Is Convenience Better for YOU?

I know we’ve all heard the phrase “the early bird gets the worm”. Maybe I’ve never been up early enough to witness this, but because of the popularity of this phrase, I’d have to think that it has some validity to it. In my opinion, this phrase insinuates that there are early birds and there are not so early birds. The one that gets up first is the one that eats. I’m not sure how birds rest, but I would imagine that they like their sleep too. I don’t know. The early birds want to eat well, so they get up early, which transcends convenience. The lazy bird will probably end up being the “angry bird”. I had to throw that in there. =)

What was that whole preface about? Laziness plagues A LOT of people (not just birds). Some say it plagues this entire generation. Hearing statements like that get me on my GAME, simply because the guy typing this blog has had and STILL has his fights with laziness. Something SO very easy to fall into is the same thing that can halt SO much forward progress. Putting things off till the next day when it could very well be done right then is DANGEROUS. Acclaimed saxophonist Jimmy Lyons once said: “Tomorrow is the only day in the year that appeals to a lazy man.” Nothing else matters to a lazy individual except the next thing that can be put off. Don’t think so much about convenience, but about what’s BEST. “What is right is often forgotten by what is convenient.” ~Bodie Thoene

Of course there’s a thin line between having rest and being lazy. If you “rest” more than you work, you may want to have something checked out. Famous French author Jules Renard made one of my favorite quotes—“Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired.” Though I believe laziness is more than that, the point he made was very profound. Don’t overdose on work, but make sure you ARE working--Especially on those things that you LOVE. If laziness takes you away from what you LOVE to do, laziness has become a part of your being. We don’t want that do we?

Last thought—don’t make excuses for your laziness, just DON’T BE LAZY.

††FIGHTING HARD TO BE A BETTER MAN††

~~M.A.²~~

THE FAMOUS 23....

When I think of the number 23, several thoughts immediately come to mind--The fact that I will be turning 23 in 2012, my favorite athlete of all time Michael Jordan, and probably most often the 23^rd Psalm in the bible. This is one of the most “famous” passages in all of the bible for those who believe it and even those who don’t. In case you’re wondering, that’s the passage that says: “the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want”.

This isn’t a post to dissect the meaning of this passage, but rather to think about why this passage has been made so commercialized and what does it mean to you to “want”. (I guess thinking about that would allude to the meaning) LOL. As humans, it’s only right that we “want” things right? We (generally) “want” what’s best for us and for our family right? If we’re hungry, we want good food right? I “want” to live long. Do you? I don’t personally think that the terms of this “want” means we won’t desire anything, but that we won’t be left lacking. I don’t know what your belief system is, but this is one that has so much HOPE. When thinking about that 23, think about how if the Lord is your Shepherd, that you won’t lack. How AMAZING!

-1 More note about “want”…..

“Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.” ~1 John 2:15-17

Selah

††~~M.A.²~~††

Discipline? Love? Both?

Discipline |ˈdisəplin|-the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience.

I wanted to give the denotative meaning of “love” as well, but I was so against it I couldn’t. Even when talking about a personified figured, it talked about Cupid. I have nothing against Cupid, but CMON MAN! It spoke nothing about conditional/unconditional love or any of that as I was expecting, and connected it more with sex. Well, I guess I could have expected that nowadays.

The word “discipline” has a rather negative connotation. Many people I’ve spoken with connect this word to anger. Is this always the case? Can discipline and love be used interchangeably at times? You be the judge. The denotative meaning alludes directly to “using punishment”. If love is the motivation, is it still yet considered a “punishment”? I believe punishment is more commercially correlated with discipline than love. Do you disagree? Disciplining out of almost ANYTHING else is dangerous—especially anger.

