Today's posting is very unique in that I am dictating this into my computer using voice activated software.

This is the most amazing thing.  What makes it even more interesting is that I am making this post as I am driving down the highway.  Just please do not tell my wife that I am doing so!!

Imagine the innovation behind such technology!  I mean seriously think about this for a moment.  I am talking and not touching my computer, and the words are being added to the screen, they will be uploaded into a blog site, posted to the World Wide Web, and now you are reading these words.

Nothing short of a miracle!

Posting my blog in such a way got me thinking about the importance of innovation in our lives,  in our spiritual relationship with the Lord, how we share our faith with others, and how we run and lead our businesses and organizations.

Of course we live in a world where we must constantly be finding new ways to leverage technology and increase efficiencies and productivity.  This is the only way that we will be able to continue to compete in a fast paced ever competitive environment.  The business or organization that is not continuously asking how can we do it better, faster, cheaper, with enhanced results and relationships with our customers, vendors, and employees, is a business that will soon no longer be in existence.

But the same could be said for the ways in which we live out biblical principles in the marketplace, and how we express and share our faith with others.  We must continuously be asking the Lord to show us how to serve him and live for him in new and enhanced ways.  We must learn how to be more consistent and effective in following God's Word in and through our businesses, we must consistently be striving to improve how we share our faith with others, and we need to always be looking for ways to leverage technology to maximize our out reach to others.

So consider how important innovation truly is in every key area of your life.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter, God bless.

I was leading a seminar this week and we were talking about the importance of understanding just how precious time is and how so little of it we actually have in life.  We seem to live our lives as if we have “all the time in the world.

‘In other words it's very easy for us to put off the really important things that we say that we will ” someday” get around to doing.  You know the kinds of things I'm talking about-the” bucket list.”

  

In case you haven't seen it the movie featuring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman titled the bucket list is the story of two men who discover they are about to die and they go on an adventure of accomplishing all the things in life that they wanted to but they had put on their bucket list.  The places they wanted to visit, the things they wanted to see and do, and healing the relationships that had been broken in their lives before it was too late.

 

So as we were talking about this in the work shop a gentleman raised his hand and he said to the audience what would you do today if you knew that you were going to be dead at midnight?  If you knew this was the last day that you have on this earth what would you do are smart who would you talk to?  What would you say?  Where would you go?

 

Obviously a question like this is very powerful to consider.  The only problem with it is that we don't seem to ever stop and consider these kinds of questions in our lives.  But the reality of it is today could in fact be the last day that we have on planet Earth.

 

So let me repeat his question at this time directed to you-how would you treat this day if you knew that you were going to be dead by midnight?  Take a moment and write down three to five things that you would be surer that you would do.  That you would regret and drink into eternity having not done these three to five things.

 

So let me ask-what things on that list can you do today?  And what's stopping you from doing it?  None of us are guaranteed tomorrow?  So maybe today it's time to take care of these things.

 

Let's just hope that were not  “Dead by midnight.”

As a follow up to my last post titled "Are We A Christian Nation?" I wanted to share a few more thoughts.

In an article April 12th in the Washington Times, http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2009_04/017709.php

according to the article, and I quote "

Anti-gay animus is not only waning, four states now allow gay marriage. Abortion is still legal and a majority of Americans are still pro-choice. School prayer isn't even on the political world's radar screen anymore. Pornography is not only a multi-billion industry; it's more accessible than ever. The single fasting growing segment of the American spiritual landscape is non-believers and those with no religious identification,"  if all this remains the case, it is "game over"  for Christians-at least that is what those who set themselves up as enemies of God would have us believe.

I guess I would really get worried and depressed if I did not know what Scripture says to us about such things:

1 Corinthians 1 says "the things of the cross are foolishness to those who don't know Jesus (paraphrase), and even Jesus himself told us several times in Scripture that the world would hate and persecute Christians- because they first persecuted and despised Him.

So it is no surprise we find ourselves where we do.  It is a great thing to know that as followers of Jesus, our hope does not lie in America, or anything this world has to offer.  And thankfully our hope does not rely on ONE SINGLE POLICITAL LEADER!  Our one and only hope REMAINS IN JESUS!!!

So, remember that if and when you get frustrated, worried, or depressed over the direction our country, and even our world is heading.

Some day- EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!!!

This has been a very interesting week.

This past week, a major magazine cover essentially spouted that “Christianity in America is dead,” and our current President told a group of people at a town hall forum in Europe that “America is not a Christian nation.”

It is very ironic that these two headlines came during the most important week of the year to Christians- Holy Week.

