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Noel
NOEL is a word born in England and France over 500 years ago, meaning “see what God has done!” It is a joyful expression of the excitement of Christ being born on this earth .
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Time Evaporates
Moses said, ”Teach us to number our days.” St. James said, “Your life is like a vapor, here today and gone tomorrow.” The Psalmist said, “Life is as short-lived as grass.
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Walking and Living in the Light
“The LIGHT shines in the darkness, and darkness has not overcome it… God is LIGHT ; in Him there is not darkness at all.” “The One who is the true LIGHT , who gives LIGHT to everyone, was…
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Good and Upright
“The Lord is good and does what is right,” Psalm 25:8. Today my trustworthy friend, Roger Dorway, of many years sent me these inspiring words: “Another great Psalm for your viewing pleasure is Psalm 25.
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Prime over 50
by: Darin Burt / in Prime Living , Spokane CDA Living Fred Crowell, 76 Every winning coach has a game plan and a playbook.
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GIVING TUESDAY – A Personal Invitation from Fred Crowell
After Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it’s time to give back! Giving Tuesday is today! It is the charitable counterpart. For us, it is the opportunity to share the gift of influencing youth positively at athletic camps.
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Therefore Implies Act Logic, Part 2
At Thanksgiving, we can be grateful for new hearts with new garments to put on. As St.
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The Principle and Foundation
If we look into history and today’s humanity, we often see an unknown in life. Here are some examples: Christopher Columbus set sail not knowing where he was going, where he was, when he got there.
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Authentic Genuine Love
Sitting in her wheelchair with a dog in her lap, a lady wheeled herself across one of Spokane’s busiest streets.
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Seen or Unseen
What you do not see is most often more important than what you see . St. Paul even said to seek the unseen – often the eternal – because the seen is often temporary.
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Profile in Courage
If you want to be courageous, you must do courageous acts . When a person is privileged to walk alongside another person of incredible, almost supernatural, courage, all other challenges seem small, insignificant and easily manageable.
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The Black Box
The black box is Crowell’s life skills term for depression. When defeating the dreaded enemy, the silent stalker called depression requires both accurate diagnosis and prognosis.
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FEAR FACTOR, Part 2
If the word “ fear “ is found at least 80 places in the Bible, I tend to believe God knew the FEAR FACTOR was part of our human nature.
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DIAGNOSIS – Ask WHAT not WHY
The first step in problem-solving. Unless you can diagnose the problem it is impossible to fix the problem.
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Broken but Not Beaten
A business partner emailed me this week with these words, “You could never fail me–you have already won.” Of course, this was music to my ears and joy to my heart.
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Time, Money, Energy
It costs so little to be NICE. Few things in life are more fun and fascinating to me than people. From my earliest days in coaching basketball, motivation has been of keen interest to me.
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Start Stop Rule
Chances are if you tell someone to stop doing something, there will be an instinctive resistance. By nature, we resist correction and do not like to be told “No.” True?
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Train Children to Win
The idea of teaching – coaching a child to win hit me like a ton of bricks. As a general rule parents are not teaching their children to win. Teachers are not teaching their students to win.
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Don’t Hurry – Be Quick
On the basketball court quickness is one of the most important athletic skills. Your quickness in athletics often determines what level of play you can achieve.
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Crave the World
Not tobacco, alcohol, drugs, moral failure, apathy, dishonesty, laziness, bitterness, jealousy, anger, anything that takes you away from your full potential. Darrell Garrison Junior second generation NBC student from Bethel Alaska.
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Prepare to Be Prepared
Being prepared for momentous sports, business or life events is not enough ! Being prepared to be prepared is the crucial first step to winning.
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9-11 and the EAR to HEAR
9-11-18 The Day written upon our hearts that marks the greatest tragedy known to our Nation! So many have forgotten or have never known because they were young!
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21 Days of EQ
Hello All Friends of Daily Words of Hope with Fred Crowell The beginning of a new school year is the perfect time to set a goal to learn, grow, and master EQ (Emotional Intelligence) skills.
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Destiny Dream Makers
Every child has a destiny. God ordained each child to be His precious miracle. Adults help children discover that miracle and their destiny. There is nothing like a small child.
