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Tuesday, December 08 2020
 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 Tuesday, December 01 2020
 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:
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 Tuesday, November 17 2020
 Man. Revel in that a moment, Man. Do you feel the power it connotes? The responsibility? Lean in and live it, celebrate being a Man, we need Man now. Just when you thought it was over…it rears its head again. What does 2020 and a horror movie have in common? Give up? The bad guys just won't go away!! So how do you handle this? How do you assist your loved ones? You are the man, your job is to help them handle and cope with the tough parts of life. Our society, unfortunately, is literally transforming right before our eyes. Have you discussed this with your kids? Have you explained to them the ‘good old days’ of February 2020? Our memories are getting shorter and shorter and our time is increasingly swept up in the nothingness of social media, news cycles and bad decisions by poor leaders. Please, I beg of you not to abdicate your God given authority and rights of your family. Please stay the course, please don’t let outside influences change your plan for your family. Now’s the time for lots of check-ins, check-ups, mental health and heart health discussions and breaks…do it now. Trust me they need it and it will help you as well. Endeavoring Endurance A few years back I realized that while I would, Lord willing, have 18 years of my kids at home to encourage, coach, strengthen and prepare them for a lifetime it dawned on me how little time that really is, taking the long view. 18 years for a lifetime…better do my best! better not screw up!! This realization spawned in me a deep almost maniacal desire to leave behind as many keepsakes and mementos and pieces of meaning for them as possible, hello watch collection! I’ve spent countless hours creating statements of belief and reviewing it with them. Connecting with them over good books and the Bible and finding ways for them to have solid lasting memories of our time together. Remember our kids will create ripples beyond our wildest imaginations. One of the tools I’ve used for a while is writing them ‘love’ and encouragement letters. They don't get them now…these are for their 18th birthday. It's a compilation of thoughts and ideas in a notebook/journal format written as words of encouragement for them to have in the future. Remember one day you’ll be gone and all they’ll have is a memory, better craft the one you want! Endeavoring Endurance A few years ago I arrived home from work and my parents were over. My dad handed me an old file from his office. It had memorabilia from my grandfather. A magazine ad he was in, some awards he won and the prize: a speech he had given on how one should define success. This was an amazing find. As most of you know defining success and the things that make that up have always been near and dear to me and now one of my mentors, arguably one of the men I most admired had posthumously granted me wisdom I thought lost forever. Tears came to my eyes. It was perfect. A much needed shot in the arm. Serendipitous and amazing. Endeavoring Endurance So how are you capturing for your heirs their importance to you? How are you preparing to launch them into adulthood? How could you have a lasting memoir to give them? Enter Blake Brewer, my newest friend. Blake has the most amazing story. Please check it out here: https://www. Blake has created the legacy letter course and challenge for men just like us! Men who want to live out authentic manhood. Men who want to show their kids all that the world has for them and leave them wanting and needing nothing because we covered them the way the Father covers us. Blake is doing it…Blake is living it…Blake has a resource for the Endeavoring Man that is timeless, fruitful and effective. Endeavoring Endurance Your Mission this week, should you choose to accept it: Sign up for Blakes class. Write your Legacy Letter. Join in combating this corrupting and cynical world and show your ripples, your heart and mind for them in this worthwhile endeavor. Men, plan ahead, pay attention, show love to those in your care and Don’t Fear that Day! Jonathan Kennedy Tuesday, November 10 2020
 Men: Apparently this is the year to separate the wheat from the chaff…which are you? I already know, you are fruitful, you are intentional, you are doing your days to the best of your ability, 100%, non-stop. You don’t need to hide behind any of the worlds vices, you have focus, clarity and drive to endeavor for excellence in all you do. Be steadfast in your resolve and push through… Don’t Give Up The Ship Have you considered abandoning ship? Have you considered what it would be like to flee? Is now the time? Who could blame you; No one will know; The world says it’s okay to give up and give in, but should you? Don’t Give Up The Ship It’s not going to get any easier. Does that even matter at this point? YES, YES it does. Men, real men are not broken by hardships and losses. Real