Even in the sense of disciplining a child, there’s a conventional and unconventional way of looking at “discipline. I asked a rather broad question of if people “beat” their kids in disciplining them? A friend of mine gave an amazing notion when she said: “I think very few parents know how to use spanking effectively. Many use it when angry and as punishment instead of discipline. Fear becomes the tool instead of love.” She went on to say “As a mom of 4, I have found that fear makes them respect you when you are watching. Discipline out love makes them want to do the right thing even when away from you.” I agree with this notion.

Even in disciplining yourself, it should be done out of LOVE. LOVE is the key. You will see a distinct difference if this becomes your motivation. Try it, see, realize, try again.

“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men. “
~Frederick Douglass………….Which does love do?

†††††Keep The LOVE Alive†††††

~~M.A.²~~

We Got COMPANY!

The people you surround yourself with can do one of two things—edify you or bring you down.  In my diagnosis, there’s really no middle ground because if someone is idle within your life, they aren’t edifying you in any way. The people we CHOOSE to surround ourselves with, is actually one of the biggest decisions we can make day-to-day.

Consider even very basic components of life. If you’re someone who generally doesn’t use perverse language, but constantly surrounds themselves with people who do, you will find that it will rub off. You may find yourself in a position where perverse language is coming to your mind/out of your mouth and you don’t even realize why. Or if you’re married or about to be married, and you’re constantly around singles or even folks that are married that look at women/men in an impure manner, it will probably rub off on you and you’ll feel enabled in doing so. “Bad company corrupts good character.” This is a FACT that many don’t want to grasp/believe because people generally want to be enabled in habits that are easy to stay in, rather than be challenged in areas that aren’t easy.

Straight up, the company you keep says something about who you are and it DOES have an affect on you. Miguel de Cervantes, Spanish novelist, poet, and playwright who is considered to have written the first modern novel made the very famous quote: “Tell me what company you keep and I'll tell you what you are.” This everyday life concept seems very trivial, but if you want to be better, you HAVE to surround yourself with people that will MAKE you better.

“Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” ~Proverbs 11:14

††YOUR COMPANY COUNTS††

~M.A.^2~

Life's Priority

“Whatever you truly consider yourself to be above everything else, will take PRIORITY over everything else. “-Marcus Akins

Is that statement true? Of course the thought of how one prioritizes is a relative concept. However, as I say so often, your life should line up with what you say your priorities are. We live in a time where you can have MANY titles. I consider myself to be a son, brother, songwriter, producer, worship leader, blogger, etc. But before ANY of those come into play, I am a MAN OF GOD first. Those other “titles” stem off of who I am FIRST. Those other titles should NOT compromise who I am FIRST. That’s where the priority comes in. Will the things lower on the totem poll become bigger than where your character lies?

One of my favorite columnists/bloggers named Eric Zorn gave a simple, yet profound mandate when he said: “Don’t waste your breath proclaiming what’s really important to you. How you spend your time says it all.” If you consider yourself to be a father first and a chef third, but spend ALL your time cooking and no time with your offspring, something isn’t right there. Words only mean something when the actions behind them validate. There is NOTHING more true than that.

So I urge you, STICK to your priority list. Even if they change, stay true to what comes first. With that being said, you will HAVE to say “no” to some things. The minute your obvious no becomes a possible yes, your priorities have changed.

“Keep in mind that you are always saying 'no' to something. If it isn't to the apparent, urgent things in your life, it is probably to the most fundamental, highly important things. Even when the urgent is good, the good can keep you from your best, keep you from your unique contribution, if you let it.”-Steven Covey

††Know Better, Do Better††

~M.A.~

The Measuring Stick

What is right? What is wrong? What changes the two over time?

“The right to do something does not mean that doing it is right.” ~William Safire

I’m not sure what your personal measuring stick is as it relates to what’s “right” and what’s “wrong”, but I often wonder how that measuring stick varies from issue to issue. We have the tendency to allow what’s going on in our lives or how we’re feeling at a particular time, to change our standard of what’s right and wrong. I’ve often heard the axiom, “there’s a right way to do things and a wrong way to do things.” I know that saying refers to procedures and not to the complexity of an act, but regardless, the complexity of what you do is either right or wrong—no matter what way it’s measured.

