear direction but it can vary from person to person depending on where they are in their walk with Christ.

I believe this is why God made the call that he alone would be the judge. He alone will make the call on who makes it to heaven and who doesn’t…on who is walking in His perfect will and who is not. I am so thankful for that fact. I am so thankful that God will do all the judging and I don’t have to worry about other people’s actions, decisions, choices, or words. I only have to watch what I allow into my life and think about my own actions.

We certainly need to be concerned about others and it is our responsibility to share the knowledge of what we know with those that we have opportunity to share with. But…we don’t have to think about judging their decisions or their actions. In my own life, the actions and deicisions of others will help determine what, if any place they have in my life, but I don’t expend any amount of energy judging these people.

I believe this is another area the enemy has had a undeserving impact on the Christian community. People have gotten so totally consumed with judging others that they have lost track of their own mission and purpose. This is not God’s plan…but it is the enemy’s subtle distraction that if gone uncorrected will keep you from being the person God created you to be.
The message today? Concentrate of being everything God created you to be and don’t allow yourself to get caught up in the actions and decisions of other people.

John 6:37-38 – “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Have a blessed day,

RodZ

© 2008 – Rodney Zimmerman – All rights reserved

What Did You Say?

How do you talk? I don't mean how do you form your sentences or pronunciate words...I am talking about what type of talk do you regularly participate in? I have had the opportunity to be around a wide variety of people, and in all the people I have met I have never met a successful pessimist. The two words just really don't go together. They are almost polar opposites. Success is defined with words like favorable, prosperous, positive while pessimism is defined with words like negative, evil, or bad.

We must choose our words carefully. What you say is often what you tend to get. If you are continually speaking negative thoughts have no surprise when you tend to get negative outcomes. If you are speaking in a positive fashion then have no surprise when you have positive outcomes.

I continually find myself having to speak positive words into situations that seem destined for a negative outcome. It is our choice how we choose to view our situations and how we choose to respond to the circumstances around us. Every day you face situations and challenges that require you to make a decision as to whether you will accept a negative report or whether you will see the positive. What will you choose to do?

In your day-to-day situations you have to ask yourself "what outcome will glorify God?" We should always strive to bring glory to God. I know that I have made it through many different situations because God gave me the ability. It is He who gives us the strength and this is what glorifies God. Today you may face a decision, a situation, a challenge that requires you to make a choice as to whether you will see it as a negative or whether you will see it as a positive opportunity for God to be glorified. If you begin to speak in a negative fashion about the situation, you are setting your own course. Choose your words carefully. God and the enemy are always listening…what will they hear?

Luke 6:45 - "A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart."

Have a blessed day,
RodZ

© 2008 - Rodney Zimmerman - All rights reserved

Olympic Dropout

The final miles of the marathon. The descent from the mountaintop. The final ten miles of a century ride. The delivery after you’ve closed the deal.

These are the moments that really count. There have been many who have started a truly great race and showed some promise but it isn’t how you start that ever truly counts…it is how you finish that matters and it is how you finish that that brings the reward.

In the 2004 Athens Women’s Marathon, Paula Radcliffe was favored to win, and she looked the part in the beginning. She was the one setting the pace and continued to do so up until mile 17. At this point Paula Radcliffe showed signs of weakening and by mile 21 she had dropped out of the race.

Of course everybody can have a bad race or a bad day and to focus on one event for one athlete is really unfair. But history nearly repeated itself in 2008. Again Radcliffe helped set the pace early on, leading the international pack of contenders for the gold…but this time Radcliffe did finish the race…although it in was 23rd place.

Although she is a world record holder in the marathon, her performances in the Olympics are not very memorable. One has to wonder why somebody with the obvious talent and ability can’t seem to perform in the Olympic arena? And it really doesn’t matter how well she sets the pace in the beginning…there are no medals for that. It is all about who crosses that finish line first.

Many of us are running our own Olympic Marathon in one sense or another. For many it isn’t just a matter of whether we get a medal or not…it is a matter of surviving…in the sense of how we see survival. It is a matter of staying in the race, fighting for the finish.

