#458 - Pray Specifically

Pray more specifically.

-Love Dad

Happy 2nd Birthday!!

Happy Birthday Turner and Jaxson!



Enjoy your new trucks dudes.



Mom and Dad love you both.

#457 - Don't Judge Appearances

"Dress for success if you want to, but don't ever, with yourself or others, mistake appearance for achievement."

excerpt from: Cigars, Whiskey, & Winning Leadership Lessons from General Ulysses S. Grant.

#456 - God Will Help

Faith is...the handle by which I take God's promises and apply them to my particular problems.

excerpt from: Faith is...

#455 - Don't Count on Luck

Luck is when hard work and opportunity come together.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

-Love Dad

#454 - Create your own Luck

Create your own luck.

-Love Dad

#453 - Don't be that Guy

In pickup hoops, let someone else call the fouls.

excerpt from: 1001 rules for my unborn son

#452 - How to Tip

How to Tip Your Way to the Top

by John Tantillo FOXNews.com

To any man about town, tipping is one of the secrets of life. Unfortunately, too many men today have never been instructed in the art of tipping. As a result, when they tip, they’re awkward. They act like clods and the tip ends up sending the wrong message.
That’s right, the art of tipping goes far beyond the customary fifteen percent at the end of a restaurant meal. Effective tipping is about respect and building relationships. A man about town isn’t a one-hit-wonder, he has a community of people who he appreciates and who appreciate him.

Let’s start with the basics:
1- There's no such thing as over-tipping.No man ever received bad service because he was generous. Generally as a rule, a tip should be above average (keep in mind, a twenty is the new five). Figure out what the average is and give more. For instance, if it’s two dollars at coat check, give a five.
2- Make tipping a way of being rather than a tactic.When you find a great restaurant, bar or club, you will probably want to make this place part of your regular rounds about town. Tipping is a way of being remembered and bringing out the best in people. In psychology, there is a phrase "the law of effect". If you reinforce a behavior, it has a greater likelihood of recurring. You will be amazed at the results.
Here are some specific scenarios and how to treat your tip.
Restaurants
Think of the restaurant staff as individuals all working hard to make your dining experience a remarkable one. Spread your appreciation around and before you think that this is just throwing money away, consider what the point of eating out is: excellent cuisine and a wonderful experience.
Clubs
Never give money at the door in some clumsy attempt to gain access. This is the fastest way to strike out and you’ll look like a buffoon. Instead, if you’ve gotten into that hot club, had a great time and intend to come back, there’s no harm in thanking the door staff on the way out.
Bars
You can never over-tip the bartender. Here’s an interesting fact that you may not know - the more elite the club or bar and the more expensive the drinks, the more your tip will stand out (face it, if each drink is $20, no one’s tipping the bartender).
Barbers
Got a great haircut? Give him a twenty. The next time you go into that barber shop you won’t have a long wait and, more importantly, you will have reinforced your preferences and create the kind of familiarity that will make a haircut a lot more pleasant than a visit to the dentist (whom you never tip by the way).
Hotel Cleaning Staff
Find out who the person is who cleans your room when you arrive and give them twenty dollars. You may not see them again, but if you stay there more than a day or two, you most likely will. Being generous here will make your hotel experience even better.
Parking Lot Attendant
You want to be sure the parking lot attendant doesn't "bury you.” Easy access to your car is key. Generally give the attendant a ten and get to know him a bit. Here, too, is another opportunity to extend a bit of kindness to a person in a job that often goes without thanks.

Happy Birthday Auntie Katrina

Happy Birthday!

We Love You!

#451 - Be Confident in the Lord

Faith is...Confidence in God's faithfulness to me in an uncertain world, on an uncharted course, toward an unknown future.

excerpt from: Faith is...

#450 - Mike Ditka Quote

"I don't think anything is unrealistic if you believe you can do it. I think if you are determined enough and willing to pay the price, you can get it done."

-Mike Ditka
Former Coach, Chicago Bears

#449 - Building a Campfire

When building a campfire, choose deadwood from a tree, not off the ground.

excerpt from: 1001 rules for my unborn son

#448 - Vernon Law Quote

"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwords."