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, former Oklahoma quarterback and Baptist minister J.C. Watts is quoted as saying “Character is doing the right thing when nobody's looking. There are too many people who think that the only thing that's right is to get by, and the only thing that's wrong is to get caught.” Which kind of person are you? And be REAL with yourself. In the journey for self-improvement, we have to understand what needs to be improved. Do we REALLY want to do the right thing? Once again, one’s perception of what’s right and wrong is relative, but TRUTHFULLY we ALL know what’s wrong. And usually if you have to think twice about it, it’s probably wrong. RIGHT!?

I try to pattern myself after Jesus, who (through my beliefs) did NO wrong. So when thinking of what your particular measuring stick is, who will you pattern your right-to-wrong meter after? Let’s just try to get better.

More right, less wrong.

“The only correct actions are those that demand no explanation and no apology.” ~Red Auerbach

††Live Better, Be Better††

~M.A.~

L.O.V.E or D.E.A.T.H

The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.  ~Mother Teresa

Love is a subject that most think is talked about too often, and even as I type this I’m thinking to myself “how many times has love probably been blogged about?” I’m not going to go into an analysis of if love is an emotion as some think it is. I just want to stir thoughts on how “deep” love is perceived. Is “love” as serious as some people think it is, or as small as others think it is?

A colleague of mine recently had an in-class discussion with one of my undergrad professors on a small, yet invigorating idea about what love truly encompasses. When my professor made the exclamation that he “loves money,” my colleague simply said: “would you die for money?” My professor laughed and quickly said “no”. My colleague then said: “well if you wouldn’t die for it, then you don’t really love it.” My professor was against this particular notion until my colleague asked if my professor loved his wife, and when my professor said yes, my colleague asked the same question of if he would die for her. He said yes, and there was never really a consensus on what “love” really is.

I’m not sure if I agree with my colleague on the notion that assumed PHYSICAL death is what defines love. But I do believe when you love someone/something that SOMETHING does have to die. SACRIFICE! Regardless of what your belief system is, you should DAILY think about what love really means to you and WHY people hunger for something SO much. Can you TRULY love something/someone without something dying in the process? SELAH!

Love is not singular except in syllable.  ~Marvin Taylor

†John 15:13†

††Get Your Faith Up††

~M.A.~

State of Being>Feeling

Is the notion that “your attitude determines your altitude” valid? A lot of times we get in the “I’m feeling bad, so my day is going bad” mode, which isn’t the most strong mindset you can have. Overcoming feelings with your actual state of being shows TRUE STRENGTH. Just think if everybody acted off the way that they felt 100% of the time. The world would be in absolute disarray. And though that’s the common instinct of a general person, it’s feeble to believe that it MUST be that way. If you’re FEELING vulnerable, you don’t have to ACT vulnerable. If you’re FEELING scared, a scared person is not WHO YOU ARE. The idea that we are defined by our feelings is a LIE.

Just think in a sense of a marriage. If one or both spouses acted off the way that they felt at a given time, the divorce rate would be off the charts (more so than it is already). If a husband got upset with their wife because they felt slighted and requested a divorce, their immediate state of being would become a divorced man, not a slighted man. Your attitude SHOULD determine your state of being more than your feelings do, but that’s often not the case when your feelings determine our attitude. If that’s the day-by-day reality for you, your emotions may be driving your life more than you are. Selah. (THINK ON THAT.)

I challenge you to ignore your feelings and recognize what’s real. If you feel tired, your state of being is still BLESSED because you’re alive to tell somebody how you’re “feeling”. Recognize what’s REAL!