The truth is Paula Radcliffe learned a valuable lesson in 2004. She learned the difference between dropping out of such a high profile race and fighting to stick with it and finishing. Her 2008 finish wasn’t quite as inspirational as it would have been if she had fought to the finish in 2004. In 2004 she would have been perceived as somewhat of a heroic athlete pushing through just to finish…in 2008 it was viewed as trying to avoid another Olympic dropout.

Whatever race you are in right now…if it is worth running, run it well. Don’t drop out; and keep running until you cross the finish line. Don’t let up and don’t give in.

2 Timothy 4:7-8 – “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

Have a blessed day,

RodZ

Visit my blog at Word for the Day

© 2008 – Rodney Zimmerman – All rights reserved

Idleness is Not Resting

"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time." -- Sir John Lubbock

God’s Word does not warn us against resting…but it does warn us against being idle. There is an important difference between the two and I believe that our refusal to differentiate between the two has been a hinderance to many people receiving the rest they need and deserve.

IDLENESS: Not working or active; unemployed; doing nothing: not spent or filled with activity; not in use or operation, not kept busy; habitually doing nothing or avoiding work, lazy; of no real worth or importance or significance; having no basis or reason; baseless; groundless; frivolous, vain; meaningless, senseless; futile; unavailing.

REST: The refreshing quiet or repose of sleep; refreshing ease or inactivity after exertion or labor; relief or freedom especially from anything that wearies, troubles, or disturbs; a period or interval of inactivity, repose, solitude, or tranquility; mental or spiritual calm; tranquility.


As you can plainly see from the definitions there is a huge difference between idleness and rest. There are two common problems that prevent people from receiving the rest they need.
· They confuse rest with being idle and therefore feel guilty when they rest so they don’t do it. When you rest you are purposely setting aside time to refresh and gain the refreshing you need. You purposely don’t answer your phone or check your emails and you don’t spend time thinking about your responsibilities or challenges that you are currently facing. You set time aside to rest and to be refreshed. Everybody needs this and if you don’t purpose to do it you will eventually face burnout.
· The other common problem people face with the differentiation of rest and idleness is they think they are resting but they are actually just being idle. This is a very frequent occurrence. They really aren’t doing anything so they think they are resting but yet they are checking emails, they are watching to see who calls, they listen to their voicemails and while they are doing nothing they are pondering the issues that they will face come Monday morning. While they have been idle they certainly have not rested and they are anything but refreshed.

People talk a lot about the quality of multi-tasking. And multi-tasking can be good at the right time and in the right moment, but I believe many people live their life in multi-task mode. They are continually and constantly doing one thing while thinking about something and that has crept into our time of rest and refreshing. This is how we have turned times that used to be productive rest times into moments of idleness. It is the enemies attempt to turn something that is great into something that is detrimental.

Whatever you do…if it is worth doing…do it with purpose and with passion. There will be brief moments when multi-tasking may be necessary…but if this is how you are living your life you need to take an inventory and see what good thing has crept in and is keeping you from the greatness that God has for you.

2 Thessalonians 3:6-7 – “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you,”

Have a blessed day,

RodZ

© 2008 – Rodney Zimmerman – All rights reserved

Time to Get Up!

Have you ever wondered what it was like for the disciples and apostles when they woke up? Have you ever wondered what their world looked like? How they motivated themselves from day to day? What kept them moving once Jesus ascended back to heaven? Once He was gone? They had their plans of what His “Kingdom” would look like; and now He was gone. Those plans just went up in smoke…or was it a cloud?

We all have our days where we can’t wait to get going. You have plans made, deals to close, a schedule to keep and you are lovin’ it! But, then you have your days where you just aren’t feeling your game. You keep going, but getting up in the morning certainly isn’t as easy and as exciting as it is some days. You know you have to stay positive, but how?

I have had the fortunate opportunity to know enough people to realize that being positive is not an automatic for anybody. Nobody is just positive all the time. And success doesn’t just happen for anybody either. The disciples and the apostle’s accomplishments have been recorded in the all time best-selling book in history for all to read. We look to them for inspiration and we read about their accomplishments as motivation for our own lives. But, they too were just people. They were really no different than you and I. So I know that they struggled on some days just as you and I struggle to get up and face the day with the attitude that we know we should.

