Merry Christmas!!

Pulse check!!  How ya doin?

Seriously, how are you?  

My prayer for you is that you are calm, cool, and collected and that things are moving in your favor.  

If not, find one of your brothers in life and open up and share and work together through this holiday season.  Your family needs your presence.  They need your leadership and wisdom in a clear-headed and coherent way.  

The Next Best Decision

You know there’s no such thing as the perfect time, for anything. There’s only now and putting one foot in front of the other to make the next best decision.  

Have you been so intentional that as your day progresses you think what’s the next best decision?  

As your day, week, month, quarter, year unfold all we can really control is what’s right in front of us.  And sometimes not as well as we would like.

The Next Best Decision

Many times it’s easier to determine what the Next Best Decision is NOT…like the last drink at the party, eating the whole tub of ice cream, not calling back a beloved friend or relative…etc. etc.

While it’s fine to operate in this paradigm its also important to focus on the flip side of that coin.  

Make the Next Best Decision for…that goal you wanted to achieve, to enhance the relationship you want to foster, to be present over the holidays with your family.

Sometimes that decision will make others happy, other times angry or sad.  Remember the decision is yours and towards where you are heading not someone else’s expectation for you.

The Next Best Decision

In fact, as we end a year and begin a new one I’d like to challenge you to think about the areas of your life:  Family, Work, Social, Physical, Spiritual.  Contemplate what it looks like to make the Next Best Decision in each area of life.  

Choose your life of significance.  Choose one item in each area of your life that is most important to you and focus on the decisions that get you to that point.  

Action Item:  Write them down, the important items AND the decisions to get there…now do them.  Start now, not tomorrow, now!  

A little piece at a time.  A little new action at a time and next thing you know the best decision became an achievement that makes the year.

You got this…

Plan ahead, pay attention, show love to those in your care and Don’t Fear that Day!

Jonathan Kennedy Jr

Men!!

Seasons Greetings to you and yours!  The Christmas season is upon us and oh my, how wonderful it is.  I know many of us have been pushed to the brink of consumerism and its certainly been beat into us to progress to something better each and every year, regardless of what the better may be.  However, its this time, Christmas time when we should eschew the world, forgo the latest Christmas song remake, turn back to Bing Crosby and Burl Ives and fight to conserve the traditions that make Christmas so important.  

Why would this be necessary?  What is it that makes conserving the details of traditional Christmas so important?  For me its summed up in one word…HOPE!  

You see the fear around us, the fear within us, the violence, the humanistic approach to life its because people have lost HOPE.  They’ve lost hope.  It makes sense.  We live in a sinful broken world, we should feel hopeless, except for one thing…Jesus Christ.  He gives us HOPE, he heals the broken world, He makes it all right, He is the HOPE the world is missing.

So don’t give up on Christmas, don’t give up on tidings and good cheer, lean in to the beauty of this season and understand there is HOPE, and its greater than any of us…

One Life to Live

If this was your last week to live, how would you spend it?

This question really convicts me.  It really convicts me of the things accomplished and the things left undone.  

It convicts me of the chances taken and not.

It convicts me of the opportunities accomplished and missed.

It convicts me to keep going, to try hard, to make the most of any and all situations.

One Life to Live 

If this was your last week to live, how would you spend it?

Would we be selfish with our time?  

Would we do all the things that we like?

Could you choose the activities your family likes to do?  I would.

Would you travel to places never before seen?

One Life to Live

If this was your last week to live, how would you spend it?

You need to know who, what, where, and how you would spend this time.  

You need to know how this week looks for you.  

You need to really get down to brass tacks and wallow in the thoughts of the end and what is most important for you.

You need to be aware of the people, places, activities, and conversations that you’d most want to have.

NOW!  Do it.  Do it this week. Do it today.  Do it tomorrow.  DO NOT WAIT!!

Do Not Wait until it is your last week to do the things you most want to do and know you need to do with those that are most important to you.  Do them now!!

Action Time:  Write it down.  Your last week starts tomorrow…what are you doing that whole week.  Write it down.

Trust me, I make these choices every day.  I’m never sorrowful being home for dinner, I never miss the hunting morning when I have breakfast with joyful kids, I never miss the game reading books and prayers at bedtime with my kids, I never miss the show because I refuse a tv in my room so I can be present with my wife.  

I promise you, a life well-lived is measured in moments spent with the ones that love us the most.  Lean into tradition, lean into Christmas, lean into Hope and lean into Jesus; He loves you most.

Plan ahead, pay attention, show love to those in your care and Don’t Fear that Day!

Jonathan Kennedy Jr

Men:  

I’m tired, it's late.  Last week was amazing, a whole week off.  Celebrated my dad's 70th in the mountains to start the week.  Turkey and venison for Thanksgiving in addition to lots of love and family time.  Contentment is high and life is good.  Even though there are always dark clouds on the horizon, find time for contentment and love.  So let's keep this simple…

Answer these:

1. What are you afraid of losing?
2. What are you trying to hide?
3. What is keeping you from action?

Action Item:

Answer the questions honestly and earnestly and discuss with someone that cares about you.  We need brothers right now, more than ever...find your brothers, schedule time to be with them.  Discuss important things.  

Men, plan ahead, pay attention, show love to those in your care, operate with gravitas and Don’t Fear that Day!

Jonathan Kennedy