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Hello Metlakatla
HelloMetlakatla, Alaska Students, Parents, Teachers, Administrators and School Board Members, The 2018-19 school year is here! Can we make it the best school year in the history of the miracle Annette Island family of people?
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Time to Give Up
Faith Hill joins Oprah in singing, I SURRENDER ALL . Faith can flat out sing! Oprah not so good. With tears of joy, Oprah tells her story of auditioning for the movie, The Color Purple.
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Let God Transform Me
If any man be in Christ he is a new creature old things passed away all things become new. – 2nd Corinthians 5:17 Attempting to change one’s self, this become clear: it is impossible.
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Commitment to What? to Whom?
Commitment begins with an act of the will. The difficult challenge is the choice to decide to make the commitment. 50 years ago I learned we have only three choices. Yes, no, or Maybe.
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Confidence – with It You Can, Without It You Can’t
Confidence is like a slippery fish – one moment you have it, the next moment you lost it. Confidence makes the act fluid, motionless, and effortless. Confidence covers up lack of talent and trying too hard.
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Happiness Results
Happiness is all around us! If we look, we can see a few of these results in others and in ourselves. These people have: More success. More friends. More desire to help. More uncomplicated living.
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Expand Your Happiness
For years at NBC Basketball camps, the crucible question I asked was: “Where are you?” The correct response was: “ RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW !” Many say if we spend time living in the past, depression becomes more…
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Kindness
The translation of an ancient word for kindness means useful goodness . The ancient Greeks and Romans had a word chréstotés for slaves who went beyond being good.
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Inner Strength, Part 5
To find God’s supernatural strength, I need to depend on what He has said. The places in the Bible for the 12 statements I have shared the past few days are: Deuteronomy 33:25 II Chronicles 16:9 Nehemiah 8:10…
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Inner Strength, Part 4
Here are four more practical principles regarding God’s inner strength: God’s strength takes me to new heights and new adventures. God’s strength is unwavering when I stay focused on Him.
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Inner Strength, Part 3
Here are more discoveries I have made on the inner strength God has promised. God’s strength is lasting even through hard times. God’s strength is often in the quietness and stillness .
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Tstvs-life Savings Letters
5 letters to memorize in this order T = TAKE S = SUICIDE T = THREATS V = VERY S = SERIOUSLY Take Suicide threats very seriously!
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Life Lessons from Vincent Van Gogh
TO QUALIFY TO BE A CRUCIAL OTHER THEY MUST HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD. Few historical figures inspire me, enlighten me more richly and speak to my inner core than the best artist the world has ever known…
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Inner Strength, Part 2
Through my basketball coaching and camp years, I discovered I needed strength beyond measure. You too? I had so many dreams and goals! But I have experienced that God’s strength has become my inner strength.
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Inner Strength, Part 1
Where do you find your strength to battle the daily challenges in life? Are you caught in a dust storm of responsibilities, problems, things calling for your attention? Why do we think we are overwhelmed?
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Thank God for George Washington
“Soldiers keep by your officers, for God’s sake keep by your officers!” spoke Washington in a deep and soulful voice. It was 21 degrees on December 24-25, 1775. Washington’s army was in shambles, experiencing defeat after defeat.
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One Year from Today
PURPOSE in life will keep you alive and well . FULFILLMENT makes it worth it . If these are true statements, then knowing your reason for living is critical and essential for your well-being.
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Extreme Dislike or Strong Distrust, Part III
To me, desperate times need our desperate action . It seems possible when we righteously hate something evil, we gain power and energy to fight the enemy.
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Extreme Dislike or Strong Distrust, Part II
Yesterday I shared an email from a kind, knowledgeable lady in Alaska. It inspired me! She questioned my use of the word “hate” regarding suicide, and she had valid reasons.
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Extreme Dislike or Strong Distrust, Part I
After preparing the WOH suicide video entitled Why I Hate Suicide , I received the following email from a lovely lady and a mother of one of my finest NBC coaches: “Hi, Mr. Fred. I hear you!
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The Crowell Basketball System
THE CROWELL BASKETBALL SYSTEM This logical, organized system of basketball is based on over 50 years of basketball experience. Coach Crowell has learned through competitive coaching experience from the best coaches in the history of basketball.