So, how does that person that you see as the ultimate example of attitude and success do it? They make a choice. They decide what they are going to focus on and then they stick to it. For many of us it is a matter of emotion rather than a matter of decision. We feel one way and that is what we base our current actions on. We can’t do that. Emotions can and will misguide us. There certainly are times that a change of plans are in order, but don’t do it as a reaction to some emotional feeling. Make a change of plans because it is the right thing to do.

When you focus on what is right you will win the game. When you allow yourself to be distracted, when you react to emotions, you are bound to get off course.

Philippians 4:4-9 - “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice! Let everyone see your gentleness The Lord is near! Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things. And what you learned and received and heard and saw in me, do these things. And the God of peace will be with you.”

I think this scripture gives us the perfect answer to our question. How do you get up morning after morning with the right attitude? You do it by being anxious…never. And trusting God for everything. And by focusing on only those things that are pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy. Don’t focus on anything else. Do what you have committed to do and focus only on these things.

Have a blessed day,

RodZ


© 2008 – Rodney Zimmerman – All rights reserved

It's Not So Much What you Think

The Bible is full of encouraging words. It is full of promise for those who believe. It is full of powerful statements for our lives. It is full of God’s plan for our lives.

What we have to do though is turn those statements…those thoughts into reality for ourselves. We must take what was written thousands of years ago and make it a reality for our world today. It is interesting to hear Christians in churches all over talk about God ordering our steps; God’s plan and God’s purpose for our lives, that it is his will for our lives that we are seeking.

Well, it is all laid out for us in a little book called the Bible. We are able to turn all of those promises, all of those powerful statements into reality when we begin to speak what was written for us thousands of years ago. Often we tend to get caught up with speaking what seems reasonable or socially acceptable rather than speaking what is actually the truth from God’s word. And while there are ways of speaking God’s word in a way that can fit the substandard living that many people choose to accept, the truth remains that it is God’s desire that we be blessed and that we live in a way that glorifies God to the world around us. The truth is that all of us who live in America are blessed. From the richest to the poorest…we truly are blessed. But I believe that many, many people settle for a level of blessing that is far less than what God has for them.

The cause can be that people just become complacent and don’t desire to push on any longer. It can be because they don’t want the ridicule that often comes along with trusting God for more…and especially when they are trusting for much more. (Sadly this often comes from other Christians.) Or they don’t want to risk losing what they already have, even though they believe that God has more for them.

The standard isn’t the house you live in or the car you drive…the standard, which we are to measure by, is how are we measuring up against what God has planned for our life. What desires has God placed within you? Take a survey of yourself today and begin to speak aloud the plans that God has for your life…and realize the difference between what is thought and what is spoken.

1 Peter 4:10-11 – “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 11If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

Have a blessed day,

RodZ

© 2008 – Rodney Zimmerman – All rights reserved

Give Me a Challenge

This past summer I had the privilege of coaching a couple of athletes who were competing in their first ½ Ironman Triathlon. I say it was a privilege because it was almost as rewarding to see them attempt and achieve their goal as it was for me to attempt and achieve my own goals. In fact helping them achieve their own goals was helping me achieve one of my goals.

One of the comments that I received from them was especially revealing to me about what this whole coaching relationship is about. The comment was this… “It’s because of your crazy challenges that I made it through.”

Throughout the training process and on the day of the race, I threw out some crazy challenges. And I didn’t do it half-heartedly or sarcastically…I really meant them. I knew that for these guys the challenges would mean something. They were a stretch, but for them they were achievable, if they believed and if they had a desire, which I knew they did.

Last night as I read this comment several times I began to get it. I began to get that this closely resembles what God does for us. Sure, there is more to it than just this one facet, but this is a part of it. God lays out some pretty audacious challenges. He lays out some pretty big claims for those that believe and he also gives seemingly endless rewards for those that believe and for those that have a desire to achieve.

Last night I also thought about the fact that if I can get pretty excited about seeing a couple of guys achieve the physical goal of completing this race, just think about the joy that God receives when he sees us setting and achieving goals with our life. Just as I was proud to say “Hey, see that guy, I was his coach.” So is God eager for the world to see us accomplishing big goals and giving him the bragging rights of saying “Hey world…see that guy who is out there getting it done…he’s mine!”