-Vernon Law
Former Pitcher, Pittsburgh Pirates

#447 - Command a Room Like a Man

Command a Room Like a Man

We’ve probably all seen those men who can enter any room and instantly command it. I’m not talking about the loud and boisterous dolt who makes a scene with obnoxious alpha-male jackassery. I’m talking about the man who exudes a silent magnetic charisma that electrifies the entire room just by his presence. People feel better when this type of man is around and they want to be near him.

The benefits of being able to walk into any social situation and completely own it are innumerable. The man who can command a room is more persuasive in his business presentations, easily meets and makes friends, and attracts more women. While many men are born with the ability to charismatically command a room, it can also be learned. Below we’ve provided a few tips to get you started on being El Capitan of any social or professional situation.
Walk in boldly. Many men walk into a room timidly because they don’t want to appear presumptions or self-important. While you shouldn’t barge into people’s home, once you’re invited in, walk in with a bit of pep in your step. You’re supposed to be there, so act like it.
Theodore Roosevelt was a master at walking into a room boldly. In 1881, Roosevelt was elected to the New York Assembly at the age of 23. Accounts from fellow assemblymen on Roosevelt’s first day in office all describe the impressive entrance of the young man. They recall him bursting through the doors and pausing just for a moment so people could soak him in. According to historian Edmund Morris , this became a lifelong habit of Roosevelt’s; he would literally bound from room to room in the White House. Take a lesson from TR: save the walking softly business for your rhetoric.
Hold your breath when you walk in. Win the Crowd author and Magician to the Millionaires Steve Cohen has a trick that he does before we walks onto a stage or into room to perform. Before he makes his appearance, he takes a deep breath, filling all of his lungs. He then holds his breath and walks into the room. As he talks, the air is naturally exhaled. This simple action increases blood to your face and makes you look “more radiant and lively,” and consequently more confident. In addition, taking a deep breath and holding it also makes you taller, which brings us to our next point….
Stand up straight! Numerous studies have proven that people are attracted to taller men. Taller men get paid more and they get more women. Unfortunately, not all of us were born with Shaq-like height. Don’t sweat it. Just work with what you got. Work on improving your posture. When you enter a room, don’t walk in with shoulders slouched and your head facing down like a whipped puppy. Show your confidence by walking in with your back straight and your chin up. Try not to stick your chest out too much or else it will look like you’re posturing like a silverback gorilla. Just maintain your natural and correct posture. By doing this, you’ll add inches to your frame and increase your presence in the room.
Take control of your surroundings. We feel most self-assured and at ease when we’re familiar with our surroundings. Familiarity gives us a sense of control, which makes us feel confident. How can you be familiar with a room if it’s your first time entering it? Steve Cohen suggests doing small things to instantly take control of your surroundings. For example, when you sit down at a table in a restaurant, rearrange things on the table. Move a saltshaker or your water glass. It sounds silly, but by doing this you tell your subconscious that you have control (even if it’s nominal) of your surroundings, which in turns makes you more confident and magnetic. Look for small but polite ways in which you can take control of your surroundings in your everyday activities. You might be amazed by the results.
Make eye contact. Every book on self-confidence or assertiveness will tell you that a simple way to increase your presence in a room and your connection with other people is to look them in the eye. The reason it’s repeated ad nauseam is because it works. Eye contact is key to creating a connection with people. History’s most magnetic men all had the ability of making a person feel like they were the only person there. Bill Clinton is a perfect example of this. Adroit use of eye contact is an essential part of this ability.
Eye contact should be engaging, but not overbearing. Don’t stare a person down non-stop. You’ll just creep them out. Look into their eyes, while occasionally flitting yours to the sides of their head and then back. If you have trouble looking people in the eye, try this tip. Take notice of what color eyes the person you’re talking with has. Are they green? Blue? Brown? Or do they have a unique mix? Not only does this help maintain eye contact with people, it’s also a great way to remember people’s names. After taking note of a person’s eye color, start associating that color with their name. You’ll gain bonus charisma points for being able to recall their name during the conversation.
Eliminate filler words. A nervous tick that plagues many men is filling the space between their words with needless “ummms,” “yeah’s” and “like’s.” Using filler words is not only distracting, it shows that you’re not confident in what you’re saying. If you’re going to say something, say it with ganas, hombre! Don’t muddle up the conversation with needless filler.
But what should you do in those moments when you’re still collecting your thoughts as you speak? Our natural tendency is to fill the air with an “uuumm” or a quick blast of several “likes.” But fight the urge to do this. Instead embrace the silence. As you come to moments in the conversation where you have to collect your thoughts, just keep your mouth shut. This does two things. First, you eliminate the distraction of the annoying filler words. Second, and more importantly, you draw people in closer to you by creating anticipation in what you’re about to say. By remaining silent, you pique the curiosity of your listener and subtly take control of the situation. Of course, avoid too many long pauses; that will only make you seem awkward.
Focus on other people. If there’s anything you take away from this article, let it be this. If you really want to be the man in the room that people are drawn to, focus your interest on them. Many men have the false idea that if you want to command the room, you have to make everything about you. These misguided souls wear flashy jewelry or skin tight clothing that shows off their well-chiseled body. Their conversation focuses on them- their cars, their bench press, their sexual exploits, etc. While a few pinheads will be impressed with this sort of thing, the vast majority of the population will think it’s a bunch crap.
The reality is that the magnetic gentleman-the man who can walk into any room and own it- is others focused. People want to feel loved, appreciated, and important. Sadly, many people these days aren’t feeling much of that. Perhaps their boss never compliments them or their wife never voices any appreciation for all that they do. If you can fill that void in people’s lives by focusing on them and acknowledging their importance, you’ll instantly bring them under your magnetic influence.
Think back to a time when someone genuinely complimented you. How did you feel? Pretty damn good, probably. How did you feel about the person giving the compliment? Admit it. You most likely thought, “Wow, I really like this guy!” It’s only human nature. We’re drawn to people who show an interest in us. People are like mirrors. When we shine a light on a person, they reflect that light back on us. If we shine a light on every person in the room, we end up being the brightest man there.
So, next time you enter a room, forget being charming. Hell, forget about commanding the room. Just focus on how you can make others feel important. The charm and the room will follow naturally.