“Being an optimist after you’ve got everything you want doesn’t count.” ~Kin Hubbard

††Keep The Faith, Hope and Love Alive††

~~M.A.~~

Steve Jobs on the Ipad 2

"We've been working on this for a while and I didn't want to miss this." ~Steve Jobs (March 2, 2011 conference release of the Ipad 2)


These were the words of a fatigued, yet determined Steve Jobs. He was said to have been on his sickbed for an extended period of time leading up to the release of the Ipad 2. He was definitely there in the flesh with updated info on the Iphones, Ibooks, and the original Ipad. He seemed in great spirits as he said  "There's a lot of stuff going on and it's all good." 


"The Ipad is not just a personal computer, it's beyond that," said an apple consumer on the strip shown at the release. The Ipad 2 has undoubtable buzz that won't be silenced anytime soon. The frenzy over the second generation Ipad is almost as amazing as the fact that Jobs made his way to the release despite his illness. As he described all of the new features of the Ipad 2 (the camera, chip and faster speeds), all I could think was how determined he was to see the birthing of what he created. He's an example that nothing can really stop you when you're determined.


"The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won't." ~Henry Ward Beecher


~M.A.~

Whose responsible? You?

“Arrogance diminishes wisdom” ~Arabian Proverb

What is your definition of “arrogance?” Do you often say that my confidence is mistaken for arrogance? What does that really mean? These are all rhetorical questions, but this one isn’t—where is the line drawn between “confidence” and “arrogance?” A friend of mine is quoted as saying “Arrogance is confidence with NO humility. So I guess the line would be humility or the lack thereof.” Another one of my friends is quoted as saying “You can still have humility and be confident...there is no humility in arrogance.” These two perspectives would allude to the assertion that humility is the line drawn between arrogance and confidence; that if you’re confident, but have NO humility, the arrogance is highlighted. #SELAH

Another perspective given by a close friend is that “Confidence is having faith. Arrogance is idolizing.” Which would imply that arrogance is TOTALLY rooted from self. Displaced confidence could very well be rooted from self as well, but the DEPTH of this idea would be that your confidence lies elsewhere. Whether you believe in God or not, the mainstay idea is that confidence requires another party--Arrogance doesn’t. The denotative meaning of “confidence” is “the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something; firm trust.” #SELAH

My particular belief system falls under the concept of the denotative meaning. I rely on something and someone BIGGER than me. When you start getting the thought that something is controlled by YOU with no other party, that’s where the arrogance factor comes in. My confidence is rooted in something ETERNAL—GOD! I’m not stupid enough to just have confidence in myself. I need the BIGGER. #SELAH

Of course the depths and complexity of the idea of arrogance can go way further than this. Whatever your perspective on the issue, make sure your life lines with the perspective—that’s the key.

“The truest characters of ignorance are vanity, pride and arrogance.” ~Samuel Butler

††Keep the FAITH, HOPE & LOVE alive††

~M.A.~

Pimpin' Is Easy?

One of the biggest enigmas I’ve often thought about is if everyone on the face of this Earth is gifted to do at least one thing. As far as people I’ve had the discussion with, it’s about 50/50. Half the people think that everyone is gifted to do at least one thing, and the other half believe there’s no way everyone has some sort of talent. Whatever your belief, the thought of talent seems simple, but it’s kind of an elusive concept to grasp.

Talent is defined as “a special natural ability or aptitude,” with another definition saying “a capacity for achievement or success.” So in one case it’s looked at as something that’s natural and in another sense it’s looked at as something that has to be achieved. I look at talent as something that’s totally God given. Not by anything that we do, but because He gives it to us and chooses how to disperse the talent. It’s my faith in God that allows me to believe in the concept of talent. In Romans chapter 11, Paul said “for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” That’s what I believe—God freely gives.