Perhaps this is why scripture uses the illustration of the athlete and the challenge to win and the metaphor of running the race over and over. I am all for embracing the physical challenges and taking them on…but if all the challenges in your life are tied up in the physical you are really missing it. These can help give you a balanced life and can help keep you in top physical shape. But if you don’t take on similar challenges in your mental and spiritual sides of your life you will be missing out on the fullness of life that God planned for you.

Get out there…taken on the challenge…and embrace those crazy challenges that the coach is dishing out.

1 Corinthians 9:24-25 – “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”

Have a blessed day,

RodZ

© 2008 – Rodney Zimmerman – All rights reserved

What Are You Thinking?

What do you expect for your future? What are you expecting to take place?

It really amazes me when people wonder why things aren’t really going the way they would like them to go, or when they complain about the unsatisfactory state of their existence and yet when you ask them, “What do you think your future looks like?” they have nothing positive to say.

There is a lot of truth to the old saying that you get what you expect…but it holds a lot more weight when what you expect lines up with what scripture says. It is just rather sad to see so many good people without any type of positive expectation for the future.

It is true that scripture says that in this world you will have trouble. And I can honestly attest to the fact that this is true. There is trouble in this world and we are no exception to this. But also, we have everything it takes to overcome those troubles. We have everything required to walk directly through these troubles unscathed and without experiencing any harm what-so-ever.

But, to accomplish this you must first be connected to the power God has available for us. We must tap into that and harness that power. Then we must believe in it. We must believe and have faith in the power made available to us through the Holy Spirit. And then we must act on it. When we are asked what’s ahead for us…it should be nothing but positive comments coming forth. To have anything less…or to answer with something negative is pretty much guaranteeing you that this is what you will encounter.

I don’t want anybody to think that I live under some illusion that when you become a Christian that your life is some walk-through-the-tulip-park kind of existence. That is not what it is all about. You don’t have to look any further than the life of Jesus himself or of the disciples to see that even though they walked hand-in-hand with Jesus himself, yet they still had many, many challenges.

But…they never gave up and they never gave in. In spite of all the challenges they faced they still walked in victory and they still believed for the best outcome…always.

It is extremely important that you ask yourself on a regular basis “What am I expecting for my future?” Because what you’re expecting affects what you say and how you act…and these are the things that affect what we get.

John 16:33 – “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Have a blessed day,

RodZ

© 2008 – Rodney Zimmerman – All rights reserved

Better To Be Short Handed

A few weeks ago I mentioned a church I enjoy watching once in a while on the web. It is New Spring church in South Carolina. You can check it out at www.newspring.cc They have a great website and they do an awesome job making their services available online after the fact, and it appears that they have an awesome worship team.

This last week I was watching one of their services and something really jumped out at me. It was one of their guitar players and what was strange was that his face appeared almost emotionless. Now…in many settings this would not be strange at all. It would be almost normal. But here, it stuck out like a sore thumb, because in almost every other shot and in every other service I have watched every musician and every singer shows so much passion for what they are doing. They are totally into it. So when I saw this one person seemingly rather emotionless it really stuck out. Now in all fairness it was probably just this one shot or this one moment…but it was apparent.

This made me think…the higher our level of performance, the better we become at what we do, the higher our expectations, the more passionate we become about what we are doing, the more important it is that everyone that is working alongside us be totally on board with what we are doing and what we are about. Because as this one shot showed; as the standard is raised, anybody or anything that reflects less than this will stand out. The people that were once serving alongside us in unity may no longer be able to do so if they have chosen to remain at the same level that they were previously.

When Jesus first began calling his followers he had quite a crowd. But as time went on and his ministry developed and expectations were raised and the challenge was put out there those that decided to stick with him became fewer and fewer. And at one point he even looked at his disciples and asked them if they too were going to leave him and walk away.

The call to be a Christian is open to everyone. It is available to all. But at what level are you content to be at. Are you willing to settle for the just making it into heaven bunch or are you one who is going to strive to perform at the highest level. If you are going for the highest level there are those that you will leave behind. I don’t think Jesus lost much sleep over those who decided to walk away. He wasn’t busy chasing them down. Instead he was focused on what was ahead, and he continued to raise that standard higher and higher.