excerpt from: the art of manliness

#446 - Jesse Owens Quote

"Friendships born on the field of athletic strife are the real gold of competition. Awards become corroded, friends gather no dust."

-Jesse Owens
Gold Medalist, Track & Field

#445 - Wilt Chamberlain Quote

"I have a great deal more respect for someone who keeps coming back after losing heart breaker after heart breaker than I do for the winner who has everything going for him."

-Wilt Chamberlain
Former Center, LA Lakers

#444 - Chest Hair

An Article Guaranteed to Put Hair on Your Chest

by: Anthony J. Gretz.

excerpt from: The Art of Manliness

Shave my chest hair for $10 Million? Go to hell.

Do you remember that part in The 40 Year-Old Virgin where Andy (Steve Carell) goes to a salon and gets his chest waxed? The camera focuses on his face as he screams and yells out a string of obscenities while strip after strip of hair is ripped from his body. I don’t remember much about that movie. But I remember that part getting a huge reaction from the audience (myself included). Like many other guys, there is something about watching other men in non-life-threatening pain that makes me laugh- no matter how emotionally mature or “well-rounded” I think I am.
Yet as a man who has struggled over the years to accept my own hairy-chestedness, there’s something about this scene that doesn’t sit well with me. Andy ends up at the salon in the first place because his friends think waxing his chest will make him more appealing to women. Normally, I’d hesitate to read too deeply into a movie like The 40 Year-Old Virgin. But the idea that removing a man’s chest hair makes him more attractive is pervasive in our culture. Most actors and male models are boyishly devoid of any body hair, while guys with furry torso’s are typically the butt of jokes and/or ridicule. For every Tom Selleck , there are five hairless Justin Timberlakes or Taylor Laughtners that our culture holds up as being the “ideal” male. That sends a message to guys that having chest hair is gross and unappealing.

