Resolutions

Hard to believe that we are at the cusp of the last year of the first decade of the 21st century, I remember the '80's! I often spend more time working on my New Year's Resolutions than trying to keep them, this year is different for several reasons.

-I'm getting better at keeping my resolutions, when I look back at my goals for '08, I'm pretty happy with the results!

-My resolutions are fewer this year

-I'm not spending much time on them, so should be assured that I'll spend at least as much time working on their fulfillment.

As some of you read last week, the overarching theme for the year is to clean out the attic and basement of my life which I am consolidating into improving spiritual and physical health.

So without further delay, here is my list of Resolutions for 2009--

1. spend more time in prayer and devotions--goal is 30 minutes daily

2. Exercise daily, I've got some specific targets here that I won't bore you with, but thanks to the Nike+ will be easy to track!

3. Be more intentional in spending QUALITY time with my family

That's it. I could go on to very specific detail, add additional goals of financial, professional, and other areas of focus, but I'm going to resist the urge to broaden my scope. If I can get into great spiritual and physical condition and spend good time with my family...everything else will take care of itself!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Top 3 #13

In review of my first year in the blogosphere, (actually 5 months)...I thought an appropriate way to end the year was with a list of--

Top 3 Blog posts from yourethepoint

First a couple side notes/stats, since my first post in late July, there have been over1,200 visits to the blog by 800 unique users (which means a lot of people found it and didn't come back!) Average visit lasted right at 4 minutes and came from 27 states and 11 foreign countries. Top states that sent visitors to my online world are mostly obvious with the southeast being the primary home of my readers, but California also sent a strong contingent (Hello) with Michigan and New York being the other non-CSA (That's Confederate States of America not Community Supported Agriculture, in this instance) states in the top ten. I'm a little surprised at all of these numbers...I started this as a sort of online journal, but after looking at this I'm realizing I should probably start using spellcheck!

3.TIE---Lakewood Church and Top 3 #9-- I have talked about starting a more regular review of churches I visit, but have yet to do so, based on these results, maybe the world IS ready?

2. Time Management--we all need to do a better job at this one, the most valuable asset we have, and too often we burn/waste it.

1. Christmas Presents--This is cool because it was also one of my favorite posts!

Honorable mention--the next highest number of visits also happened to be the highest total for my series of reviews of great southern cities, the review of Charleston, SC...also one of my top three southern cities...but that's a story for another day.

Thank you for spending a few minutes with me online this year!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself. What one can BE, one must BE." --Abraham Maslow

RUN

As you have probably noticed, I have a new virtual me on the right of this page which (in theory) will help hold me accountable to run more often and with my Nike + on to track progress. I've also registered to run the Country Music Marathon in Nashville, TN, on April 25th, 2009. I last ran a marathon in December 2002...Yikes!

'Tis the season

to...
Overindulge
Spend
Speed
Rush

May you take the time today to overindulge in family, spend time with those that matter most, speed through the gifts and into the fellowship, and rush to a time of reflection and thankfulness for all that you have.

Merry Christmas

Last time....this year

New Orleans, LA

This is the War and Peace of southern cities...The best of times and the worst of times, and you could also write a thousand pages about it! It is both one of my favorites and also one of the places where you can see poverty, crime, and destruction at levels not seen in other U.S. cities.

Every time I go, leave, or think about New Orleans, I am moved.

To Do--There is no shortage of sights, sounds, and experiences in the Crescent City. There are already lots of lists out there of things to do and see in New Orleans, but for me...Every trip must include...A walk through the French Quarter (where there are lots of cool shops, especially for Antiques) ending up in Jackson Square and strolling over to Cafe Du Monde for one of the best bargains around, an order of Beignets and a Chicory Coffee. They have a nice Casino right downtown, Harrah's. Take a riverboat or swamp cruise, golf, ride a carriage, or just about anything you could want to do, it can be done in New Orleans. End up on Bourbon Street and ignore the girls and head for one of the several great music establishments featuring live jazz and blues nightly. The Hornets and Saints feed the pro sports appetite, and Tulane also sports some solid teams as do the minor league baseball Zephyrs the AAA affiliate of the NY Mets. There's also a Zoo, aquarium, and several museums including the World War II museum. The most fun filled, always open, city in the South.

To Eat-- What they have to do is eclipsed by what they have to eat, I would place it second only to NYC in the U.S. for access to world class food. Of course there are the Brennan's, Emeril, and where Ruth got her Chris Steakhouse, but there are also some PHENOMENAL spots not associated with any of the aforementioned. In the Garden District, a neat primarily residential area of the city with some AWESOME mansions and squares, there are a couple great eats including Commander's Palace (25 cent martini lunch!), Brigtsen's, Gautreau's, and Jacques-Imo's. In the French Quarter there is an overwhelming array of gastro-decisions to be made, the best can be found at GW Fins, Louisiana Bistro, and Yo-Mama's (Not a joke). There's also the famous Acme Oyster House and one of my favorites for a good meal and some fun people watching, Brennan's Bourbon House Seafood...speaking of Dickie Brennan, he is also the purveyor of my favorite steakhouse in the city, the aptly named Dickie Brennan's Steakhouse. Muriel's on Jackson Square is a cool spot too. It's tough to find a bad meal in New Orleans!

To Stay-- Like the things to do and eat, there is no shortage of great options to lay down at the end of a fun and food filled day in the Big Easy. My favorites include the Homewood Suites, Crowne Plaza Astor (on the corner of Bourbon and Canal), and Riverfront Westin. Harrah's, Hilton, and Marriott also have flagship properties right in the middle of the action. Unlike a bad meal, you can find a bad bed here, so spend a few minutes checking this piece out, but there are lots of great options to help complete an all around great trip to New Orleans.

Enjoy it(I know I have)... This place is the BEST!

Attics and Basements

This was one of the very first blog posts I started, it has evolved a good bit, but it's time to throw it out there in its half baked state.

Most houses have an attic or a basement, some (including mine) have both. I've been talking about finishing our basement since we moved into the house three years ago, to date it looks a lot like it did when we moved in with only minor improvements. Our attic is under insulated and next week I'm renting a blower and adding a few inches of Cellulose insulation to improve our energy efficiency. This time spent in examining and planning about the Attic and Basement got me thinking, (dangerous, I know)...

These places are often colder or hotter than the rest of the house, dark, damp, generally unpleasant places to hangout...so we don't. My wife and son are afraid of the basement, I have a bit of an attic phobia myself. Needless to say, they don't spend much time in the basement, and I've been in the attic all of once since we've been in this house.

These are not places we like to spend time, but they are places where problems appear before making it to the rest of the house where you live.

Had I not inspected the attic, I would have never found the source of a water leak that would have eventually made itself known in the way of a collapsed bedroom ceiling, the damage would have been far greater if left un-inspected and un-treated. I also wouldn't have noticed that there was obviously not enough insulation which is causing us to use more energy heating and cooling than necessary, our heat pump is working harder than it should because of my negligence and nervousness to go into the attic. Something that has cost us for three years could have been fixed much sooner with a simple trip to the attic.