Take a look around you today and survey those who are willing to continue to grow in the direction you are headed and those that seem to be holding you back. If there are people who are continually holding you back and pushing you down it may be time to make a separation. Better to be short handed than to have that hand connected to an anchor that is weighting you down.

John 6:60-67 – “On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you? What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him." From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve.”

Have a blessed day,

RodZ

© 2008 – Rodney Zimmerman – All rights reserved

I Love Fall...Not the Act

I love Fall. Not the act…rather the season. And this past Sunday I had the opportunity to get out and ride the Door County Century ride at the very beginning of the Fall Season. It’s an organized fun ride that takes you through a good portion of Door County WI and I had an invitation from one of the sponsors to ride with them. It was an absolutely beautiful day and it was a lot of fun to connect with some of my friends from the area.

As I had the opportunity to ride and to talk with my friends I began to realize just how blessed we are in so many ways. We are really blessed…but we have to first accept the blessing and then we have to believe that we are blessed and we also have to act on the blessing. Many times people will read scripture that tells them they are blessed and then they walk away and talk about how tough and horrible their life is. And they make decisions based on worse case scenarios…basically making decisions on the belief that they will be cursed rather than blessed. And then they will wake up the next day and read some more scripture that again tells them they are blessed and they will go to church and sing songs about being blessed and yet they will walk away and make the same decisions based on worst case scenarios.

I know there are people who wonder and those who actually tell me that I am lucky or that somehow things often just seem to go my way. I have to be honest and tell them it is God’s favor working in my life. But it doesn’t just magically happen. I believe for it. I believe it will happen long before it does. I just naturally assume things will go my way…and if ever they don’t I don’t suck my thumb about it I will get back up and take another run at it…all along believing that things will go my way.

Sounds easy enough…doesn’t it? But, one of the things with this approach is that there may be times when it is months and months of believing…during a time when you want things to happen in days or at the most a few weeks. Or it may even be years of believing…when you really think you need it to happen in must months. During these moments it is critical that you do not give up. You do not give in. You never stop beleving and you never doubt.

When you allow doubt to creep in and take the place of faith you are in for a very rough ride. James tells us that it is akin to being tossed about by huge waves while on a small raft. You are definitely a bit out of control in this situation…and you are out of control when you begin to doubt. You are giving in to the thoughts of this world and of the enemy rather than the thoughts of what God has planned for your life.

Don’t just read about being blessed…know that you are and then act on that knowledge. Today…be blessed!!


James 1:6-8 – “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”

Have a blessed day,

RodZ

© 2008 – Rodney Zimmerman – All rights reserved

Just Do It!

This weekend…during the previous two years…my family and I were all down in Madison for Ironman Wisconsin. To be honest…as I watched portions of the live video stream from the comfort of my office…I really did miss being there. Seeing the athletes crossing the finish line with the look of accomplishment on their face, mixed with the look of total physical exhaustion…I really did miss it.

It is so interesting to think back to three years ago watching this same live video stream from my home in Green Bay and talking back and forth on the phone with a friend wondering if I was really going to register the next morning. The nervous anticipation of not really knowing exactly what I was committing to. Now…I look longingly and consider when and where my next Ironman will be. One thing I do know is that my frame of reference has changed to knowing that I can do it…it is just a matter of how well and where I will finish.

Every experience and every situation that we face in our lives helps shape this perception. The ability to envision and see ourselves doing something that seems nearly impossible is only accomplished by stretching the limitations that we put on our thinking.

What circumstances…what situations…what type of environment has shaped your thinking of what is really possible to accomplish in your life? What things have tried to tell you NO to what is possible when the answer really should be YES? Begin to take small steps…then bigger steps…then huge steps towards your destiny…towards the position that God has created just for you.

Dream it…Believe it…Then Do It!!

2 Corinthians 10:15-16 – “Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand, so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you.”

Have a blessed day,

RodZ

© 2008 – Rodney Zimmerman – All rights reserved

Drastic Change in Temps

There’s been a drastic change in the weather here in Wisconsin the last couple of days. Monday and Tuesday we experienced some of the warmer temperatures of the year. High 80’s to low 90’s. And yesterday I don’t think we even reached 60 degrees. This makes the change feel even more dramatic. And it reminds me of the changing season that is coming.