So WHY IN THE WORLD did I title this post “Pimpin’ is easy?” Well because after you find your particular gift/gifts, the idea of “pimpin’” can make its way into your way of thinking and into your life and it can be EXTREMELY easy to do. A pimp is someone who solicits something for a gain in some form. I have seen SO many cases where people that have been INSANELY talented, have had their gifts pimped by someone else. I’ve also seen those same people pimpin’ their own gifts. By no means am I saying that your gifts shouldn’t open doors for you to be blessed, but I do think you should PROTECT your gift. Everybody isn’t ready to receive your gift. ALWAYS keep that in mind. Water your gift and help it grow. Be eeeeeeever so protective of your gift because it is God given. Lastly, think of your gift as your child. LOVE it! Spend time with it! STAY HUMBLE!

This isn’t just a “musician post” as I’m sure a few will take it. I believe that EVERYONE is gifted and the way you treat your gift/s is TOTALLY up to you.

Evelyn Mary Dunbar, who was the only salaried woman artist of the painters and sculptors employed during World War II, claimed that “We are each gifted in a unique and important way. It is our privilege and our adventure to discover our own special light.”  She had to endure some things to keep using her gift—you may have to as well.

Keep the faith, hope and love ALIVE

~M.A.~

Optimism: Blessing or Curse?

There are times in our lives where optimism is all we have. One being that time where we don’t really KNOW what’s going to ensue at a particular juncture in our life. In my eyes, optimism ultimately equates to faith. Are you optimistic in those times where it looks somber, bleak and you can’t see the light? Do you have enough optimism (faith) to KNOW there’s a light even if you can’t “see” it? Being optimistic is one of the greatest states you can EVER find yourself in. It’s a testament that situations don’t dictate your joy, happiness, tranquility, etc. It’s a testament of POWER!

Optimism gets looked at as a liability at times, but by whom? Probably by those who are un-optimistic. Whether it be before or after a particular situation, the way you react to it will say a lot about you. Are you the type that’s looking at the negative with a frown on your face after a situation? Sometimes you can even have a smile on your face, but still be REEKING with negativity. These people are DRAAAAINING! Not only is optimism defined as “hopefulness and confidence about the future or the successful outcome of something,” but also in a philosophical sense as “the belief that good must ultimately prevail over evil in the universe.” What a concept of FAITH! A (sincere) smile in the midst of a troubled situation can be equated to good overcoming evil. The feeble mindset of negativity is such a liability. Be optimistic isn’t a curse—it’s a BLESSING!

The famous Shirley Temple, who was looked at as an icon of a child actress in the 30’s and 40’s. She sung a song that I feel can be such an effective lifestyle called “Be Optimistic.”

Be optimistic! Don’t you be a grumpy


When the road gets bumpy
just smile
(smile and be happy!)



Your troubles can't be
as bad as all that


When you're sad as all that
no one loves you



Be optimistic! Don’t you be a mourner


Brighten up that corner
and smile


Don't wear a long face
It's never in style,
Be optimistic
And smile!

Don’t drain those around you. Be optimistic and be POSITIVE!

“Optimism is the foundation of courage.”  ~Nicholas Murray Butler

††Keep the faith and love alive††

~M.A.~

The free shall truth your set?

What is your definition of the “truth?” After you think about your definition, think if you live your life by that particular “truth.” Some people look at the truth as fragile, when it’s supposed to be something rock solid that we live off of. In actuality, living a life that’s separated from truth is a rocky bridge that’s CONSTANTLY swaying.

The denotative meaning of truth is “the quality or state of being true,” or “that which is true or in accordance with fact or reality.” If the truth is supposed to “set us free,” why is it one of the most difficult things to keep consistent? I believe it’s because a lie, more often than not, makes things convenient. Even an “embellishment” goes against the truth. Rick Warren, evangelical minister and author, stated: “An embellishment is just a lie in a tuxedo.” Not telling the whole truth is still a lie. And the thing about a lie is, they just compound more lies. You can’t have one without another. Why live your life that way?