Our basement is pretty nice, well lit, daylight, great space...but, I have constant issues with BUGS getting in, I don't even know where they come in, but they keep coming back if I let it go more than a month without spraying a barrier all the way around. I also watch it closely for water seepage in the block, due to my paranoia at a wet basement like I experienced in two prior homes...water in the basement= NOT FUN! If we were to let standing water stay in a basement, eventually it would weaken the foundation of the entire house, serious problem.
One of the double edged swords of having a large basement is that my wife thinks its a great excuse to keep EVERYTHING...seriously!

We have boxes, bins, shelves...full of stuff we haven't looked at in years and have obviously survived without for a long while, and yet we hold on to it.

So, this helped me realize that I have some attics and basements in my life...
Areas that I avoid...they aren't fun, it hurts to go there, its too hot or cold, uncomfortable, so I don't go there, and I try to not even think about them...they scare me and... there are some things I'm holding onto, way down in the basement, sealed up, "just in case"...I don't need it...I don't need to have it around, but I won't let it go...I could go on, but you get IT!

My new years resolutions are going to involve cleaning out the attic and basement in my house... and in my LIFE...

Top 3 # 12

Since Christmas is just a few days away...

Top 3 Credit Cards

3. Home Depot Card--I use this one a couple times a year to make a larger purchase at the big orange box. Interest rates are HIGH, but you get 6 months no interest on any purchase over $299 and they sometimes offer 12 months and 10% off coupons, I just used one to buy a front load washer, because I bought it on the card I got the 10% off, free delivery, and I can pay for it over 6 months interest free.

2. American Express Blue/skymiles/hhonors--The blue card gives you cash back bonuses and the skymiles and hhonors card can get you that dream vacation, but both will cost you in the long run if you use them any other way than to PAY OFF EVERY MONTH IN FULL! Also AMEX is big on annual fees...don't go there.

1. Gas company cards--shell,bp, exxon, all have cards that give a decent rebate of 1-5% on gas purchases, again great tool as long as you pay it off in full EVERY time.

I HATE the credit card industry, I think it's right up there with pornography in its detrimental effect on people and relationships. I do realize that people use them though and it you're gonna use them, the right way is to pay in full and get something in return that's why the points, rebates, and extended interest free periods on the cards mentioned make them the best choices...but still only if you pay them off in full every month, like I've said before, if you don't have the money to pay cash you shouldn't buy it!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"BE GOOD"-- E.T.

Music

I was debating whether to finish a post I started earlier when I started humming a song from a movie I just saw, it changed my mind...

I'm a pretty big music lover, not quite to the level of my father in law who has every album produced from 1973 to present (well almost), but my taste include everything from Keith Green to Kanye West. My Ipod play lists look like they belong to someone with multiple personalities, I mean what normal person would go from Rascall Flats to Hillsong to Swiss Beatz? Due to my varied, wide, and eclectic taste in music, it should come as no surprise that I've always been a fan of musicals.

It started in High School when our drama department did Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Into the Woods (still a favorite of mine), but really blossomed after college when I spent a summer in NYC and saw at least one show every week. Some good, some bad, nearly all very entertaining.

Last week my wife and I, along with James and Angela Laws, went to see the travelling production of the "Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp Sensation" Movin' Out at Memorial Auditorium in Chattanooga. It was less of a traditional musical and more of a concert with choreographed dance helping tell the story in the foreground. It was the most un-traditional "musical" I've ever seen, but by the end it was also in the top half of those I'd seen due to the originality in presentation and the Billy Joel music was AWESOME. If you're not a Joel fan, this would probably be a very tough two hours to sit through!

A couple days ago my wife rented Mamma Mia! and I was seduced by it. I wanted to hate it, I did hate it, but still I find myself singing ABBA songs this morning while trying to work. It reminded me of the power of music...

There is a cool movie, actually a "Rockumentary" that came out in October- CALL+RESPONSE.

I heard the director, Justin Dillon, at a conference and he distilled the truth I've always known but never put into words... Music has the power to enter our subconscious and go around our defenses unlike anything else, we can ignore a pleading orator, close our eyes, or walk away, but music will pierce your soul, It stays with you.

Be careful what you listen too, it WILL change you...whether you like it or not. Mamma Mia, here I go again...

To Do Today

Here is a snapshot of my Thursday--

Get up and limp to the treadmill for a 30 minute walk/jog/run/jog/walk
Get on the ablounger for 100 crunches
go upstairs and shower
go downstairs and do devotions and write blog post
stay downstairs and check email, return some phone calls, and other various work
pick up my parents at the airport with Alex and Rob
have lunch with them
go to home depot for a dishwasher for a rental unit
go back to the house to work and check email some more
pay the bills
do another 100 crunches on the ablounger
Start cooking dinner
welcome my wife home and have dinner
go upstairs and check email and work while they watch TV
a day in the life...

car shopping

Starting to think about replacing the vehicle(s)

Hers--Mazda5, Ford Escape Hybrid, Saturn Vue Hybrid

His--Mercedes E320 Bluetec Diesel, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid...

Another interesting option is the ZAP! Xebra electric vehicle and my previously mentioned foray into importing a smart car knock off from China...we'll see.

new today

Well....

Since my last random update, I've...

Given away a few shower heads to help people save water...if they don't use them I'll be upset!

Purchased a new LG Energy star Washer and Ultra low flow toilet both from Home Depot.

Finished my Christmas shopping, which consisted entirely of products from sources recommended in a previous post.

Played a very violent game of the board game RISK at a Christmas Party.

Spent some time shopping for a car on ebay, I'm intrigued by the Mercedes E320 Bluetec Diesel (may try to save up for that one when it's my turn!) but since it's for the wife, probably looking at a Saturn Vue Hybrid or Ford Escape Hybrid. Hybrid prices have come down ALOT in the last couple months as gas prices have dropped!

I've also purchased a ball and burlap Christmas tree and signed up to receive produce from a local CSA next year...

GOOD TIMES!

Top 3 #11

Since we're less than two weeks from Christmas and most of what I do between now and then will involve the items on today's list I've decided to share...

Top 3 Christmas Movies

I decided to do two separate lists, one for older Christmas films and one for the newer ones since they are so different.

Classics--

3. A Christmas Carol--One of the all time classic stories, it has been made into several films, but the 1984 version with George C. Scott is my favorite.

2. Miracle on 34th St--Another one that was remade, but the original is classic.

1. It's a Wonderful Life-- Every time a bell rings...and you gotta love the black & white

Honorable Mention--White Christmas

Newer

3. Fred Claus-- Very funny and original concept, even if Vince Vaughn once again simply plays himself.

2. Home Alone-- They made too many of them, but the first one was pretty great when it came along.

1. Elf-- One of my favorite movies, period!

Honorable Mention-- How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Jim Carrey)

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Something I'm thinking about ALOT right now...

"Good is the Enemy of Great"--Jim Collins

In case you hadn't heard about it...

Hope you can make it...it's gonna be FUN, and I'm wearing the most RIDICULOUS Sweater you will EVER see!

Starbucks, Gap and Converse?

What do they have in common, they are all part of the (RED) campaign to eliminate AIDS in Africa...

Buy Shoes. Save Lives.