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Love Trumps All
One of my favorite hobbies is playing cards with friends. Bridge, Hearts, Pinochle, Casino, 10 To 1, Rummy and Cribbage are all card games I like.
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The Separator
A well-dressed, married couple knocked at my daughter’s front door. “Hello, we want to invite you to an exciting, life-changing event.” This invitation led to a 45-minute conversation.
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Effective Parenting Part 1 – Three Master Keys
Crowell’s Life Skills for Effective Parenting by Fred Crowell The Difference: A Relentless Pursuit of Excellence The difference between poor and good; good and great; great and excellence is a “never quit” mind set.
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Why I Hate Suicide
With firm conviction, this potentially life-changing message is dedicated with heartfelt compassion to every person who suffers from the loss of a loved one to the brutal killer, suicide, and for the victims who suffered so greatly, they…
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Destiny
Knock, knock! Who is there? Destiny, I’ve been expecting you. -Bolt Destiny is what one can become, as opposed to what one is at the present time.
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Suicides Break Hearts
Never in the history of humankind has there been more suicides. Each day there are over 128 people who take their own life. For every suicide, there are hundreds, possibly thousands of broken hearts.
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Humility Clothing
On a recent airline flight to Denver, Colorado, I had the opportunity to be a “typical” passenger.
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Heavy Water – Weightless Grace
One gallon of water weighs 8.34 pounds. Grace weighs less than a feather. Key statement: it was not until I passed through the Panama Canal on a 1,000-foot ship with over 2,300 passengers did I realize the enormous…
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Comfortable in the Uncomfortable
Being comfortable in uncomfortable circumstances is an oxymoron. It is a contradiction… or is it? Basketball coaching helped me understand this oxymoron and complex life paradigm.
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Cup of Joy Overflowing, Part IV
As a basketball coach, how can you lose 75-72 to a top U.S. collegiate team in the last 15 seconds of a game and still be happy?
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Alive to Be Alive
LIVE spelled backwards comes out EVIL. It is my belief that anything that robs us of life is evil. Sin is called missing the mark. To be alive, yet not actively live, is missing the mark.
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Cup of Joy Overflowing, Part II
If you could ask one request and receive it from God, what would it be? A million bucks? World peace? Cure for cancer? What would it be?
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Cup of Joy
You are invited to join Words of Hope on a 5-day journey to joy overflowing from our cups. How good is that?
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Tcob-take Care of the Ball
“Guard your heart above all else for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 4:23 In my view, basketball is not the only game, but the best game.
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Too Much Suffering, Part 2
Suffering shows itself in many different ways: pain, distress, hardship, defeat, loss, damage, illness, injury. Often life is “worse” because of being badly affected by an experience.
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Too Much Suffering, Part I
Hardly a day goes by without someone telling me of their intense suffering. Most recent examples are: An Alaskan village friend sharing about a murder in a neighboring village.
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Pearl Harbor Lessons
History is a valuable teacher when and if we choose to learn from it. Twenty two days old Susie King’s father, Walter Willis King, went to war. Four years later Walt returned home alive but very ill.
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How’s Your Pma (Positive Mental Attitude)?
Attitude is the King of EQ – emotional intelligence at NBC camps and in the Crowell Household. As you read today’s Words of Hope, it was written in two settings.
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Crowell’s 80-20 Rule
This is a valuable rule for aspiring basketball players who come to NBC Camps . Actually, it is valuable to all people. Personally, I delight in teaching it to those who come under my coaching influence.
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And There Was Light
Key Statement: The Apostle John wrote, “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome the light.
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Quicksand and Roto-rooters
KEY STATEMENT: Too much to do. Spent the past two months trying to clear my plate, feels like running in quicksand. In what way or manner would any or all of the quote above describe you?
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Ultimate Trust
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalms 37:4 Each day, I find myself discovering ways to be intimate with God, Abba father.
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Anchors in My Life
The photo is a crafted pewter anchor. Following a lifelong tradition buying a treasure to help remember the experiences I purchased this keepsake in Nova Scotia (New Scotland).
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Self-image, Your Life Blue Print
The most precious gift a child can receive is given during the first seven years of their life.
