Apostle Paul and Piers Morgan

So, we watched the finale of Celebrity Apprentice that we had DVR'd tonight after getting home from hiking at Starved Rock state park in the "sprawling metropolis" of Utica, Illinois. Very cool history. There was a war going on between two indian tribes, one tribe went to the highest point on the river but were victims of a siege by the other tribe and some of their allies until they all starved to death. Anyway, a lot of anaologies there but that will have to be for another blog at another time.


Back to Celebrity Apprentice. Several observations. One it's a bummer that Trump had to choose Piers over Trace Adkins, but Piers did do a better job raising money. Two, Omarosa is as classless as I thought. Three, if I ever had any respect for the Backstreet Boys (I didn't in case you were wondering) it is all gone now after their requests for Wheat Grass Juice and black nail polish. Four, it's a shame Trump is only donating 250k to the charities as he is worth billions. But, most importantly, the observation that stood out to me the most is the reason Piers was able to win Celebrity Apprentice. He is renowned for his "deep roladex". In contacting celebrities for charity events, he was able to call on people such as: The Osbournes, Simon Cowell, The Dutchess of York and "Lord" Andrew Lloyd Webber of Phantom of The Opera fame. In watching this I realized that it wasn't a matter of merely having these peoples phone numbers stored in his I-phone, but of cultivating a relationship with these people over the course of many years. My first inclination was to feel as though I was missing out on many benefits of keeping up with my contacts that I meet on a daily basis, many of whom are quite influential and affluent. This was merely a selfish thought as I was thinking of how those relationships could benefit me in the future. I then realized that this is what the Apostle Paul did. Only he did it in a day and age without email, cell phones, faxes or even a reliable Postal Service. Paul intentionally cultivated his relationships in order to continually speak life into these people. I have been convicted to begin doing this as well, to keep up with the people I continually come into contact with for the purpose of creating a window of opportunity at some point in the future that God can use me to speak life into them.

So, I hope to begin "deepening my rolodex" in the future and create a network of people who God may use me to bring life to. Pray for me in this endeavor.

1st graders, farts and bloody butts

So...I volunteered to help in The Great Adventure kids program at our church THE CHAPEL...wow, that's not my calling. It's a great kids program and it is very interactive and is fast paced to keep the kids attention. However, I had first grade boys and nothing keeps their attention. The story of course was the resurrection of Christ and after a short cartoon, we were to discuss, in our small group some of the things that ocurred. Well, immediately a hand went up to inform me that "someone did a fart over here" which of course sent the kids laughing and pointing at each other. Then, when I asked what happened to the guards at the tomb, I thought we were making progress when one little boy answered..."There was a big flash of light, like lightning, and it hurt the guards eyes and scared them, so they passed out." However, he went on to explain that the guards fell and hit their heads on rocks, so "blood came pouring out of their butts"??!!???!!???!!???!??? I don't remember that ever being in the Bible and I don't think a knock on the head could possibly cause that bodily reaction and I'm more than a little disturbed that this kid had a bit of a fixation on blood and farts!! And more than once I wanted to shout BUHLUD NOT FUNNYYYYY!!!



It was quite an interesting night. I confiscated a hat, pokemon cards, a game stop gift card, had to stop a boy from sitting in front of the smaller kids to block their view, had two boys doing a push up contest in the middle of the lesson, one kid jumping on others, one taking his shoes off and sticking his feet on another kids nose, two kids pulling up the carpet and someone "doing a fart over here." Wow, I think I'll stick with older people from now on. More power to those of you like my brother Seth who are childrens pastors cause it takes a special grace.

Sportin a "Porn"stache

So, me and a couple guys at work filled out our NCAA brackets and since we're all family men with kids to support and the sole income of our households, we decided we didn't need to put any money on the table. So...we decided that the last place person would have to sport a full on moustache for an entire week at work. The second place person would have to sport the "chin only" beard for a week as well. Of course, the winner can just laugh at everyone else. Currently, I am in second place due to Xavier pulling it out over Georgia and busting my bracket up a bit. So, if it ended now, I would be sporting the chin beard, so I decided to post this pic of when I once rocked it out before. So, what do you think?

So, this is the beginning stages and the next picture was mid stage. It got to the point that I could braid it into two different braids but I couldn't find a "full grown" picture.
So, what do you think? Even if I win the bet should I keep growing the chin?

What would you do?

So, as a Financial Advisor, I have to learn about my client's goals and passions in order to understand what emotions are driving the decisions they make regarding their finances. It also helps when we are in tumultuous times like this to know what their passions and goals are to avoid making irrational "knee jerk" reactions. I usually just simply ask what they want reirement to look like etc. I've been trying to find ways to ask this question in a manner that demands a more creative answer. One of these questions would be: "If you had enough money to take care of all of your needs for the rest of your life, how would you live differently than you are now?" This not only defines our financial goals but reveals the truly important things in our lives. Helps us define and discover God's calling on our lives. "...I will give you the desires of your heart." He placed the desires in us and we honor Him by discovering those desires and beginning to long for them.