This is one of the coolest things EVER, not only are they helping kids in IRAQ, providing a distribution channel for Iraqi product (creating jobs), but they are also working towards reconcilliation as the heart surgergies are performed in ISRAEL.

Another group I'm a fan of...

We bought some Christmas cards and gifts from this one, makes me wish I had thought of it!!

Electric Cars

I've been increasingly interested in THE electric car (yes, even with gas prices at 2002 levels). Looks like there LOTS of companies trying to make a go of it, but only a couple that are actually delivering anything of value at the moment, the most interesting to me is ZAP!, they have a vehicle, the Xebra, that is available today that can go 40mph and 30 miles on a charge, both suitable numbers for around town driving, all while carrying up to four passengers with a price tag under $12k!

I'm gonna keep checking but may end up importing a smart car look alike from China for about $6k...they get a little cheaper if I buy them in bulk...anybody want in?

Top 3 #10

By now, most of you know my stance on the consumerism of the Christmas season (I LOATHE it), but I still feel compelled to share the following list.

Top 3

MOST POPULAR toys for Christmas

3. Wii-- This one has been big the last couple of years and is still outselling the Xbox 360 and PS3 by WIDE margins...with this one at least you get some level of physical activity out of it!

2. Kids digital camera--several manufacturers are making them, Vtech and Fischer Price have the most popular models to get your 3-8 year old photographer started... we may end up getting one of these for our son (in spite of my protest).

1. Elmo LIVE-- Seriously, How many more of these can they make...every year a new Elmo with a few new features and a higher price tag, this one retails for $60...if you can find it.

So there it is, but thankfully this year's list is devoid of an item which is causing stampedes and robberies, but for BETTER gift ideas check out my previous Christmas presents post.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

I'm really enjoying the Message translation of the The Bible...

"Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don't condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you'll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity." --Luke 6:37-38

Buy one, Give one

I get laughed at every time I wear mine, until I tell the story, then people go buy themselves a pair!

Birmingham, AL

You can't spend too much time talking about southern cities without mentioning Birmingham, Alabama. So here is my take on the former iron and steel town which is also referred to by locals as the Magic City. The headquarters of Southern Living Magazine is here and it has done a better job than some other cities of maintaining a "southern" feel.

While it ranks up there just below Nashville and Charlotte in metro population, I've always found B'ham to be a little lacking in the fun department...but I find myself there a few times a year for work so here it goes...

To DO--They have a solid zoo, nice shopping areas at Riverchase mall and the Summit, and the Civil Rights Institute is a good place to get a sense of some of the important things that have happened here in the past. For Golf, the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail winds through the area and mixes some world class courses with very reasonable rates. If you are a NASCAR fan, get your fix at Talladega less than an hour east of downtown, it's not my thing, but to those in the know it's among the best! The Barons play AA baseball here, and it's a good show, there is also thriving arts and entertainment area around the UAB, the local extension of the University system. One of my favorite sites in town is the Vulcan statue pictured at the top of this post, it's the world's largest cast iron statue and you get some pretty nice views of the valley from the park as well, it's a constant reminder of the city's former importance in steel working. If you find yourself downtown after dark looking for something to do, there are several options in the bar/club/lounge scene, Bell Bottoms, Blue Monkey, and the Burly Earl are all fun. College Football is a religion around here, and you have two denominations, Auburn and Alabama, the game is sometimes played in Birmingham, and if you ever get a chance do WHATEVER it takes to go to this one.

To EAT--What they lack in big city sophistication they make up for in down home cookin' (meaning grease), but seriously, this is like most southern cities in that they can cook! Highlands Bar and Grill is a treat, and you can't go wrong with Cafe Dupont or Bottega. For steak, they do have Ruth's Chris, Flemings', and also a Shula's. La Dolce Vita, Village Tavern, and Bellini's are all good local interpretations of quality. Standard Bistro has been called one of the greatest "Southern style" restaurants in the world, for a more old school meat and three try the Irondale Cafe (the inspiration for the cafe in the movie Fried Green Tomatoes). Ocean and 26 Twenty Six next door are two of my favorites in town, but for a really trendy feel, check out iCON. Can't talk about a southern city without a mention of BBQ...You've probably seen the Dreamland ads in an in-flight magazine at some point, in my opinion skip it and head to Jim n Nicks, Full Moon or Big Daddy's (recently voted best ribs in the city).

To STAY--One of the things that keeps me coming back to Birmingham (other than work!) is the Tutwiler Hotel, originally built in 1914, this is now flagged a Hampton Inn, but don't let it fool you, it is as nice as anything in town! Other downtown area hotels include the recently re flagged Doubletree, good location but nothing to write home about, and several other chain properties from Marriott and Hyatt Place. Only one B&B in the university area, Cobb Lane, has been reasonably well received. For a treat, the Renaissance Ross Bridge Spa and Golf Resort is a place you can comfortably let the wife hangout while you attend some business meetings, but it can get expensive.

That should get you started on your exploration of the largest city in Alabama, WAR EAGLE!

I'm a fan...

I'll be posting a few of these over the next few weeks from different companies, charities, etc, that I'm a fan of, this one is a great way to redirect some funds that you are already spending on an item, Coffee, to a place where it can make a difference.

What's Goin On

Here are a few random updates on some things I've written about recently and what's next...

I just finished negotiations with my wife on some Christmas gifts, she's still buying some baubles for family but from better sources, Tradeasone and Corridorofhope.

I'm REALLY enjoying the new 1.6GPM shower head we have in our bathroom and we had company recently and they had nothing but good things to say about the one I installed in the guest room. One of the best purchases I've made in a while, better than the old one we had and saving tons of water and lowering the bill at the same time! Also happy with the faucet aerators I installed, easy and unnoticeable way to save water.

Researching the new solar power incentives that were passed with the HUGE government bailout (maybe something good will come out of it after all), they removed the $2,000 cap on the tax credit for 2009.

Working today on finishing up the scheduling for an Atlanta trip next week for work, it's my last one before Christmas so it's gonna be a busy few days, 15 or so ministries in 2 1/2 days. Then hafta do some office cleaning...it's outta control.

Starting to do some planning for finishing out a bedroom and bathroom in the basement and getting the upstairs rearranged for baby Ben. Gonna try to use some innovative products in the renovation like denim insulation, concrete stain or bamboo flooring, and decking made from recycled materials.

Making some better recycling bins for glass, aluminum, and paper at the house. Also working on the wife to start composting...

Spending some time the next couple days working on some AWESOME stuff we're doing at Lifepoint the next couple weeks, if you've been thinking about it, THIS is the weekend to check it out! Also gonna have a great Christmas Concert next Sunday, the 14th, and give away some cool stuff like an IPOD and some gift cards, as well as coffee from my favorite and a few of the low flow shower heads I've been bragging about.

That's it for now....

Why YOU FAIL...OR how to SUCCEED

I had started this post a while back and just ran into a post by Tony Morgan that was a much better version of what I was working on. So I decided to cut and paste some of his and add a bit of mine in as well.