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Carpe Diem – Seize the Day
The Roman poet, Horace, coined this phrase in a poem published in 23 BC. The Crowell family was introduced to Carpe Diem in Robbin William’s excellent movie, “Dead Poet Society” in 1989.
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Living Skillfully
KEY STATEMENT: Each person has a life skills toolbox. Skillful living demands having the correct tool to fix the difficult circumstances life presents day by day. What’s in your life skills toolbox?
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The Human Condition Part 2
After two fantastic years as head basketball coach at the University of Alaska, I excepted a doctoral fellowship at the University of New Mexico.
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Confident of This
“If you live for people’s acceptance you’ll die from their rejection.” – Lecrae Through my many years on planet earth I have slowly, sometimes painfully, learned and relearned there is one wise choice between who is first; God…
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Rules for Life
Three basic rules to guide your life. Know and understand your present condition. Discover and resolve your past condition. Plan and prepare your future condition.
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Man on a Mission
Get out of my way if you don’t want to be loved; if you don’t want to receive kindness, if you don’t want to be told over and over again that you are a miracle if you don’t…
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Unfinished Man – Revisited
A tribute to one of the world’s great artists. Equaled only or surpassed by his gifted wife, Eva Makk . Americo Makk was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1927.
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Encouragement Is Oxygen
Pictured Above: Miracle Hanson ladies from Bristol Bay Alaska. No more worthy cause than investing in our future leaders! When you need encouragement give oxygen to others! Then you get encouraged.
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Less Is Better
In 1855 Robert Browning wrote the poem, Andrea Del Sarto. The line, less is more , has become an oft-used expression in promoting inner peace and personal focus.
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Sunrises – God’s Guarantee
“You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” – Jesus The most reliable teacher of all is your life experience. Your life experience proves each new day begins with a sunrise.
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Leading Men for 50 Years
Jeff Erickson has been my friend, mentor, and hero from the first day I met him at NBC Alaska Camps. Jeff loves people; especially the youth of Alaska.
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Shout Outs
Everyone delights in and appreciates an encouraging thank you shout out. Alaska Airlines deserves a Fred Crowell – NBC Camps shoutout .
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I Love Reading WOH
Fred, I love reading your WOH. Thanks for thinking of me. The one of laughter hit a nerve in a good way.
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NBC Camps Maui, 2011
NBC Camps Maui, 2011 Attended my first NBC Camp with my daughter that I love. I thought the camp was for her. I was wrong.
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Than You Fred
Thank you, Fred. What an amazing compliment from you and Susie. I feel like it has taken a long time to learn not to feel like I have to force knowledge and strength.
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Tonight’s big win at OCU.
Had an amazing motivation message prior to the game from my close friend Coach Fred Crowell. Fred has a unique gift of helping young men see their destiny!
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Former NBC’er
I hope this email finds you well. It has been on my heart for the past month to email you.
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Good Brag Bad Brag
So vividly the memory of a bad brag rests in my memory bank. It was my 9th-grade year; basketball was the brag.
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Practically Perfect
Perfection is a noble concept yet it is a fallacious possibility. Coaches often talk about perfect practice. Really!? What is so admirable about perfection?
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The Best Movie Ever
The academy award winning, best picture you have seen in your lifetime, is you . You are the screenwriter, the producer, director, lead actor, and in charge of promotion and sales.
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Attitude Is King
Thoughts become words, words become actions, actions become habits, and habits become your destiny. I remember so clearly an experience in the early years of marriage.
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The Detachment Principle
The detachment principle is a life skill of letting go with ease and grace yet maintaining zest and a drive to live life fully. All of life has a beginning and an ending.
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Eyes on You
Do you want single or double knocks? Every time the aspiring basketball youth yells back to Coach Crowell, “give me double knocks, Coach!!!!!” Coach Crowell makes two-fisted fake binoculars and points to the action.
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Body Truth – Heart Truth
The skill to know when the body and the mind are telling us the truth is equally important as knowing when the body and the mind are telling us a lie.
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Crucible Life Event
Looking back over your entire lifetime, was there a single experience that would be classified as a crucible event? One of the definitions of the word crucible is the overcoming a trial or difficult circumstance.