Thinking that you HAVE to tell lies, fibs, little white lies, etc. is like being handcuffed by the police or being in a wheelchair. You’re handicapped. You can’t keep it real. Thinking that you HAVE to lie says A LOT about yourself. I know I’m speaking on an issue that we probably have already attempted to wrap our minds around. However, the fact remains that we need to get better. There are ALWAYS ways to justify why we do what we do and I probably hear people try to justify why they lie above all other things. Let’s just try to get better. I’ve learned that if you do things the right way, in decency and order, the easier it is to be completely truthful. Be true with YOURSELF and make an honest attempt to be honest. I know it’s not easy all the time, but remember that sometimes the most difficult things are the things we need to grasp the most.

I tore myself away from the safe comfort of certainties through my love for truth - and truth rewarded me.  ~Simone de Beauvoir

†Keep the faith and keep love alive†

~M.A.~

The Humility Meter

“What kills a skunk is the publicity it gives itself.”  ~Abraham Lincoln

How often do you “smell” yourself? The thing about skunks is, they use their stench as a predator-deterrent. I look at selfishness as a horrible stench. The idea of “humility” has so many different components. If you ALWAYS have to have to have the last word, you might need to check your humility meter. If you ALWAYS have to be right, you might need to check your humility meter. If you contact people to “see how they’re doing,” just so they can do something for you, you may need to check your humility meter, or your selfish meter—whichever one you choose.  And notice I’m saying “check” it. So I’m not necessarily saying these instances comply with lack of humility ALL the time, but I’m just saying check it. =)

Experts say “skunk spray causes no real damage to its victims, but it sure makes them uncomfortable.” That’s the same for a selfish being—it stinks. Announcing how “great” you are or think you may be fits into selfishness as well. You’re selfish in your praises. Your life should speak for itself right? Edward Frederick Halifax, former British Ambassador of Washington, made an awesome statement when he said “True merit, like a river, the deeper it is, the less noise it makes.”  YOUR LIFE DOES THE SPEAKING! Or at least it should. I have by no means arrived when it comes to the lifestyle of total humility, but I definitely strive. I hope you do the same. I’m a firm believer in humbling yourself before God has to do it for you. HE WILL!

“For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”~Luke 14:11

†Peace, Faith, Love, & Hope†

~M.A.~

Arguing. FOR THE BIRDS!

2) argue-exchange or express diverging or opposite views, typically in a heated or angry way. The idea of arguing shapes a lot of things. Bigger arguments, wars, deaths, etc. NOTHING good will generally come from a heated argument. In fact, it shows much maturity when you can express opposing views in a civilized way. Free of the yelling, the screaming, and the belittling. Thomas Carlyle, A 19th Century Scottish writer, essayist, and historian said "A man (woman) lives by believing something: not by debating and arguing about many things." Belief does not require an argument.


Your belief system should have the faith that requires no arguing. Stay firm in what you believe and keep it there. If you believe in a strong family, don't argue about a strong family. Let your life speak, and no arguing will be required. One of the biggest acts of humility is NOT arguing.


"Do everything without complaining and arguing"-Phillipians 2:14


†Faith, Love, Peace & Hope†
~M.A.~

Who Are You? Be You!

A concept that is extremely difficult for this generation to grasp is individuality. Everyone wants to be like the next person. Whether it be because of the want for acceptance or the want to have what someone else has, people just don't seem to want to be themselves. From my diagnosis, the greatest leaders are the ones that understood what they were called to do, and just did it. We're ALL called to different things.


There will ALWAYS only be one you. Another YOU will never be created. You are one of a kind and though someone may look like you, have your name, or do something similar to what you do, you were made authentically. So don't be afraid to step out and be yourself. Oliver James, famous journalist and author said "why are you trying so hard to fit in, when you're born to stand out?" and Dr. Seuss said "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." 


Your life will speak for itself. Insert your name here ______________________ and be THAT person. 


†Peace, Love & Hope†
~M.A.~