men are not dismayed or deterred by the evils of this world. Real men are not concerned with what others tell them they should be… Real Men, wallow in the difficult, bathe in the broken, laugh at the head winds…and continue on. No need to brag, no need to tell anyone what you’re doing, you just do it. You’re a man. Made man by God. Don’t Give Up The Ship I’m not promoting empty machismo or hollow bravado. No, that won’t do either. No fake it til you make it here. I’m telling you that what wins this day IS content of character, strength and fortitude, values, virtue, love of fellow brother in the struggle, open eyes, head on a swivel, pivot and move, bob and weave, seek the TRUTH of what is around you and a never wavering unshaken resolve; provided by God as Jesus Christ. Don’t Give Up The Ship Now’s the time to buckle down, get into the mess, stand up for Truth and Justice. Show people what the content of character means. It’s time to live the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. No time to flee, No time to quit, No time to back down. Time to Lean In, Time to rise up, Time to live most intentional with purpose, purpose for eternity. Purpose for something bigger than your bank account or what your neighbor thinks of you. Action Plan: Create an Inventory of Your Fruits of the Spirit. How do you measure up? A little short? Start now to fix it. Discuss with your family and fellow brothers and figure out how to grow here...it'll change your life. Buck up, get in the game, Don’t Give Up the Ship!! Don't Fear That Day!! Jonathan Kennedy Tuesday, November 03 2020
 Men:
Another Monday…praise be to Mondays. How else would we start the week? This week is even more special because we were given the gift of an hour. Really it is like getting a tax refund. You know it was taken and used from spring til now and since it's no longer needed we get it back. But I want to know where my interest is? Did it earn any more hours for me? How about a whole week of extra hours, now we’re talking…I’ve already used my refunded hour and it was amazing. Here’s to next year!!
Frogs Taste Great
The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding…
As men we know that its important for us to do and accomplish and grow and strive and be strong and protect and love. We know we should be well read, and make the sales calls, and cherish our spouses and teach our kids. We know that the leaves need to be blown, the yard needs cutting and that shingle that's dangling really should be yanked. We know we should be fighting for the hearts and minds that we love most. We know that we want to be excellent and do great things. We know we want to pass on values and priorities and principles that will have an impact beyond our years…we know we were created by God to endeavor in excellence for His glory, yet we fall short.
Why is that?
Frogs Taste Great
The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding…
Those things while important and worth striving for can seem unattainable . They can seem to be hard or too hard to do. We want to be comfortable and cushy and feel good. We don't want to think, we want to watch sports, we don't want to feel we drink alcohol, we don't want to have real intimacy we want porn, we don't want to be fathers we’ve abdicated that, we don't want to be husbands that requires too much intimacy, we don't want to be men because we’ve never been taught and it's too late and it doesn’t matter and on and on and on…
What's your excuse today? What’s your easy way out? We all have at least one…mostly likely multiple.
Frogs Taste Great
The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding…
Want to get to the place where you are accomplishing and growing? Want to get to the place where you're excellent? Want to get to the place where your wife loves you and kids adore you? That other men say hey what's he doing differently?
Do the work you’ve been avoiding, that you’ve put off and are afraid to do. Eat The Frog.
Lifes a mess? Jesus offers salvation and rest from that. Want a promotion? Show up, and put out. Better marriage? Listen to your wife for 15 mins a day. Kids that love you? Spend time with them when your phone is not around. Bank account that's full? Stop wasting your resources on trinkets that fade. A RICH life? Love and love often and everyone. Physically fit? Get off the couch and move for 30 mins a day, eat less.
Be realistic not everyone will like you or want to be around you, trust me I know. And you won't always get everything you want or desire. But you can create a spark and jump start to get where you want to go. Eat the Frog.
Frogs Taste Great
The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding…
One of the best books ever written is about this. Its called Eat that Frog, by Brian Tracy: Action ITEM: READ THIS BOOK.
Please use fully the talents, time, treasure and touch that God has given you in these short years you have.
Go and do and Eat the Frog that needs to be eaten to create the magic. It's time, it's now. And it's amazing!
The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding…
Don't Fear That Day!!