We have all failed, some more than others, and it is rarely fun. It can however be something that can lead to greater success in the future if we learn from our mistakes and failures. In an attempt to help you avoid some of the mistakes I've made in starting businesses, pastoring, managing teams, and even leading fraternity brothers on Spring Break trips, here is a list of things that will INCREASE your chance of failure (so you should try to avoid them), followed by some thoughts on each.

These are not in any particular order...

1. It’s not your passion. If it doesn’t make your heart beat fast or cause your mind to race when you’re trying to sleep, you’re probably doing the wrong thing. That's OK for small things, but never make the ONE thing something that doesn't absolutely energize you.
2. You don’t have a plan. You need a vision, and you need to identify specific steps to make that vision become reality. That includes a financial plan. This is one of the most IMPORTANT pieces to work on before you even think about moving on any action items.Planning is to Success what location is to Real Estate.
3.You’re waiting for it to be perfect. Test-drive it. Beta-test it You’ll fall into the trap of inaction if you think it has to be absolutely right from day one. This is where many people stop, they are so afraid of failure that they are paralyzed by moving their simply very good idea forward hoping to tweak it to perfection.
4. You’re not willing to work hard. Everything worth pursuing in my life has involved discipline and perseverance. It's a bit cliched, but nothing in life worth having is free. I've done many things with varying degrees of success, the best results have always followed the best efforts.
5. It’ll outgrow you. Keep learning. Keep growing. But more importantly, build a team of people including leaders that can be who you’re not. This has been a BIG weakness of mine, I'm competent enough to think I don't need much help, which makes me pretty incompetent at really blowing something up HUGE. This is the Field of Dreams, Build the Team, success will come.
6. You’ve had success in the past. People and organizations have a tendency to hang on to a good idea for too long. Time passes. Momentum fades. It’s risky to let go of the past and jump on the next wave. The enemy of the Great is the Good, we often stop short of the full level of success that we could attain if we just kept pushing.
7. You’re unwilling to stop doing something else. Complexity is easy. Simplicity takes discipline. You can’t build a healthy marriage if you’re unwilling to give up dating other women. Who/what do you need to stop dating? I get lots of ideas, I dabble with projects, I always have lots of "irons in the fire", don't follow that lead. Ask yourself "What is the one thing I can do better than anyone else?" Do that with all your might!
8. You won’t build a team of friends. Anyone can hire from a resume. You need to find people you want to share life with. In the long run, great relationships will get you out of bed in the morning. This one challenges me, I'm good at relationships to a certain depth, I am working to go deeper, it will help in almost every area of life. BUT, while trust is of the utmost importance, competence is also needed, don't hire you're buddies just to hang out, you're looking for people who can actually help!
9. You won’t have the tough conversations. When breakdown happens (and it always does), someone needs to put on their big-boy pants and initiate the difficult conversation that leads to relational healing. This works best when you've followed the advice above and the people in the room have relationships beyond the issues at hand.

10. You're will not HIS will. I almost left this out as it won't be popular if you aren't a "person of faith", but I've learned the hard way, no matter how prepared, competent, cash infused, team surrounded, I am, if it's just me it will never be all it could and should be. Find His will for you, and I guarantee Success.

11. You Give up too soon. This is frightening to me, because we never know how many times we've failed at the cusp of the breakthrough, when we don't push to the limits and beyond, we'll never know how great the win could be. If you've done all the other things, and you're convinced it's the right thing, don't stop, KEEP GOING.

12. You Don't take breaks. We've all heard of burnout, but it takes on a whole new meaning when you've experienced it. We were made with REST as an integral part of our needs. If you ignore it too long...YOU WILL FAIL.
13. You’re afraid of failure. When fear consumes you, it will cause you to do stupid things. You’ll let negativity distract you. You’ll embrace the known, and grow comfortable with mediocrity. The more often you fail, though, the more often you’ll find success. Since I've failed a lot, it's time to try some new things, I'm DUE a WIN...

So... don't do the things in bold and you will save yourself from much of the mess I've made and experienced. Get out there and MAKE IT HAPPEN! Know that you will fail, but every failure brings you closer to the ultimate Successes waiting just around the bend, hopefully this list will straighten the road.

Podcasts, Prayer, and Play

I listen to a lot of preaching, it's a little odd. I grew up in a Pastor's home and even lived in the church most of my early childhood, I heard a lot of preaching. Once we moved to Tennessee, when I was eleven, we still went to church regularly, but it moved from being a central part of my life to the periphery. Through High School I was a good student and all around decent person, no sex, drugs, or alcohol, I was in AP classes and even the SHOW CHOIR!

I had a full ride to attend a respectable university, registered for classes, and then changed my mind at the last minute to stay closer to home, I actually received my transcript with all W's in late October from the other school. I made it through my first year of college without falling into many of the "normal" social ills that befall the average college kid experiencing freedom for the first time. Between my freshman and sophomore year of college I went to Army Basic Training in Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. It was one of the lowest and highest points of my life. I was completely physically broken, but emerged with a new confidence in God and myself.

What had given me a new confidence in my leadership and physical ability ultimately led me into a period of serious missteps, I emerged from college miraculously without any STD's. I then spent the next few years driven to "get ahead" and make as much money as possible. About three years ago, I took a job which again found me listening to lots of preaching, I even started doing some myself. Now I am involved in a great church, and still enjoy listening to several podcasts regularly, I guess I'm unique in that I need about 8 sermons a week to keep me straight. My favorites are...

Craig Groeschel

Rob Bell
Steven Furtick
Perry Noble
Dino Rizzo

Greg Surratt

Favorite line this week...

"Many of you will spend more time watching DVR shows today than you'll spend all week in Prayer...average person spends 6 hours a week shopping, 40 minutes a week Playing with your kids."-- Craig Groeschel

Top 3 #9

As you may have gathered by now, there is very little rhyme or reason to my topics on this blog and especially in my weekly top threes'. That's why I wrote an awesome senior essay on James Joyce and Virginia Wolf that secured my AP English success. And I'm also a big fan of extremely long titles, like my ever popular work, Machiavellian influences on Shakespearean Literature and their role on the development of modern Social Ethos.

So, this week's top three is near and dear to my heart....

TOP THREE Church planting organizations in the U.S. (confused?)

In order to be considered for my list, the organization had to do more than just offer conferences and free resources (although those are helpful), they had to actually provide funding and some level of accountability/oversight/ongoing help. Here we go...

3. Several Denominations--I couldn't make this list if it wasn't for the poor job some churches have done in encouraging new and relevant ministry, that being said, I think many are waking up, the North American Mission Board (Southern Baptist), has become pretty aggressive. As have several more pentecostal churches including the Assemblies and Church of God, though they are all playing catch up, but do provide a solid accountability structure as well as financial support.

2. Acts 29 Network-- Large network, well established, doing some very cool stuff. I'm a little uneasy with their stance on the role of women in ministry (They put some restrictions), but this is a fast growing group of churches reaching a lot of people. A cool example of one of their churches is Vintage 21 in Raleigh, NC, probably their most recognizable church is Mars Hill, in Seattle, WA.