Curious to know some of your thoughts on this question. Think about it and leave a comment letting me know how you would live differently.

I know my answer is that I would spend a lot more time at home with my wife and kids, working only just enough to afford a lot of exotic travel, and I would be able to spend more time planning social projects/mission projects with my kids. Working with homeless, helping children etc. We would also probably pursue adoption with a little more fervor and urgency.

Let me know what your heart says.

Legend, John

So, I'm a big music lover. Music of all kinds: Country, blues, easy listening, classic rock, swing, jazz, oldies, folk, rap, hip hop, bluegrass, classical, gospel, worship and even old hymns. My most recent purchase is John Legend-Get Lifted. I really enjoy his voice, piano, hip-hop fusion and the gospel influences you can hear in his songs. The most popular track and one of my favorites is called Ordinary People in which he chronicles the ups and downs of his relationship and the promise to stick together through all the ups and downs. However, the chorus bugs me. "We're just ordinary people/ We don't know which way to go/ Cuz we're ordinary people/ Maybe we should take it slow/ Take it slow...This time we'll take it slow."

It seems to me, that husbands and fathers should be able to remedy the problem presented in this chorus. That is, assuming they are AUTHENTIC MEN of God. An AUTHENTIC MAN knows that He is not ordinary because he has been called to a Higher purpose by his God. He will know which way to go because he listens closely to his God for the direction of his family. He has a specific plan in place in which to lead his family and he has a vision for his family. A 150 year vision that looks beyond his lifetime and the lifetime of his children, to the LEGEND or legacy that he will leave behind. When a man is being a man there is no insecurity or lack of direction in his family, it is only when a man abdicates his responsiblity that families feel like ordinary people who don't know which way therefore have to take it slow. In fact, God once punished Jerusalem and Judah by removing from them all the men of valor.

Isaiah 3:1-12

1The mighty LORD All-Powerful
is going to take away
from Jerusalem and Judah
everything you need--
your bread and water,
2soldiers and heroes,
judges and prophets,
leaders and army officers,
3officials and advisors,
fortunetellers
and others
who tell the future.
4He will let children and babies [a] become your rulers.
5You will each be cruel
to friends and neighbors.
Young people will insult
their elders;
no one will show respect
to those who deserve it...
8Jerusalem and Judah,
you rebelled against
your glorious LORD--
your words and your actions,
made you stumble and fall....
You are in for trouble,
and you have brought it all
on yourselves....
12Though you are God's people,
you are ruled and abused
by women and children.
You are confused by leaders
who guide you
down the wrong path."

The question I have to constantly ask myself is..."am I allowing my family to be blessed or cursed due to my absence or presence." I want to be sure that my family is never without the soldier, hero and prophet I have been called to be.

So, when it comes to Legend. Will it be John Legend or the Legend of the Goodson legacy? Will it be John Legend or the Legend of your family? Come on guys, be a man.

Long time no blog

Just felt the need for a little transition as I haven't blogged in quite some time. My nephew Gideon,passed away after a little over a month of blessing us with his presence and incredible example of a warrior's heart. That was obviously a difficult time for our family and we appreciate the prayers and support of all who were involved in doing this. His celebration/memorial service was moving and touching with well over 100 people there to celebrate the life of this little warrior. Since then Seth and Tarah had my niece Jericho (Jerry Curl) Joy Goodson and she is quite a cutie, seen here with my kiddos. Also, my other brother Khane and his wife Elisabeth have just found out they are pregnant with their first.

We have seen a long history of Satan's attack on the first born of our families. There were complications with my birth and then quite an attack on my life from age 9/10 until about 12 when I was being pulled away from God in some rather drastic measures relative to my age. Then, my oldest son was born with a spinal disorder which my wife has chronicled in one of her blogs lypoma which could have created much more drastic disabilities for him than he has already experienced, we now pray for him to remain strong and untouched in his emotions as he deals with difficult side results of his disablity. Then, Seth and Tarah had a miscarriage of their first child and experienced the death of their second. Please agree with us that there will be no way the 150 year legacy of Goodson's can be hindered by the attack on our children and pray for protection of Khane and Elisabeth's child and all the Goodson clan still to come. Quite reminiscent of the attacks on the firstborn children when Moses was targetted and later Jesus.

So, now that you are caught up, I do intend to be a little more frequent with my blogs than once every couple years. There will be random thoughts, funny thoughts, scriptural insights, challenges to be a man and who knows what else. Would love some feedback and comments ocassionally. This blog is primarily intended to be something that my children can read one day along with my Bible study/prayer journals and help feed the flame of intentional legacy creation within them.