Jonathan Kennedy
Tuesday, October 27 2020
 Hey men, Top ‘O the Mornin’ To Ya!! What are you battling this week? I mean come on, there’s nothing crazy going on out there. All is normal, right? If you’re like me you’re digging deep to keep on and make it happen. Now is not the time for the faint of heart. There’s a lot going on to conspire against you and your values. Don’t fool yourself, no one said it would be easy, and it will be worth it in the end…dig deep and buck up. Now is the time to lead. Now is the time step up and step out. How ready are you to lead yourself, your family, your team? There are some basics that we need to know in order to do it. Lead Now Leadership and leading are such buzzwords in our current culture. Yet we don’t have very many good examples of leaders in our present age…not timeless leaders like generations past. Do you know what makes up a great leader?? Lead Now These 5 staples are where leaders are made and able to shape others. You are defining what you are for, in truth, where you are going and deciding how to make that happen. People, you and your people need someone who is willing to give them clarity, now and always. You are uniquely positioned to do so, it's one of your Manly Jobs!! Great leaders create clarity of: 1. Vision-where are we going. 2. Mission-why are we going there. 3. Priority-what matters most. 4. Focus-what do we need to do. 5. Truth-principles that generate power and results. Lead Now You need to push into these 5 staples of a great leader, NOW! Set a direction for yourself. Set a direction for your spouse. Set a direction for your kids. Set a direction for your business or team. It is NEVER too late to create Vision, Mission, Priority, Focus and surround it in Truth, make the space to let it happen. If you dont do it now when will you? Action this week is to set aside one hour to map out those 5 attributes. If you need help email me, I have templates and ideas I can share with you! Don’t Fear That Day!!
Jonathan Kennedy Jr. Tuesday, October 20 2020
 MEN! I hope you are well, having a great week and life is working for you. One of these days I will be able to get this done earlier in the day...you know that day when my kids are grown, my business doesn't need me so much, my wife and I stop liking to hang out, clients are completely satisfied, and all of life's other things are done...yeah that'll be the day. We all know there's no time like now. The Big Picture I'm keeping this week's Manlyvation short and sweet. When you interact with others do you consider what they are dealing with? Or Are you so focused on you that it doesn't register? The Big Picture Do you hear your spouse or partner when they speak to you? OR Do you only want them to do what you want them to do? The Big Picture We know the thoughts in our head. No one else knows them but us. Praise the Lord because a lot of thoughts should never get out. However, have you stopped to think what might be happening to the other people around you, or what they are dealing with or what they are going through? We only know our side of a story. And it's always right, isn't it? I found this image last week.
It really sums up the quandary we all live in...we all have our struggles we just never get to see what others are going through. The woman wonders why the man won’t pull her up and the man is wondering why the woman isn’t climbing up…meanwhile both are in perilous situations. Action plan:
Men, we lead by being what the world needs. Right now we need Men to provide a huge dose of humility and love of humanity...be the need, be the solution. Don’t Fear That Day! Jonathan Kennedy Jr. Tuesday, October 13 2020
 Men: Yay Mondays! I used to dread Mondays. Not just dread them but abhor Mondays. When we’d watch the 4pm Redskins game I’d get this horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach and realize I hadn’t done my homework, there was school tomorrow and practice after school and on and on and on…Man! I really didn’t look forward to Monday. That was over half a life ago and while I’d love the weekend and my Sunday Sabbath to continue all week, Monday is pretty awesome. Why? Because it's the first chance to do something to Glorify God this week and impact others. It may be helping a coworker, solving a problem, reading to my kids, a meaningful conversation with my wife, creating a new friendship…Monday is the beginning of something wonderful and we get to start fresh and clean each week. Think about that Fresh and Clean start each week; almost like a do-over, or really great smelling laundry, Fresh and Clean. Ha! That's pretty good, instead of Monday let's call it Fresh Clean Go Get Em Day! Fresh and Clean After today there are 11 Monday’s left in 2020. How you use them matters. Win Today. Win the Week. Win the Year! - Jon Gordon Wow! That's an eye-opener. After the year we’ve had it would be easy to pack it in. Only 11 Mondays in 2020 sounds great to some of us. Get me to 2021 you say. No! Stop, if you bide away your time til next year you’ll miss some of the best moments of your life. Fresh and Clean Lets put this into perspective a bit…what is your goal today? What is your goal each day? If you go to0 big you’ll miss out. Here is a key to life, write this down, copy it, paste it, share it with your wife, kids, co-workers and employees. The measure of life is not to be better than anyone else. The measure of life is to be a better you each and every day. 1% growth a day equals 365% growth this year. That would be an amazing version of you! Fresh and Clean To assist you in the sprint to 2021 here are 5 items to better focus you daily:
This week's action item is to put into practice one of these 5 items this week and every week until 2021. Who knows you may just wind up a better you and this world certainly needs that right now! Don’t Fear That Day! Jonathan Kennedy Jr. Tuesday, October 06 2020
 Man! Yes you Man! How ya feeling? How ya dealing with your world? How’s your family? Are you guarding your heart? Are you guarding their hearts? You can you know, its part of your skill set. Its how God made you. To know and pray for and guard your crew. It's all there within you. Every skill you need to be who you were designed to be is there within you, either developed or waiting to be developed. Lean into it and let it be. Lean into the suck, lean into the joy, lean into the homeschool, homework, lean into the cool breezy sunny days, you got this. Literally, you have the skills to deal with whatever trial is befalling you at this time. No trials? Good for you; rest and restore for what's next and be ready for action. Be The Need As men, Action is our middle name. Have a problem? Man has a solution. Need to build something? Man will build for you. Need to tear something up? Man will tear it up. House on fire? Man will run in to help. Damsel in distress? Man will save you… We are the hammer to the nail. It’s how we are wired. I don’t know about you but I love it! It is awesome and amazing and overwhelming and a huge responsibility! Quite honestly when it comes to the bigger things, like providing and protecting it can be a lot to keep track of and have to think about. So how do we do it? How do we ingrain that habit in us so it's so steadfast and solid it will not waver? Be The Need Start small. Commit to being the Need wherever you are. What do I mean? At any given time around you something needs to be done. A dish needs to be cleaned, a file needs to be filed, a kid needs a bedtime story, a wife needs an ear to listen, the dog needs to be let out, the shoes on the stairs need to be taken up and put away, the yard needs to be mowed, the groceries need to be put away… Are you self-aware and self-less enough to see the Needs around you and fill them, regardless of whose ‘job’ it is? And to do so with no fanfare just the steely resolve of someone doing their duty to those that they love and depend upon. Be The Need Humility is to make a right estimate of one's self. - Charles Spurgeon “Be THE Need” is one of our family axioms. It correctly sizes the way we think of ourselves and those around us. It puts us in the frame of mind to serve and help others, simply. It allows us to lead by doing, taking action and making a quick immediate change. Being the Need starts small, it has humble beginnings. But over time the ability to be that Need grows and our time, talents, treasure and touch grows with it to fill the space allotted. This is one aspect of a life well lived. This week's Action item: BE THE NEED and teach those around you, especially the youngest amongst you. I guarantee this is one way of paying it forward with giant ripples. Be that Need!! Don’t Fear That Day!!!! Jonathan Krnnedy Jr. Tuesday, September 29 2020
 Hello, Men! Happy end of September to you. It is officially fall! That is so great, its one of the best times of the year. Changing seasons, leaves, fire pits, stouts, roasting s’mores, camping, hunting, football and on and on. I hope that you have been able to get outside and enjoy God’s creation. I hope that you have gotten your family outside to soak in the glory and majesty that lies all around us. Oh, how easy it is to forsake the landscape of our lives. Don’t do it. Don’t let it happen. You know better! You are better! Take the time to make it happen to the best of your ability, trust me its so much more rewarding…start today, STOP, rest and smell the roses. Training Day This past weekend I trained. Trained in some heady mental and physical exercises. It was good, it was hard and a challenge, it was worth it and I want to do it again. To protect the sheep you gotta catch the wolf, and it takes a wolf to catch a wolf. - Denzel Washington as Alonzo Harris When’s the last time you trained for something? A skill either widely or rarely used? A competition? A big presentation? Do you consider the areas of your life that you have to train in? Or better yet the areas of your life you need to train your wife and kids in? How about training your employees or co-workers? Or for my few friends who recently got puppies, now you’re training puppies and kids!… I’d contend we are all training. We are all training for THAT day. Its different for each of us but then it’s also the same. In life our experiences will all be different leading up to THAT day when we will either succeed or fail based on our training for the big event. And the big event will be different for each of us as well. The event could be family oriented, or business oriented, a competition, some type of test or rite of passage, perhaps just a normal day and execution of the basics…it all depends on where we are and who we’re with. Training Day Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. What about the most important day? What about the day that’s your last? Are you training for that day? Are you training your wife and kids for theirs? No matter your theology and belief systems we will all have our last day on Earth. Does your training give you access to eternal life? Does your training acknowledge your chief end? To Glorify God daily is that answer if your fuzzy on it. 1 Timothy 4:7-8 - Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. So men the challenge for you today should you accept is this: take one step to training yourself to be the man of God you were designed to be. What do you have to lose? Nothing. What do you have to gain? Everything in Eternity. Go For It! Don’t Fear That Day!!! Jonathan E. Kennedy Jr. |