1. Association of Related Churches, ARC-- Not just because they have a ton of great guys like Dino Rizzo, Stovall Weems, and Greg Surratt, among others, but because these guys are getting it DONE. Goal to plant 2000 churches by 2020, but they are also planting vibrant growing churches that seem to have a trajectory to really make a difference! A good example of an ARC plant is DCMetro and a famous one is Seacoast in SC.

So that's what was on my mind and now on the list for this week, next week, look for something else completely unrelated to the previous week's topic.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK!

This one has been on my mind...

"Some wish to live within the sound of the Church bell, I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of the gates of hell."-- C.T. Studd

AMTRAK

My son and I recently took our first train trip together. I grew up in Europe and have been back enough to be somewhat familiar with European Train travel, it's pretty great. I decided not too long ago to check into the quality and feasibility of U.S. train travel, via Amtrak. What I found was that the route options are pretty limited and the times are a bit long, but the pricing is not too bad.



With this information in hand, I embarked on the booking process. I must say it was as easy as renting a car or buying a plane ticket. The nearest Amtrak station to my house is in Atlanta, so I purchased my tickets online ahead of time for print at the station. With reservation in hand, my three year old son and I jumped in the car and headed out for Atlanta.



At the station, at the junction of Midtown and Buckhead on Peachtree in Atlanta, GA, we parked (possibly illegally) and then walked across the street bags in tow to the fairly small station. For a metro area of over 5 million people, the station was very small but that's ok, we wouldn't be there long. After checking our two larger bags, Alexander and I retreated to the seating area where we were greeted with stares from the other passengers.



The train arrived right on time, and within 15 minutes everyone was loaded and we were underway. The "room-ette" we had reserved was small, but adequate for a six foot adult and a three foot three year old, but two average size adults would probably be a little cramped. Our steward, Claude, made the trip (he was pretty awesome and became good pals with Alex)! After a few minutes of absolute over the top excitement (Alex was pretty stoked too), we settled down to a breakfast in the dining car which was included in our ticket cost.



After breakfast, we went back to the room, folded out the bunks, and took a nap, we awoke to the announcement that we would soon be arriving in Birmingham, AL. The bunks are pretty comfy and the constant motion and noise of the train help to lull you to sleep. Another couple hours and it was time for lunch in the dining car, it was another reasonable interpretation of food and the company of the couple who sat with us was pretty good (tables seat four and it gets pretty crowded so if you are alone or with only one other person, expect to get seated with some strangers).



A few positives of train travel include the ability to stretch out and let someone else do the driving, the ability to use the cell phone, DVD player, and computer (outlets available), and the bonus of lowering your carbon footprint in relation to travel via car or plane. Looking forward to the day when the Amtrak Acela trains that run in the northeast are available elsewhere, they travel at nearly double the speed of regular Amtrak trains.



The trip from Atlanta to New Orleans was just under twelve hours and arrived on time almost to the minute. All in all, it was a fun experience, comfortable room, and decent food, all for a price that would be tough for us to beat even with today's newly lowered gas prices. So, if you're not in a big hurry, and want a unique travel experience, Amtrak may be a viable option for you. We will probably try it in the near future as my in-laws live in the Washington, DC, area.



Maybe we'll end up sharing a meal in a dining car sometime ...CHOO CHOO!

Baton Rouge, LA

It's that time again! You thought I was done didn't you, well it turns out there are a few more cities in the south worth talking about. This week I'll bring along my parents new home town, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Capitol of the Cajun State is a unique place to say the least.

To Do-- They have a good zoo, nice downtown on the waterfront including the tallest state capitol in the country and the USS Kidd, and a hunting culture second to none. But, in Baton Rouge, there is only one thing to do on a few Saturdays in the Fall and that is LSU FOOTBALL! Death Valley is one of the largest and loudest stadiums in all of College Football and it is worth a trip to the Capitol City in and of itself. If you're looking for outdoors men gear, look no further than the combined 350,000 square feet of Cabela's and Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, which also has a pretty good restaurant. There are also several good shopping spots including the Mall of Louisiana and the brand new Perkins Rowe development.

To Eat-- What the city may lack in variety of entertainment options, it makes up for in very unique and varied dining options. You can grab a steak at one of the first Ruth's Chris Steakhouses ever, some great fresh seafood thanks to the proximity to the Gulf and Baton Rouge's standing as the fifth largest U.S. port, or the local favorite of good ole Cajun Food. For seafood, my fav's include Mike Anderson's and Ralph and Kacoos, and for Cajun, there are lots of choices but a few of my faves are Caterie, Chimes, and Copelands. Other solid choices are TJ's Ribs and DeAngelo's.

To Stay-- The downtown landmark is the Hilton Capitol Center and it is well kept and convenient to the downtown area. In the east part of town there are all the chain options from Marriott to Embassy Suites and Hyatt Place. If you're in town for LSU, there's no place better than the Cook Hotel which is ON CAMPUS, while you're there, go see Mike the Tiger and his new "cage" a $1.5mm palace fit for well, MIKE.

So there you have a start for your exploration of a great southern Capitol City, have fun and GEAUX TIGERS!

Top 3 #8

I threw a little party for my wife's 30th birthday recently and experimented a bit with mixed drinks. As you may have noticed if you've been reading my blog, I'm an increasingly passionate believer in locally sourced products, which is why I chose to make the Liquor of choice our own locally brewed Tennessee Whiskey's (or Whisky for one of them), Jack Daniels and his lesser known relative George Dickel.

I've toured both distilleries and prefer both the taste and the tour at the smaller George Dickel distillery. However, Jack Daniels is both produced and bottled in a single location vs. Dickel which is made in Tennessee but bottled in New England. So, all that being said, this week's Top 3 is...

TOP THREE Cocktails made with Tennessee Whisky

3. The Big Orange--This is a Moore original, which means I created it myself, always a dangerous thing. It's a mixture of Dickel and Mango Mojito mixer about 1:2, it went fast!!!

2. TN Mint Julep--My favorite, but this list is based on popularity. Simply take a cup of sugar, two handles of either whiskey, and a LOT of crushed mint, mix, strain, and enjoy. It's like the Kentucky Derby only better!

1. Jack and Coke--I usually do it with Diet Coke since I'm watching my figure, but this is by far the most popular drink made with TN Whiskey.

One word of warning...Dickel is 90 proof and Jack is 80 proof, so all of the above drinks can sneak up on you and create and angrier or huggier (spellcheck is suggesting this isn't a real word....whatever!) version of yourself....both dangerous! You've been warned.

By the way, the difference between a Tennessee Whiskey and a Kentucky Bourbon (besides geography)is Charcoal Mellowing of the Tennessee Whiskey's, now you know...and Knowing is half the Battle!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

From the tag line of one of my college mentor's...

"Not all of those who wander are lost"--Mike "Mad Dog" McMullin.

Cajun Country

Today, I'm having lunch with a cool church in Louisiana, followed by a meeting with another church in New Orleans. TOMORROW, however, is all about some LSU FOOTBALL!

A friend is getting me the hookup on tickets for the LSU vs Ole Miss game and I'm pretty psyched about it!!

GEAUX TIGERS!