The Art of Manscaping

So what’s a hairy guy to do? Those of us who have been endowed with active, thriving follicles face a strong temptation to do something about our body hair. In recent years, the practice of manscaping -shaving, waxing, trimming, and/or sculpting body and facial hair -has gotten more and more attention. Some of this is practical – my friend David, for example, shaves around his nipples because he is a marathon runner, and he has to cover them with bandages on long runs so they don’t bleed. Totally practical.
Most of it, however, is out of a desire to appear less hairy than they actually are. Men of all stripes are doing things to their bodies that would either make our grandfathers wince and turn away or burst out laughing.
Yet who can blame them? Until I met my wife Anna, I was very self-conscious about having hair on my chest. And stomach. And back. And shoulders. I hated it, and I thought it made me unappealing. In high school, I can remember before and after every football game at least one person staring at me for way too long with a goofy smile on their face, or making a comment about “taking my sweater off before I got in the shower.” (Years later, I still get this every time I go to the beach with friends).
Oftentimes when I was in the shower I would compulsively pull or tweeze hair off my body in an attempt to “thin it out.” There were also several attempts to “shape” the hair on my stomach, which predictably resulted in an unnatural pattern of hair and gross stomach-stubble. One time, I even made a half-joking (but secretly curious) attempt to use my mom’s Nair to get rid of the hair at the top of my arm – the result of which was gross, oily arm hair and irritated skin.
Yet I now believe these actions, and the steps that many men take as part of their regular grooming routine, were unhealthy. There is a difference between grooming to honor an honest request from your partner or spouse, and being driven to alter your appearance by insecurity. I know that as much as I laughed off the jokes and the teasing, I resented looking different from most guys. I worried that I was physically unappealing, and I wanted to do something about it.

The Truth About Body Hair

So where did all this hair come from? Facial and chest hair are sometimes referred to as “androgenic hair,“ because their growth is regulated by testosterone and other hormones called androgens. These hormones occur in higher amounts in men than women, which is why men develop more facial, arm, leg, and chest hair than women (Auntie Gertie’s mustache not-withstanding).
In spite of a biological disposition for growing body hair, the amount of hair someone grows is mostly dependent on genetics. In researching this article, there does not seem to be a consensus on why this is. Some theorize that hair is destroyed by over-exposure to heat and sunlight, and thus, over time some cultures would develop a gene-pool where body hair became less prevalent. However, this does not seem compatible with the prevalence of body hair in many Mediterranean men. Others argue that losing body hair was necessary for survival against fur-loving parasites, although some scientists point out that hair can actually protect against insects, and that there has always been enough hair on our heads to make us vulnerable to lice and ticks.
Still, those of us with a torso that’s more like Chewbacca then Luke Skywalker have reasons to celebrate. Having body hair may make you self-conscious, but it can actually be quite useful in landing a date. Our bodies contain something called apocrine glands, which are located under the arms and near the genitals (two of the hairiest spots for most men). These glands produce an odorous chemical that acts to attract members of the opposite sex, like pheromones in animals. Body hair tends to trap those odors and amplify them, projecting the scent farther than it would otherwise go.
In addition, despite what we’ve come to believe through popular culture, many women actually find a hairy man to be quite attractive. According to a survey by Askmen.com, 76% of women said they like it when men have some chest hair. Just as men are attracted to the distinct characteristics that make women, women-such as breasts, smooth skin, and hips-women are attracted to the things unique to men-such as our muscles and body hair. My wife says she likes my body hair because it’s natural and masculine looking. “Some men are supposed to be hairy, and they would be incomplete without it,” she said. Most women find security, confidence, and stability at least as attractive as physical attributes. “Men who alter their appearance to look like someone else compromise that.”