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Did So Good
Cain, what have you done? Why is your countenance so downcast? What did you do that makes your face so dark? The eyes are lights to the soul.
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Ultimate Truth or Ultimate Lie
If my life is dedicated to the proposition that Jesus was the ultimate truth teller, then my belief system is based on the most profound story ever told. It is a story of the ultimate miracle.
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Today Will Never Come Again
“Do something special. ” It is absolutely amazing the difference there is when one decides to, “have not a good day, but a great day.” Today I decide, to make today a Great Day.
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When Intellect & Emotions Collide
“Life stands still when head and heart disagree.” The must see movie, Risen , took me back to the most difficult, challenging decision of my young life.
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Depression Diagnosis
The single most obvious evidence of depression is lack of energy and passion for life. The single greatest indicator of health is a life with an abundance of energy and passion for living.
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Found Guilty
Is there enough evidence to find you guilty? Years ago an excellent public speaker challenged a large audience with this profound statement. If it were a crime to be a Christian would you be found guilty?
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Doing Nothing Is Difficult
Coach Jim Harrick delights in saying, “I am doing nothing today and I won’t start until noon.” As my wife Susie recovers from a car accident that resulted in a broken sternum, which has rendered her helpless, we…
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Forgiveness Friday
Forgiveness is a get-out-of-jail-free card or 50-million-dollar lottery ticket winner. Who wouldn’t want that? Nevertheless, to effectively fathom the principles of forgiveness, it is necessary to understand unforgiveness and its brutal consequences .
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Refresh to Be Refreshed
A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. – Proverbs 11:25 Racketball, handball, and squash initially are very difficult games to play until you learn a critical skill.
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Whose Truth?
Is it God’s truth, her truth, his truth, their truth, my truth or is it your truth? These questions though confusing are not meant to confuse.
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Vision Carries Conviction
Encourage children to dream big dreams; train them the life skills to make their dreams and visions come true. The creative gift, imagination, separates the human mind from every other creature on the planet. Imagination births vision.
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Fascination with People’s Behavior
“Nothing on Earth is more interesting than studying the way people act.” – Fred Crowell I marvel at the skill level people master. Bob and Kwan dazzle me as I watch them work on watches and clocks.
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Satisfied with Good Things
Join me in a walk through this five star Psalm. I wonder what was happening in King David’s dramatic life when he wrote the 103rd Psalm. From a theological perspective it is brilliant.
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Lights on Full Beam
“Start living instead of dying.” -S. Crowell Lights ON living is a moment by moment decision. Today’s modern cars are designed to take human error out of driving. Automatic headlights are just one of many examples.
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Sweep “It”under the Rug
The “ IT ” can be dust and dirt; depression, anger, resentment, bitterness, addictions, and even suicide. The thinking is: If you don’t see the problem,“ IT ” will go away.
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The Wonder of Children
Let’s delight in children. Enjoy these photos and videos of kids at NBC camps. “Dad I never knew how much you loved me until I had a child.” – Thankful Father “All I have ever wanted to be…
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Terrific Tuesdays
Is it possible to consciously decide to delegate Tuesdays as the day of the week to make terrific things happen? On Mondays, we focus on the mission and purpose of our lives.
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Mission Possible
Knowing how you want to live is the first step in living the way you want to live. – FJC At one time the television series, Mission Impossible, was one of the most popular programs in America.
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The Perfect Church
Key Statement: if it is true, and I firmly believe it is true, there are three kinds of churches.
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Seize Serendipity
How two words definitions seem to contradict each other but in real life bring amazing results. In my practical basketball coach mind seize is a war term.
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Puppy Love – Human Love
It’s amazing how quickly puppies learn to love the one who serves them with food and continuous attention. In the human realm, nothing compares to the sacrifice of laying your life down for another.
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From Now On
Movies are delightful experiences for the Crowell – Ferch families. Recently we watched Hugh Jackman star in the life story of PT Barnham. THE GREATEST SHOWMAN is in the top five 2017 money makers.
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Failure: Future, Present, Past
FACT: Future failure is fearful; Present failure is painful; Past failure is funny. True story. As a boy, one of my weaknesses was doing stupid things when people said, “ I dare you.