Leadership is an Art

Kevin wrote a good post a few days ago on his struggle with doing things versus leading people that inspired me to tag on some thoughts on the subject of leadership. When I was in High School my dad was working on his Masters in Organizational Leadership and is now wrapping up his PHD in the field, so I've gotten to read a LOT of hand me down books on the subject of leadership and taken more than my fair share of personality profiles and tests.

My opinions on the subject are greatly influenced by my Dad, books, and personal observation. The two biggest leadership theories are--

1. Great Leaders aren't made, they're born

2. Anyone can become a great leader by working on....x,y,z, depends on the book.

In my experience, I tend to straddle the fence between the two camps. It's fairly obvious that some people are just naturally more followable, which makes it easier for them to lead. But the best leaders I've met are the ones who are VERY intentional about it. So, I guess that would make the best leader a guy or gal who is naturally charismatic, believes in what they are leading, has built a history of character and moral authority, and then is a veracious learner open to change and new ideas while never losing sight of the ultimate goal and their unique ability to contribute. This person will illicit passionate following, making leading a pretty easy task.

Our society has placed a high premium on leadership, which seems to have over-emphasized it to the point that everyone wants to be a leader. One of my favorite sayings is "Too many Chiefs not enough Indians", it's so common to see that in organizations today, there are lots of idea people who want to lead, but when it comes to doing there is a lack of followers (which begs the question, how effective is the leadership really being?). Probably my favorite leadership book is The One Thing You Need to Know by Marcus Buckingham, his First Break all the Rules is a close second. He has probably done as much to solidify my thoughts on leadership as any author. His distinction between management and leadership is excellent. At the end of the day, it's pretty easy to manage, but don't confuse that with leading and if you are good at something, don't spend too much of your time trying to develop areas of weakness... be the BEST YOU you can be.

Also, too many assume that the benefit of leadership is praise, adoration, and publicity. A true leader craves none of these but is passionate about the result of success. Max Dupree said it well in Leadership is an Art "The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between the leader is a servant."

My entire perspective on the subject was transformed when I recently re-read Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders. It thoroughly convicted me on almost every page and reminded me that in the life I want to live, to lead anything out of personal ambition or ability is complete folly, if we aren't leading for the great cause of Christ, it's all a waste of time and effort.

CHOO-CHOO

Today, my son Alexander, and I are headed to Baton Rouge, LA, on a train! I'm pretty excited about it, as is Alex. We will pick up the train in Atlanta and ride for about 12 hours. On board, we have a sleeping car, so I'm sure we will take a nap, I'll do some work, we may watch a movie, we'll grab some food, and then eventually we'll arrive.

Once we get to Louisiana, we'll spend a few days with my parents and I will visit some of my work clients, then I will connect with another of our guys from HQ and enjoy the LSU vs Ole Miss game Saturday followed by a flight home to spend a few days with my increasingly pregnant wife while Alexander stays with my parents until they join us for Thanksgiving....Life is GOOD!

Digital Cameras

My wife's 30th birthday just happened and I got her a new DSLR as a gift. I researched for MONTHS! It ultimately came down to a few opinions, including several blogs, and price...

Very quickly I discovered that anyone considering moving in to the semi-pro world of photography really has two choices Canon and Nikon (sorry to all you Olympus and Sony folks). From there I had to consider budget, under $1000, which left me with just a few choices. The Nikon D40, D60, and D80, and the Canon Xti, XS, and Xsi.

As I've already mentioned, it came down to the opinions of several friends and family, including a professional photographer. They all came to the same conclusion, the Canon Xsi is the best camera on the market available in the price range I was confined to. I purchased my Canon Xsi at Circuit City with a kit lens, after I got them to 110% match the Wal-Mart price. I'm hopeful that my wife will enjoy it and maybe even become a world renowned photographer (SI swimsuit issue with me along for the ride?).

What it came down to was a couple things, the majors are CMOS sensor and 3" live view LCD screen. Both items are not available in the price range from Nikon. If money was not object...for a ultra high end consumer camera, the Nikon D90 would be my choice due to its ability to record High Definition video! One thing I would do differently if I hadn't needed the camera right away, would have been to order it online from a reputable seller like Amazon or FotoConnection.

So there is my two cents on DSLR's....good luck!

Top 3 #7

I've been working on some things for my church. At the same time, I've been looking into ways and places I can have the greatest impact on people, especially as I look to make a few year end donations, volunteer, and plan to do more next year. Since these are front of my mind I decided to make this weeks list...



Top 3 Charities



Since there are so many great organizations doing great work, it's a pretty daunting task to whittle it down to three. With that in mind, I've decided to make several lists of three, one for local charities (within a 30 mile radius), one for national (U.S.) and one for international. A couple places I check when researching whether or not to financially support a charity are online. I'd also like to point out that these rankings are even more subjective than usual since my rankings are directly reflective of my own priorities.



Top Three Local Charities



3. Habitat for Humanity



2. New Hope Pregnancy Center



1. Your Church

The link happens to be to mine, but the local church is the hope of the world, supporting it with your time, talents, and treasure are crucial.



Honorable mentions go to The Caring Place, Chattanooga Aquarium, Chattanooga Rescue Mission, and the Museum Center at Five Points. I also support Lee University.



Top 3 National



3. Smoky Mountain Children's Home

Just one of many great children's group homes, this one happens to be 4 star rated by Charity Navigator.



2. Gideon's/American Bible Society

These are two separate organizations but both have a primary mission of putting bibles in the hands of people who otherwise might not get them.



1. Susan G. Komen/American Cancer Society

As above, these two different organizations have similar goals of eliminating cancer.



Top Three International



3. Compassion International



2. Water Missions International



1. World Vision


Beyond volunteering and direct gifts, an increasingly popular trend is to buy many of your normal purchases in a way that they benefit charities of your choosing. For example, Gideon's (the hotel room bible people) sells Christmas cards for around $2 each that help fund the placement of Bibles, the product (RED) campaign for Africa, and TOMS shoes gives away a pair for every pair that you purchase, there are dozens more and the list is growing every day, allowing us to be more diligent in ensuring that more of our purchases affect positive change. Check out my blog on the topic of good purchasing.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“A Mans real worth is determined by what he does when he has nothing to do.”~
Megiddo Message

Personal Finances--Before and After

I recently read a blog post from Jenny Bryant that inspi(RED) me to touch on the subject of personal finances. This is something that has at times been a bit of an obsession for me, so I've probably neglected it more than I should here lately to ensure that it doesn't take me over again!

I was born in Germany in 1978 while my parents were working with the U.S. military during the height of the Cold War, we didn't have television until we moved to the States in 1989. My time was spent collecting and organizing various things and daydreaming about all the cool stuff I could do. We never had much money and were probably lower middle class most of my childhood, we didn't live in a home we owned until I was 13. What my parents couldn't give me in material goods they more than made up for in encouragement and positive reinforcement, I can not remember EVER telling my mom and dad any ideas that they didn't greet with enthusiasm, I believed I could do anything and they never told me otherwise.

Since I was a kid I've always had an affinity for making money and budgeting, I took over the family finances when I was fourteen and never looked back. I graduated from college and bought my first house when I was 21, and had a dozen properties before I turned 25. I say all that not to brag, but to give a little context. A lot of people meet me and think that I must have had some unfair advantage or inheritance to be in the financial position I'm in today, I think it's more that I discovered the magic formula I'll reveal below.