I’ve written about the changing seasons of our lives a couple of different times. And I know and realize that there is a time and a season for everything. There is a time to be born and there is a time that we will die…at least for our earthly body. A time to sow and a time to reap. A time to give and a time to receive.

We’ve all met the people who seem to be stuck in the “time to receive” mode, even though they don’t seem to be doing much of it…and we can’t see where they have ever entered the time to give mode...which explains the lack of receiving. And on the opposite side of things we see the people who really struggle with the time to receive. Oh, in their flesh they want to receive but in the spiritual side of things they really don’t know how. They are unsure how they can make this happen. And for some reason they almost feel guilty being on the receiving end.

But we need to know that it is really a part of God’s plan for our life to bless us and to give to us. He wants us to be in the receiving mode…it is part of his concept and part of his design. He created the world with abundance. And to whom do you think he wants this abundance to go to? Does he desire it for his people or for those who are walking in darkness? But his people have to learn the concept of laying hold of the treasures, laying hold of the abundance that he has purposely placed here. But…he also put certain rules and methods of operation in place to be able to receive and this is what Solomon was referring to when he said that there is a season for everything. Summer doesn’t take place without the spring and spring doesn’t happen without a winter. And reaping doesn’t take place without sowing first.

Where are you in your seasons right now? Have you been sowing for what seems to be an eternity but have yet to do any reaping? Remember there are seasons for everything. Would a farmer continue to sow where there is no reaping? Would God want us to live a life where we are always sowing but we are not reaping anything?

There is so much more to this than what I can cover in a short letter. But if you seem to be stuck in a mode of sowing without reaping I would encourage you to check a few things:

· Are you sowing in fertile ground – When you give your first fruits and your offerings are they going into a ministry that itself is producing fruit? Just as a farmer will not throw good seed on bad soil…we should not sow our first fruits and our offerings into a ministry that is not producing.
· Are you declaring a return when you sow? When you write out that check or sow that offering, are you commanding and declaring what you expect? Let the enemy know that what you are doing is more than just a ritual…you expect a return…you are promised a return and you will receive a return. It is written in God’s Word!!
· Live your life expectantly – When you do this you should plan accordingly. Expect it to happen. This is what God asks us to do. He wants us to live in faith…seeing things that are not as though they are. Live it out and live expectantly.

I don’t want to oversimplify…study this yourself. Look up the scriptures. And know for certain that just as you sow…you will reap. 30 – 60 – 100 – unlimited returns!! This is what God desires for us.

Matthew 13:23 – “But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Have a blessed day,

RodZ

© 2008 – Rodney Zimmerman – All rights reserved

Prepared and Qualified

"To every man there comes in his lifetime that special moment when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered a chance to do a very special thing, unique to him and fitted to his talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds him unprepared or unqualified for the work which would be his finest hour." – Winston Churchill

I think Winston Churchill is a very inspirational man in many different ways and certainly lived out his finest hours amidst some extremely difficult and tough situations. But as I read and re-read this quote by him I wondered to myself if a person is really just given one opportunity or one chance to achieve something truly great. In some ways yes…we are each given our opportunities to go out and achieve something truly great...and yes we should strive to make sure that each and every day we are living our lives as though today is the day we will see something great happen. But I also believe that it happens not just during one moment of our life…but rather this takes place many different times during our lives.

Those moments when we miss an opportunity can be tremendous growing times for us. These are moments that should awaken us to the reality of what we missed and then realize it and learn from it. We then should move on and move ahead with a newfound readiness and awareness so that this missed opportunity situation will not happen again.

If you truly desire to live life to its fullest you will want to find yourself prepared and qualified for opportunities when they are presented to you. You will want to always be ready to take advantage of those moments so you can achieve everything that God created you to be.

When you consider Winston Churchill’s perspective you can understand what he was talking about. The moment in which he was seemingly prepared for and thrust into was a situation that most likely would not come across his path more than once during his lifetime. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime situation and he had only one chance, one opportunity to get it right.

Most of us will not be placed in the position of Winston Churchill but none of us can afford to waste an ounce of our talent. An ounce of our giftedness. The cost is too great. Look at today as another day of preparing…or perhaps today is the day that you are given the opportunity to show your preparedness and your qualifications!

