You're late...and a liar.

I've made quick phone calls as I ran out to the car: "Just leaving, I'll be there ASAP!"
I've rushed into a conference room with a table full of people: "Sorry to keep you waiting."
I've texted friends on my way to meet them for lunch: "Go ahead and order, almost there."

Despite the calls, texts, and apologies, here is what you're really saying when you're late:


1. Trustworthy vs Liar
If you tell someone you'll meet them at 10am, then you are essentially making them a promise.  Be on time so you can be a man/woman of your word.  It's a character issue.

2. Reliable vs Flaky
Being on time shows you're reliable.  If you don't show up when you're supposed to, then people will begin to doubt whether they can count on you.  It's a dependability issue.

3. Disciplined vs Slack
Discipline can be exercised in your financial life, physical life, professional life, and even in setting/reaching goals.  Yet, being late shows a lack of discipline with your time.  It's a self-discipline issue.

4. Humility vs Arrogance
When you're late, you communicate to the person waiting that you are more important than them.  Whatever you were doing was more important than what they had to do.  Their plans and schedule take a back-seat to your plans and schedule.  It's a respect issue.

When you realize what is communicated when you aren't punctual, it will change the way you look at your clock.

For me, "on-time" means at least 5-minutes early.  I want to make sure I honor you and the time that you've given me to meet.

So what do you think?  Is punctuality no big deal, or an important part of life?

-Stealing From Jesus & Cheating On Your Wife-

You can value everything, but you can't value everything equally.  Valuing everything equally means not valuing anything at all.

So you have to learn how to cheat and steal.  Let me explain:

You and I have a limited amount of resources in this life: time, money, and energy just to name a few.  We'll call this "sand."

You and I have major areas of our lives that require resources: work, personal, spouse, family, and God just to name a few.  We'll call these "buckets."

Here's the big problem...

We don't have enough sand to fill all of our buckets.  So that means you've got some choices to make.  To add to one bucket you'll have to steal from another one.  In order to make sure one is filled up to a healthy level, you'll have to cheat another one.

Here's the big question...

Which buckets in your life are you willing to steal from?  Who are you going to cheat?  Which ones are really the most important to you?

You're going to have to cheat something.  You're going to have to steal from someone.  So choose wisely!

Don't let your family, your marriage, or your relationship with Jesus be a casualty on the side of the road of life.  Be sure you're stealing from and cheating on the right buckets.