A funny thing happened about three years ago...My income from rental properties, investments, and my job were growing well into six figures, my wife had just given birth to an awesome baby boy, I was driving a Jaguar, and we bought a house that was nearly three times the size of our previous one, Life was GOOD...not exactly.

The more "successful" I became, the more I realized how empty all the stuff left me. So as we continued to spend and make more money, the discomfort was growing as well. The pursuit of money and possessions is a dead end road. I can't say that the feeling is gone, I still feel like I spend WAY too much. But I have made a LOT of adjustments to our budget and income. It's provided some great growth opportunities and best practices for budgeting. Here are a few...

Give First- It's easy to focus on bills and the stuff we "need", but if we really understand that it's all a gift, giving back FIRST becomes easier. Some recommend a flat 10%, I think the simple act of placing this as priority one is the most important step, as I've shared earlier, my goal is to give half of my total income (long way to go!).

Save Second- It's important to have a rainy day fund, no matter how much or little you make. Once you've built that up, start saving for major purchases and longer term savings.

Spend the rest--it's really pretty simple, if you must rob from giving or saving to afford a purchase, you should probably wait. Only spend what you have and even then, don't spend all of it.

If you don't have enough to do the things you'd like to do, first, evaluate how badly you need the item (you probably don't need it at all), then get creative--there are many more options than just adding a part-time job (but that's a valid idea). This is probably where I differ most from many others, rather than simply robbing from giving or saving to pay for stuff, I've always looked at opportunities to create additional income to fund the stuff I've wanted and it also gives a chance to look at expenses and decide what should be a priority. That doesn't mean it always works out, I've had several businesses that tanked, but in the long run it's allowed me to save and give and spend...more.

My hope for my family and for those I come in contact with is that I can help them realize that STUFF can never make you happy, and in fact, can actually get in the way of true happiness. That's why I've been trying to do more with less, so while my priority order of give, save, spend, hasn't changed, I'm constantly working to front load the percentages and lower my total overhead while also simplifying my assets (i.e. selling stuff). So if you want to buy some rental property or start a business let me know. MONEY isn't bad, but as and end in itself it's a fruitless pursuit. I'm slowly opening back up to the idea of making money, but now instead of imagining the next car or TV or trip, I'm picturing changed lives and a better world...Give, Save, Spend, in that ORDER.

My Prayer

I have a few prayers that I say repeatedly, so much so that they become more habit than prayer. One I picked up a while back that had become habitual is "Break my heart for the things that break your heart". When I first started praying it was a passionate plea, it's become more of just another one of the things to check off the prayer list...

Today I heard from a good friend who is about to go through his second divorce. I was there the first time, and rather than offer encouragement or compassion, I might have actually helped to quicken it. This time, when I found out I cried. Not because his spouse was such a great person or because of any great tragedy unique to this situation. I cried, because it must break the heart of God when his children have their hearts broken...

So I will keep praying these prayers, but with a renewed sense of urgency. And I'm adding a new prayer, "When you break my heart, show me what to do to help".

RANDOM---where I am today

Today is a BUSY BUSY day! Doing lots of last minute preparations for the arrival of my In-laws and some other out of town company for my wife's big 30th birthday bash on Saturday. Getting some work done and making sure the house is mother in-law clean! Wanted to give a quick update though on a couple other things I'm pretty excited about.

Last week I posted some things our family is doing to minimize our environmental impact. Since then I've been doing some work on buying more of our food from local sources. Today we pick up our first fresh local eggs at Clover Wreath Farm here in Cleveland and we're finding that choices to buy other locally sourced products are increasing especially at two of our grocery stores, Season's Harvest and Abundant Living. Also, just placed a beef order from Homestead, which is both locally raised without the use of antibiotics and grain fed. Cutting down on our meat consumption and eliminating pork entirely, have found that Tennessee has a growing farm raised Prawn/Shrimp industry...

In other news, I've bought several different low flow shower heads in the past week and through trial and error have found a good Delta shower head that uses 1.6 GPM and provides very good pressure and coverage. In our house we average two ten minute showers per day, at a savings of .90 GPM over a normal shower head, we will save over 6,500 Gallons of water a year just by changing out this shower head! Just ordered a couple low flow faucet aerators to drop my faucet water usage down from 2.2 Gallons per minute to 1.5 GPM...we'll see how they perform.

Speaking of local products, I've become more appreciative of Tennessee whiskey since touring both the George Dickel and Jack Daniels Distilleries, they're worth the trip.

I've been looking at names and their meanings since we are having another son in a few months, we've pretty well settled on a name, but a few others I like are Gideon, Samuel, and Christian.

I guess it's time to stop procrastinating and get ready for the big visit...here we go!

Christmas Presents

This has been on my mind since I walked into my local Wal-Mart last week and saw the Christmas trees and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer playing over the PA. I'm finding myself becoming increasingly anti-stuff...by stuff I mean all the things we buy that aren't needed...ESPECIALLY in celebration of Christmas, the birth of Christ. So...realizing that I'm unlikely to totally reverse several generations of built up consumerism in a blog post, I thought a good place to start is by turning our spending into opportunities to make a difference. My idea of a good Christmas gift is homemade and time spent with family, or at least a few chickens or a goat from these guys and a CFL light bulb...but for those of you who aren't there yet...

Here is a list of causes you can support via SHOPPING!

TOMS Shoes--For every pair you buy, they give away a pair to a child in a third world country!

Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee--very good coffee for all your caffeinated friends, and it's helping to rebuild the African country of Rwanda, they have one of my favorite slogans... "Drink Coffee, Do Good."

The Preemptive Love Coalition--Family who moved to Iraq to engage the locals and started Buy Shoes Save Lives, I have a pair, yes they are expensive, but unlike most shoes in that price range they aren't made in factories in Bangladesh by kids, they are hand made in Iraq and the profits fund heart surgeries!

RED Campaign--The best organized effort to bring our consumption in line with a cause. You can buy everything from Converse and Armani, to an IPOD Product(RED), and a portion of your purchase price goes to fight AIDS in Africa. GAP has a good lineup of these items, and STARBUCKS is Joining the Campaign later this month!!!

To Write Love on Her Arms--A neat charity started to combat teen suicide, their Apparel has become pretty popular.

Roses from Israel--Some probably would prefer NOT to have Israeli goods, but if it's your thing this one is kinda cool and their prices are pretty good.

Invisible Children--A movement to help kids in war torn Uganda and a couple pretty good films!

XXXChurch.com--The largest Christian Porn Site...you should check it out! And they have some pretty cool merchandise.

Jedidiah Clothing-- Probably my favorite place to shop for T-Shirts...

Maggie's Organics--If you wanna green up your wardrobe...

I hope you use this list...If you're going to buy shoes or T-shirts this holiday season, might as well make a difference in the process!

TOP 3 #6

I am wrapping up my busy travel season this week with a quick trip over to Charlotte, NC. This has inspired me to rank something I use very often...

TOP 3 Hotel Chains

While I'm at it I'll also list my three favorite hotels, period.