2 Timothy 4:2-3 – “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”

Have a blessed day,

RodZ

© 2008 – Rodney Zimmerman – All rights reserved

Hey Coach!!

I got an email from the coach I hired while training from my first Ironman yesterday. Reading the email and thinking back on the intensity of that training and the single-mindedness I had during that period brought back some great feelings. I never met my coach…he was in Oregon and I was in Green Bay, WI. We talked regularly on the phone and he did the rest by email and an online training program.

The relationship of a coach and an athlete is a special relationship. The balance between pushing a person to achieve their best while still keeping it obvious that you are in their corner believing in them is a special ability. And the willingness to prescribe workouts that are seemingly a punishment but still knowing that this is the best thing for them.

I never doubted my coach’s intentions when he prescribed a 6-hour ride followed by an hour plus run. He did it because he knew that this is exactly what I needed to finish the race that I was endeavoring to run. He did it because he knew that at some point during my race that I would draw strength from that particular workout. He did it because he believed in my ability to run the course that I had set out to run.

Today I look forward to my next Ironman…I’m not sure when that will be…but I look forward to it because I will once again hire this coach to help me work through the process of achieving that goal and running that course once again. And I will beat my previous best time. I know what it is like to run this race with a coach and I also know what it is like to run this race without a coach. I’ve done it both ways and I have witnessed the results of both. I did much better with a coach.

Everyone is certainly not called upon to run such races. We are all wired a little differently and we all have different passions and different areas of giftedness. But if there is something I have learned through this process is that the relationship of a coach and an athlete doesn’t have to be limited to just physical endeavors. Any challenge…whether it is business, life, relationships, or athletics can benefit from having a coach or a mentor. Be open to finding yours.

Embrace life and run the course you are on to the fullest.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 – “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up.”

Have a blessed day,

RodZ

© 2008 – Rodney Zimmerman – All rights reserved

A Real Perception Shaper

Our experiences shape our perception. How we perceive the challenges we face in life is shaped by the previous experiences we have had. Ask the average American middle-school child to run 5 or 6 miles and they will look at you as though you have asked them to climb Mt. Everest. Pose the same question to a child from Kenya and they will knock out the miles like it was nothing. Same challenge – different perspective – different response.

Yesterday we attended a Labor Day Parade in my small hometown where my parents still live. It is about 20 miles from our home and my wife suggested I use this as a training run. So I did…but I prefer company so I asked my two eight year old sons if they wanted to come along. I let them know there were some pretty good hills and it wouldn’t be easy and we would be leaving the house at around 6 AM. They both said yes. And when my wife asked if they were sure, one of them said “Yes, I want the challenge and you always say we can do anything with God.”

Well, morning came and we set out and they never complained, they never walked an inch of the hills, they rode the whole distance and when we arrived they both could have kept on riding.

This experience will help shape their perception of what a long ride is. At eight years old 20-miles on the bike has now become ordinary and very doable. The bar has been raised. If you want to create a challenge for them you will have to throw out something quite a bit bigger than 20 miles.

When Jesus said everything is possible for him who believes you have to realize that what you can truly believe is possible is shaped by our perception. If you can’t wrap your mind around it how can you really believe it is possible? One way to help you enlarge your thinking is by enlarging your experiences. Does this raise the opportunity for challenges? Does it raise the opportunity for failure? Yes it does. But there is no other way to get the experience that will allow you to shape your perception that will allow you to believe for the “anything is possible” that Jesus is referring to.

One of the problems so many people have is that they want to claim this scripture for things that they really can’t believe for, nor are they willing to pay the price of the experiences that will raise their level of perception that will then allow them to truly believe. My sons raised their perception today, but it came at the cost of the experience. They were up at 5:30 AM, they pedaled up the hills, and they kept going even when they may have preferred to stop.

Are you limiting your level of perception and thereby limiting what you can truly believe is possible? If you are I would encourage you to open yourself up to some experiences that will raise that level of perception. Then you will be able to read this scripture with a newfound sense of what belief is really all about.

Mark 9:21-24 – “But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."" 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Have a blessed day,

RodZ

© 2008 – Rodney Zimmerman – All rights reserved