It is actually humorous to think that anyone could truly believe that Christianity could be considered as “dead” anywhere- seems like they once said that about Jesus Himself!  And we all know how that turned out- don’t we?!  Christianity will never be dead- and will never be defeated- you can bet the house on that!

I have not actually read the magazine article, but from what I understand it is spouting the declining impact Christians (true born-again believers) are having on American society, and how our country is heading towards a secular/progressive culture.  As much as I hate to say so, I actually agree with this premise.

However, this in and of itself is not really bad news-if you think about it from a truly Biblical perspective.  Just look at the Bible-God was always working through the “remnant.”   When a small group of dedicated followers of God got serious about obeying Him- God showed up and did mighty things.  Can anyone say Joshua, or Gideon, or even the church’s early disciples at Pentecost!!

So do not be discouraged- even if there is a declining number of committed Christians, or if our impact on the American culture is being diminished.  God has promised to show up and save the day!  And He will.

On Obama’s comment that “America is not a Christian nation,” while it too is a somewhat disturbing comment which frustrates me, again, to some degree I must say that I agree with this statement.  Just as I believe there is no such thing  as a “Christian company,” or a “Christian ministry,” I do not believe there is such thing as a “Christian country.”  I believe there are companies, organizations, ministries, and even countries founded on Judeo-Christian values and principles, and run by Christian Believers, the organizations and countries themselves have no redeeming value- no actual “soul” if you will. 

Scripture teaches that Jesus came and died for “His church.” This means His PEOPLE. Only individual people have a soul with redeeming value.

Let me be clear on something- I am NOT saying that as Christians we should sit idly by and watch our country go down the toilet. In fact, I believe quite the opposite.  We MUST be pro-active, our voice must be heard, and we certainly need to share our values, convictions, and beliefs every opportunity we can. We got here by the “silent majority” of Christians continuing to “turn the other cheek” while the godless reprobates have taken over with their “Babylonian” agendas.

But be not dismayed or discouraged- God will not be mocked- and He WILL use the remnant to be glorified!

  

As a man with many responsibilities, (husband, father, business leader, local church, small group leader, etc.) it is easy to sometimes feel overwhelmed with everything that is on my plate.

There never seems to be enough time to meet all the demands placed on me, and very rarely seems to be any time for me to do things other than fulfill my various responsibilities.

Add on top of that all the crises and problems in our world today, there is plenty to worry about.

So,  I have been thinking a lot lately about how important it is to truly take in the precious moments of each day.  It hit me about a month ago one night when I was working with some 10 year old boys as part of my son's baseball team.

We were conducting indoor hitting practice, and candidly I had a lot on my mind from the day.  But as I was bending over picking up baseballs to throw them back into the bucket, I felt the Lord speak to me.  I am not saying I heard His audible voice, but it seemed close to that. I felt a very clear presence speaking to me saying "Ray, you are doing EXACTLY what I want you doing, be present in the moment, take it all in, love these boys, and show them my love!"

Since that night, I have diligently focused on really being present in the moment.  I have noticed a totally different mindset in my business meetings.  Rather than thinking about all that I have on my "to do" list, I am doing a much better job of engaging myself in each conversation. I have been truly listening to what the other person is saying.  I am asking much better questions.  And I find myself learning from each person.

In my family, I am enjoying the time with my bride and 3 children in new ways.  I am taking it all in, realizing how much of a blessing each moment I have with my children truly is.

I am reminded of the following truth:

When we live in the past- it is easy to be consumed with guilt. Guilt over mistakes made or things we should or should not have done.

When we live in the future- it is easy to be overtakent with fear.  Fear of the unknown, or fear of what is to come.

It is only living in the moment (being present) that we can truly enjoy life and experience the peace and presence of God's spirit in our lives.

So take in each moment- and BE PRESENT!

Proverbs 15:16 "Better a little with the fear of the Lord, than great wealth with turmoil."

Do you ever wonder why do some corrupt businesses people flourish while some virtuous ones struggle just to survive?

Remember nothing is more important than living for God- and sometimes being successful by the world’s standards is not all that it seems.

John D. Rockefeller said:"I have made many millions, but they have brought me no happiness."  -

  

Henry Ford said he was happier when doing a mechanic's job." 

And Andrew Carnegie said that "Millionaires seldom smile." 

So focus on how you are living your life – not just how much you are accumulating.

Remain thankful for your blessings and all that you do have- and don’t worry about what you don’t have.

A grateful heart will not contain envy or bitterness.