Embrace Your Inner Selleck

It is my hope that many of you who struggle with your hairy lot in life will learn to accept, and even embrace the man that you are. Being hairy isn’t something to be ashamed of – if it’s the way you’ve been made, it’s part of what makes you, you. Part of the decline in manhood so often documented on this website stems from our willingness as men to let culture tell us what kind of man we’re supposed to be. You can keep manscaping if you want, and if your partner likes you less hairy, than there’s nothing wrong with compromise (women certainly do a lot of shaving for us) . But I’d encourage you to look in the mirror the next time you pick up a razor, and ask yourself why you feel the need to alter your appearance. If you can come to accept yourself for who you are, you will become a better, healthier, and more attractive man than any grooming could ever accomplish.

#443 - How to Catch a Football

How to Catch a Football

Catching a football the right way is something few people can do. Master it and you'll be catching balls like the pros instead of looking like a fool in either recreational or competitive situations

1) Keep your eyes on the ball at all times. Everytime you take your eyes off the ball you increase your chances of dropping it. If you aren't focused on the ball when it hits you in the hands, catching it becomes pure luck.

2) Extend your arms toward the ball, as the ball approaches, so your hands meet it at the furthest possible point. Do not run with your arms extended. Extend your arms right before the ball reaches you.

3) Make a triangle with both hands, palms facing away from your body. Thumbs pointing at each other, all other fingers pointing up. You want the tip of the ball heading for the open space in between your two hands. If the ball is below the waist, palms still face out, but put your pinkies together,if you are running and the ball is coming over you should also put you pinkies together.

4) Catch the ball, letting it get about halfway between your hands before clamping down on it with all your fingers. Keeping your eyes on it the whole time. (If the pass is below the waist let the ball slide through the inside of your palms about halfway and then clamp down on it)

5) Proceed to tuck the ball away, under your arm on the opposite side of any defenders.

6) Now that the ball is caught, run with it (football game), throw it back (playing catch), or whatever the game you're playing requires you to do.

7) Make sure that you see in your mind catching the pass. And under no circumstances think about not catching it. Don't forget when the football touches your hands or any part of your arms try to tuck it in.

Tips

• Keep your eyes on the ball at all times. Some people think they are keeping their eyes on the ball and they really aren't. The more focused you are on the ball, the better job you will do of catching it with your hands.
• Ignore the rest of the world and focus on the ball. There is no sky, no ground, nobody else even exists. The only thing is that ball and your hands.
• Watch the rotation of the ball. The rotation velocity affects your ability to catch it. The faster the spiral the harder you will have to grip it. If the pass is a wounded duck (the rotation is all over the place because it is an ugly pass) then you will have to adjust your hands to get a good grip when you catch it.
• DO NOT catch with your body. That is wrong. It can hurt, it increases your chances of fumbling it, and if your wearing pads you will drop it a lot. I don't care what you saw Joe Pro doing on TV, because Joe Pro runs a 4.2 40 yard dash and people are more concerned with what he does after he catches the ball. Even so, his coach probably still tells him to catch with his hands.
• Practice, practice, practice. You can't master anything by reading it in a book (or online). You need to get out there and practice.
• If you're no good at catching a football, start off with a Nerf football. That way if you whiff at catching the ball and it pegs you in the head, it doesn't hurt nearly as bad.
• And don't push at the ball, let it come to you.
• Practice catching the ball on the run.
• A drill to encourage catching the ball in your hands: lie on your back and toss the ball in the air 4-5 feet above you. Watch the the ball all the way into your hands, catch it away from your body and squeeze it for two seconds before you throw it again. For increased dexterity, catch it one handed with each hand.
• Try practicing with a collegiate football instead of an official one.
• When playing for your first couple of games the quarterback might not throw to you for a few reasons first is the defense second is your new and 3rd is unlikely but the qb might hate you for no reason once you get a few passes in your more likely to get the ball and under no circumstances should you get into a fight with your qb or any other player on the field even if its backyard my only exceptions to that rule is if someone intentionally punches you in the face or balls then its all out

excerpt from: wikihow.com

#442 - Bargain Effectively

"It's alright to want something badly, but you can't bargain effectively, anymore than you can win a poker hand, by laying your cards face up on the table."

excerpt from: Cigars, Whiskey, & Winning Leadership Lessons from General Ulysses S. Grant