If you have very young children or grandchildren, I have some ideas to share with you today that could make a real difference in their futures. Let me begin by sharing something that I read just this morning that really got my attention. It was an article with this heading: “Reading Among Kids Plummets: Advancements and Ingenuity Helping Kids Love Reading Again.” It is no secret that a child who learns to read well at an early age has a leg up when it comes to making good grades, staying…

It has been said that “an honest confession is good for the soul,” and I know this is true. Often after being introduced to an audience, the first thing I say is that I am “just a sinner who has been saved by God’s Amazing Grace.” The Bible says in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” This verse is true, like the entire Bible, because this is the nature with which we were all born. I am sure you know the story…

The human mind is a wonderful tool that God has given to each of us. Everything we see around us that is made by hand came as the result of some person or persons who used their wonderful mind to bring it about. It really boils down to this: If we act on good information, life is good. If we act on bad information, life can be very challenging. If you have ever wondered why some people make bad choices, I believe I can shed some light on this important…

In my opinion, some of the best writing I have ever done is the first chapter of my new book titled, “Don’t Shoot Yourself in the Foot.” We shoot ourselves in the foot when we say or do anything that is not in our own best interests. The bottom line is that we can choose our choices, but we cannot choose the consequences of our choices. It is really quite simple: When we make good choices, the Law of Cause and Effect is working for us, and when we make…

Several months ago, I thought about my public speaker friend by the name of Dr. Charles Jarvis from San Marcos, Texas. It has been some time since I have had any contact with him, so I am not sure if he is still living. One of his stories that I truly love is about this old boy who took his dog to the dog show. After he was assigned a number and got settled in, he went up to the chief judge and said, “This dog that I have brought…

When you were in school and growing up, did your teachers ever give you “challenge” work? This is work that was one or two grades higher than where you were at the time. Of course, the purpose of this was to stretch your ability and skills to cause you to grow and reach higher. This has happened to me, but it was self-imposed. When I married my wife Janis, she had a pretty good library, and I have benefited from this. One of the books she had was titled, “A…

If you have ever watched the Olympics on television or attended one in person, you know that a highlight of this prestigious event is the Opening Ceremony. This is a time when all the participating world-class athletes assemble by nation and walk into a large arena behind their nation’s flag. My heart always swells with pride when I see “Old Glory,” the flag of the United States of America. One or more of the Olympic athletes is honored to carry our flag. They represent all the people of our nation,…

If you are a goal setter, you will relate to what I am going to share in this column. Back in my younger days, I set many goals that I did not reach, and it was very frustrating. That is until I found out that I could set goals, write them down and make them definite, but leave the timetable to the Lord. In my new book “Your Future Begins Today,” there is a chapter on setting goals. On pages 59 and 60 it says, “after we have taken time…

You have probably heard the saying, “He has gone to the dogs.” In my case I have gone to the birds – or at least for the birds -- and I have thrown the squirrels in for good measure. I married Janis a little over six years ago, and she has sold her business and her home and has moved here to my home south of Conway. We love it here. She has a gift for decorating, and by combining furniture from both places and adding a piece here and…

Here is a challenge for you to think about. Can you name me one business, one product or one service that at one time was not just an idea in some person’s mind? When someone first said that the world runs on great ideas, they really hit the nail on the head. Of course, getting the idea is just the first step, as the idea must be fleshed out and then created to be a useful product or service. In our country there are many people who have worked overtime,…