 

Here is a great little exercise to start each day- I call this "Great Start"

 

As soon as you wake up tomorrow mornng- say out loud "Thank you Lord." Then say out loud five things you are thankful for.

 

It is amazing that if you will start each day this way, and focus on what you have and what you are thankful for throughout each day, you will find incredible peace and joy.

By keeping things in perspective, you will be living as God intended.

Lately, I have been giving a lot of thought about my desire to live an authentic and transparent life- as a Christian man, who is in business, with a wife, children, community and church leadership responsibilities.

I believe I have come to the conclusion of wanting my life to be summarized by the following 12  words:

Nothing To Prove

Nothing To Hide

Nothing To Lose

Nothing To Fear

Imagine the freedom and power of leading and conducting your business, serving your spouse and children, and simply living your life in such a way.

How awesome would it be to feel like you have nothing to prove to anyone?  Just being yourself and having people accept and welcome you - exactly as you were created by God.  Never having to work outside of your passion or what you are good at just because you feel like you have to earn someone's respect.

Consider how clean your conscience would be with nothing to hide. This would mean that your life and business would be "above reproach," and you would have no shame or guilt over any aspect of your life- including the words you use, the sites you visit on the internet, the small details of those business deals that can be tempting to "work in the gray area" to maximize revenue or profit.  This would mean your local newspaper could do an in-depth expose' on your life and business, and they would not find anything worth printing!

How awesome would it be to come to the conclusion that God truly is in control, and it is ALL HIS anyway- so when all is said and done you have nothing to lose!  This would certainly make it easier to sleep at night, and would give us an incredible sense of peace in these troubled economic times. When you truly are not worried about what you will lose, you can live your life with passion and wreckless abandon for the Lord.

And finally, when you have nothing to fear, you live with such authenticity and confidence (in the Lord) that no person and no circumstance can cause you to worry, fret, or lose your joy in Christ!

I am challenging every follower of Christ to ponder this motto- steal it-borrow it- use it- change it-create their own motto, etc.

But whatever you do - LIVE IT! 

If you are a Christian business leader, or if you are in the marketplace, I want to pass along this word of encouragment- Despite what the media has to say, and despite how low our 401(k)s go- GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL!

In our current economy, and with current world conditions, it is very important that Christian business and marketplace leaders not allow fear , worry, doubt, or anxiety to prevail in their hearts or minds.In fact, just a few days ago I was talking with a good friend of mine whose business is continuing to grow at an astronomical rate-even in this economy. As we were talking he said something interesting to me. He said "I am simply refusing to participate in the recession."

That is his mindset, and he is continuing to win big while so many others are huddled up in the corner wringing their hands about what to do in this economy.

God's Word reminds us that there is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear. (1 John 4:18)

Also, in 2 Timothy 1:7, we are told that God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind.

When we allow fear to take root in our hearts, it reduces our faith in God.

Fear Grips our heart and produces 6 Effects:
Fear Replaces faith
Fear Destroys dreams
Fear steals our joy and blessing
Fear spoils victories
Fear paralyzes us
Fear robs us of memories
Fear causes us to hesitate because of disbelief

The opposite of fear is faith, trust, and belief.

Fear Replaces Faith

Pretty simple equation. God has made the human brain so that although our thoughts can "drift" and we can "daydream" from one moment to another, it is impossible for us to be consciously aware of two distinct thoughts at the same time.
So it is impossible for us to exercise faith and fear at the same time, so when we
dwell in fear, faith has dissipated. But when we focus on faith, fear loses.
So, as a Christian business leader, maintain your faith in God, that no matter how bad things get- God is still in control!

Fear Destroys Dreams

A very important aspect of succeeding in business and in leadership in general is having a goal, vision, or plan to work toward. When our goals and plans are significant and stretch us beyond our usual state of mind, it causes us to DREAM. To look out and see a better state of existence. So when fear has a stronghold in our lives, it does great damage to us accomplishing our hopes and dreams in life and in business.

Fear Steals Our Joy and Blessing

When we allow fear to rule, we simply cannot find the capacity to focus on what is good and wonderful in our lives. So often in business, we focus on those things that are wrong or need improved, and we fail to regularly consider what is going well, what we do well, and what we have to be thankful for. I am a firm believer that an "Attitude of Gratitude" is critical in overcoming fear. So take some time to focus on what you have to be thankful for in business, and consider it all joy.