In calculating my rankings, I use a combination of average property age and condition, number of locations, value, and general good vibes I get in a place.

3. Hilton
Started by Conrad himself, the Flagship brand of the Hilton Family of Hotels has outlets in nearly every city worth travelling to in the U.S. and many overseas. A couple of my favorites include the Hilton in Venice, Italy, and the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA.

2. W Hotels
This is the "hip" brand of Starwood Hotels who also own Westin, Sheraton, and a few others. I'm really not cool enough to stay here but it doesn't stop me! All of their properties are well located and nearly brand new.

1. Embassy Suites
For my travel dollar, Embassy offers the best combination of good locations, consistent service, and good value. The two room suites give plenty of room to stretch out, and the full free breakfast is very good. My favorites are the newest ones, Concord, NC, Huntsville, AL, Frisco, TX, etc...

Honorable mention goes to Westin, the reason they fell below Hilton in the ranking was that they are generally a few dollars higher and they have fewer U.S. locations. Best Cookie goes to Doubletree!

Top 3 Hotels in the U.S.

3. Woodlands Resort, Summerville, SC
PHENOMENAL service, great food, TRULY 5 star.

2. Hermitage Hotel, Nashville, TN
Great combination of history and luxury overlooking the state capitol.

1. Waldorf Astoria, NYC
A stay here is an event!

Quote of the week

Two weeks in a row...

"A single death is a tragedy; a million deaths is a statistic."
--Joseph Stalin

Knoxville, TN

In recognition of Homecoming Weekend for the University of Tennessee at Knoxville (even though we lost and it was a tad cold in the shade)...it's time to recap a great southern city. The land where I met and courted my wife and spent more time in Orange than anyone should...

Things to Do-- In Knoxville it all starts and ends with the Volunteers (VOLS), on an autumn Saturday, Neyland Stadium becomes one of the largest cities in the state, and they play a little basketball here too! There is a good Zoo, plenty of shopping, and a nice downtown with a neat little district where the 1982 World's Fair was hosted as well as the Old City area. Just a few miles north you will find minor league baseball and the Gateway to the Smoky Mountains in the Sevierville/Pigeon Forge/ Gatlinburg area, which has some pretty great outlet malls if that's your thing. Plenty of Golf and outdoor activities make Knoxville an outdoorsman's playground. If you're looking for a random diversion, Country Line dancing is interesting, and available at the Cotton Eyed Joe!

Things to Eat-- The food is good. All the chains, of course, but hit up Puleo's or Aubrey's for some local flavor. If you're looking to splurge, go for Regas, it's truly a local institution and it's other concepts, Conners and The Chop House are also very good. If you're looking for BBQ, there is plenty, a local favorite is Calhoun's and their Ribs are nice, I'd recommend their river location which is right in front of Neyland Stadium on the Tennessee River! For a nice combination of location, food, and good micro brew, hit up Downtown Grill and Brewery. Ruth's Chris also has a great location on the River and they serve a pretty good steak, if you like that whole melt in your mouth perfect cut and temperature beef thing...

Place to Stay-- I oddly haven't spent many nights in hotels in the capitol of East Tennessee. My few favorites are the renovated Hilton downtown and for a more cozy but equally convenient experience try the Maplehurst Inn. The Marriott is also a reasonable choice but sits up a hill from the rest of downtown next to the NCAA women's basketball Hall of Fame. The Holiday in Select is also convenient as is the new Hampton Inn and Suites.

So there you have the short and sweet on a lovely city on the banks of the Tennessee river where the people go crazy over orange! Tell 'em I said hello and learn the words to Rocky Top while you're there!

Five Things I've done to change the world

We can't all become President or find the cure for a disease, but we can all be a part of the solution to the BIGGEST problems facing our world. Here's what I've done so far and a few next steps...


1. I've replaced most of the light bulbs in my house with CFL's using about 75% LESS energy, I've also replaced a few with LED's, this technology seems to be the future, but for now it needs a little more work before I go changing everything to it. The advantage of LED is that they are about 3-4x's more energy efficient than CFL's and they are more environmentally friendly due to no Mercury being used in them, the only place I've found that sells these new bulbs at "reasonable" prices is Wal-Mart. I'm also a bit of a tyrant when it comes to making sure we turn off lights when leaving the room(ERIKA!).

2. I now take a reusable shopping bag to the store and refuse paper or plastic and try to encourage others to do the same. I also am trying to be less of a consumer, I have plenty of clothes already!

3. When our water heater and Heat pump/a/c went out earlier this year I replaced the water heater with a Tankless Gas unit that uses less than half the energy and upgraded the new heat pump to a high efficiency unit saving about 40& in energy USAGE and COST.

4. We keep our tires properly inflated, combine trips, and generally drive less aggressively. This has helped to improve gas mileage, saving money and CARBON output. I've also tried to travel less for work, though this has been a challenge I find I can do a lot through phone, email, and webex, and then make fewer longer trips rather than weekly ones.

5. Trying to eliminate junk mail and magazines! At the start of this year I had nearly a dozen monthly magazine subscriptions, I'm down to one, GOOD, a couple others I've switched to electronic delivery, but most I've cancelled entirely.

Next steps

1. I'm going to purchase surge protectors to plug in anything with an off switch, this will eliminate the stealth power use that is estimated to be between 5-10% of your monthly electrical usage.

2. I'm replacing my toilets and shower heads with low usage models this will cut our water usage by about 30%. I'm also going to take shorter showers...a real sacrifice for me!

3. Switch ALL of my bills to online delivery, virtual eliminating my usage of the postal system. This will save paper, but also the Gas it takes to deliver all that mail coming and going.

4. Buy local! The more exotic fruits and designer clothes we buy, the more transportation is involved. I'm working on a few ideas here, but a great place to start is looking for locally grown produce at your grocery store. If you're ready for the next step, I'd recommend checking out Local Harvest. If you have the land, plant a garden, or you could even go the route I'm trying to convince my wife of...I want to get a Chicken to produce our own eggs!

5. I will do my best to be an encourager and have a positive, friendly attitude! We can save the world but if everyone is depressed that doesn't sound like much fun! I'll also look for opportunities to share what I'm learning as I "GO GREEN".

In the Future

These are ideas that I'm monitoring and hope to be able to implement as the technology improves and prices come down.

1. Solar Power for my home. This technology is available, but it's still very expensive. My hope is that as I continue to simplify and eliminate unnecessary expenses I will be able to implement sooner.

2. Take care of current vehicle so the next one can be electric! I hope to keep my current car running long enough to save up for a next generation vehicle or at least the best hybrid available at the time, probably 2-3 years.

Finally

Give away half of my income. To make this happen I must do a couple things, eliminate debt and as many recurring expenses as possible, and simplify my lifestyle so I don't have the need/desire to eat out all the time and spend spend spend. The more you focus on making a difference, you realize that even as we in America try to simplify and conserve, we have WAY too much!

SO...what is my motivation for all this?? I believe that we were CREATED and that one of our core responsibilities is to leave this place better than we found it. I also have the extra motivation that I will leave a few people behind when I go and I want to set a good example and ensure that the world they inherit is better than the one I inherited.

Let's BE the CHANGE!