Life Apps- Begins July 11- Don't Miss It!!

Life Apps 2010 from South Bay Church on Vimeo.

Behind The Scenes- Family Fun

Every Thursday/Friday night the Santos Family, Stacie and I swap date nights. When Stacie and I babysit we've developed a little tradition where we take the kids outside for popsicles by the fountain. This past week we decided to do a small olympics race around the water fountain. I thought you might find it enjoyable! :-)

Behind The Scenes- Family Fun from South Bay Church on Vimeo.

Behind The Scenes- Get Away!

Here is a shot of my monthly day away. This past one i went to Monterey to a hotel, usually I got to a Christian camp for the day. Leave early in the morning and get back later in the evening. It is one of the best tools I've found for staying focused and on track with the vision. I hope this helps some people out there.

Behind The Scenes- Monthly Day Away from South Bay Church on Vimeo.

Enjoy Your Life Today

Last week I read a great book called, "The 4 Hour Work Week." Packed inside the book are a ton of great insights on life and leadership. There is a great fable towards the end of the book I'd like to share with you. It reminded me to enjoy my life, my wife, my son, and my work today instead of waiting for this illusive point of in the future. The blessings God gives us are to be held with gratitude and appreciation. I put some questions for reflection at the bottom.

The Fisherman & The Businessman (The Four Hour Work Week, p. 252)

An American businessman took a vacation to a small coastal Mexican village on doctor’s orders. Unable to sleep after an urgent phone call from the office the first morning, he walked out to the pier to clear his head. A small boat with just one fisherman had docked, and inside the boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish.

“How long did it take you to catch them?” the American asked.

“Only a little while,” the Mexican replied in surprisingly good English.

“Why don’t you stay out longer and catch more fish?” the American then asked.

“I have enough to support my family and give a few to friends,” the Mexican said as he unloaded them into a basket.

“But… What do you do with the rest of your time?”

The Mexican looked up and smiled. “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Julia, and stroll into the village each evening, where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, senor.”

The American laughed and stood tall. “Sir, I’m a Harvard M.B.A. and can help you. You should spend more time fishing, and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. In no time, you could buy several boats with the increased haul. Eventually, you would have a fleet of fishing boats.”

He continued, “Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you would sell directly to the consumers, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village, of course, and move to Mexico City, then to Los Angeles, and eventually to New York City, where you could run your expanded enterprise with proper management.

The Mexican fisherman asked, “But, senor, how long will all this take?”

To which the American replied, “15-20 years, 25 tops.”

“But what then, senor?”

The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right, you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions.”

“Millions senor? Then what?”

“Then you would retire and move to a small coastal fishing village, where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, and stroll in to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”

Questions to consider:

* Why do we have such a hard time enjoying the blessings God has placed in our lives?

* What would it look like for you to enjoy your family and job now instead of in the future? How would you think, act, or live differently?

* Spend a couple minutes thanking God for His blessings in your life and ask Him for wisdom to enjoy them more!