Fear Spoils Victories

Can you remember the last real success you had in the marketplace? Was it a sale to a large customer? Maybe a successful product launch? Or perhaps you helped a co-worker or colleague work through a problem or challenge. Remember how you felt? You felt like a "winner" right? Like you were really doing somethng worthwhile, perhaps even doing something that you hoped would make the world a better place.
But fear has a real way to take away the euphoria of your last victory. Fear has a way of causing us to see only what is "now" and to worry about what is to come. But it never allows us to look back and see our victories and successes in the past.

Fear Paralyzes Us

Sometimes in business we know just what we should do. We know that everything has come into perfect alignment for us to grow our company or product line, but something just won't allow us to move forward. We think about everything that could go wrong, and so the fear we have prevents us from doing anything at all- so we take the safe way out and end up doing nothing- paralyzed with fear.

Fear Robs Us Of Memories

I once heard it said that the enemy of Gratitude is Forgetfulness. How true that is. If we fail to remember all God has done for us at work and in business, we will find it increasingly difficult to remain thankful for His goodness. When we focus on the fear we feel, we so easily forget how good the Lord has been to us. He has allowed us the health to work. He has given us a company or organization to run or work for. He has blessed us beyond anything we have deserved.
So a great way to battle fear is to focus on how good God has been - today!

In closing, allow me to encourage you to hang in there. Remember God is on His throne. He did not wake up this morning, slap Himself on the forehead and say "Oh Myself, what are we gonna do today?" There are no surprises to God. He has everything under control. So trust Him.

Don't allow fear to prevent you from moving forward. Do that thing in the marketplace that He has placed on your heart.

Share your faith- don't fear what someone will say or do.

Expand your product/service offering- don't fear the economy will tank beyond repair.

Give your time and money away- don't fear there won't be anything left in your savings tomorrow.

Let your FAITH- not fear- rule in your heart!!

OK-
Enough is enough!

I am so sick of the controversy over Christmas trees, nativity sets, stores telling me "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas."

I just read another story about the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) now refusing to display thier two Christmas trees at their library because quote "12 people have complained."

Those twelve people were mentioned to be employees and faculty of the university. So here is my response.... tell those people they do not get a Christmas vacation and paid days off!

See how quickly they change their tunes.

We wonder why our nation is in such moral decline? We cannot seem to figure out why we have 8 year old boys shooting thier fathers in the head, or why teen pregnancy is running rampant, or why our government leaders have never met an expense they didn't like! Because we have lost our ever-lovin' minds that's why! And now just the word "Christmas" drives people crazy.

It is after all a national holiday- so as far as I am concerned, all those people who are offended by the Christmas holiday or tradition, Christmas trees, the baby Jesus in a manger- they just need to go create their own holiday- although maybe it already exists on April 1st!

The most intolerant people in our country are those who are complaining the most that Christmas is not an "inclusive" holiday-

Maybe if we all stayed home and refused to spend our money at the stores who refused to put "Merry Christmas" all over the place, we would no doubt get their attention. What if we said "bah humbug" until they returned "Merry Christmas" to every aspect of thier sales and promotions? We would see just how "happy" thier holidays would be without the "Merry Christmas" people!

Enough is enough!!
Merry Christmas!!!

Every day we get bombarded with more and more bad news..the crashing economy, the growing deficit, loss of jobs, terrorism, health care crisis, global warming.....the list goes on and on.

But what I have been contemplating a lot lately is that I think people are now perhaps for the first time in a long time (if ever), re-thinking where thier hope and future lies.

Just in the last few weeks, we have seen unprecedented (at least in our lifetime) rapid declines in our stock portfolios, 401k's, real estate value, etc.

Just a few months ago most people I know had a sense of personal peace and comfort- perhaps a false sense of security about them.

How quickly that has changed. And I am not so sure this is so bad for us, our country, etc.

People have seen the value of what they worked their whole lives to attain disappear or significantly reduced in just a few short weeks.

I believe this is a great opportunity for people to stop, reflect, and even simplify their lives.

When much of what they have worked for has so quickly disappeared, one must take inventory of thier own values and priorities.

It is time for us to return to our roots-faith in God, love and care for family, friends, and loved ones, and taking the time to stop and enjoy the greatest true joy in life.

Remember the enemy of grattitude is forgetfulness.

Take time right now (and do this every day) to stop and dwell on 5 things you are thankful for- and don't forget the simple things we take for granted everyday (like our health, food, peace, etc.).

And don't forget to remain thankful and grateful- this is what I meant when I said the enemy of grattitude is forgetfulness- do not forget how good God has been, and continues to be to you, your family, and our nation.

Have a blessed day!

Ray Hilbert