Attitude & Mindset
Articles mainly about attitude, positive thinking, mindset, controlling your thoughts, perspective.
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Navigating Losses
One of my mentors, Henri Nouwen writes about life as you age toward death, “Your whole life is filled with losses, endless losses. And every time there are losses, there are choices to be made.
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I Will Be Happy If
There is a question I have been pondering during Holy Week. “I will be happy if ____________.” Early in my dad’s cancer journey, he would have placed his happiness dependent upon his cure.
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Your Beliefs Dictate Your Behavior
Behavior is the result of a person’s beliefs. In my early years coaching basketball and counseling families, it became clear to me the most important key to effective education is knowing this principle: If you wish to change…
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Life Experience
Each life experience has the potential to reward us three times. #1. The Preparation Experience. Potentially, this can be an exciting time. Anticipation, hoping, planning and preparing are good things.
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Henri Nouwen’s 3 Thoughts That Heighten Anxiety
Before going into the three thoughts that heighten anxiety, first, let’s consider what the scripture says: “be anxious for nothing.” That is an interesting expectation. Be anxious about zero situations, zero scenarios.
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Giving Away Thankfulness
Why should Thanksgiving be limited to one calendar day a year? Giving thanks can be so much more than watching football all day, eating piles of delicious food that later make us miserable, Christmas shopping, a four-day weekend.…
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Artist Work
Shann and I went with our daughter Bella as part of a ministry team to work with children born into brothels.
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Light to my Path
Dad loved Ignatius. He had a very Ignatian sensibility as a coach. Ignatius knew his call was to help people move toward a healed life through Christ.
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Amazed
The scripture reading today focused on the word, “amazed.” I consider this word prayerfully. In the Greek it is not a fleeting feeling, but something we feel in our core.
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First Word Joy
I have a sign on my office door that I made that reads, “First Word Joy.” I consider how differently my day begins when I select to focus on delight in God, life, and people.
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Waiting for the Shoe to Drop
I am sitting in my office feeling a mixture of hope and a small sense of dread. My dad’s picture is to my right. I consider how he would like me to live right now.
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What is God asking?
What is God asking of me? The question could be rephrased, “What is LOVE asking of me?” The list of what love is and is not is a good place to start.
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Psalm 34
We are memorizing Psalm 34 as a staff. Some are working on verses 1-4, and some are trying for all 22 verses.
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Jewels or Snakes
I am thinking about Numbers 21:6-9 and the snakes again that bit and killed the thankless people of God.
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Curiosity Trumps Anger
Curiosity opens doors; anger closes doors. The Apostle James gives us solid counsel when he said, “Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger for anger never brings about the righteous life God desires for…
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Helpless Take Heart
Hope is helpful if you find yourself in a position much like myself, helpless take heart are words that speak loudly. This sun-filled, blue-sky May morning inspired these words gleaned from David in Psalm 33 and 34.
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A Simple Choice
Near Lidice, the town razed by the Nazis, the Children of Czechia invited the children of Germany to plant a rose garden. Fifty-one counties sent roses for them to plant, over 100,000 roses.
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Blood and Happiness
The incredible human machine has an approximately 10-ounce heart that pumps blood through the entire body.
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Creative Affirmations
Scripture tells us, “In the beginning was the word and the word was God.” I consider the coding of our DNA, I consider the world of words, the messages that speak to us day and night.
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For Goodness Sake
For New Year’s Eve, our family members selected a lovely card to write down our yearly intentions.
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Rpg
I have been signing cards recently with the acronym RPG. It’s my true north right now. When I get confused, anxious, unsure how to spend my time or focus my thoughts, it is my way forward.
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Quintiles of Life
I am currently in a Bible study that is reflecting on what God is doing in our journey on earth.
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Marian Point of View
I am struck by the obedience and willingness of Mary to become the mother of Jesus. Her song of gratitude to God for this blessing stuns me.
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Joy Is a Precious Christmas Gift
A man has joy by the answer of his mouth – Proverbs 15:23 This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of…
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Recognize the Value of Appreciation
“The ability to appreciate is a learned behavior. Mastery of this skill of seeing the full worth in people, in creation and all life is the difference between being a positive or a negative human being.” Fred Crowell…
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Take the Lead
My dad understood the importance of initiative. In Latin, initiative means to take the lead. We talked about initiative often.
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Practice Gratitude
“As medicine is to the body, gratitude is to the soul.” For the past six months, Words of Hope with Fred Crowell has been a source of joy and thanksgiving to me.
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How to Live in a Broken World
It is a serious thing Just to be alive On this fresh morning In the broken world This poem by Mary Oliver brings me back to my center. What is required of me?
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Terminal Anxiety
The apostle Paul encouraged us not to be anxious about anything. Unfortunately, too few people take his admonition seriously or take the time to learn the skill mastery to defeat this common enemy.
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America the Lady
America has been portrayed as a lady—a lady of grace and beauty from sea to shining sea, purple mountain’s majesty, amber waves of grain, among fruited plains.
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The Discipline of Gratitude
I am keeping a gratitude timer on my phone. Every hour and a half, I check in with myself. How grateful have I been? How much news or negative thinking have I jumped into?
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The Ugly Truth About Complaining
I find the research on complaining so powerful. Complaining or listening to complaining for thirty minutes impairs and diminishes the intellectual part of the brain. We actually lose intellect when we complain or listen to it.
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The Most Important Daily Decision
I recently researched the benefits of gratitude. I am still surprised how overwhelmingly transformative gratitude is to our health and wellbeing, to our relationships, and to every aspect of our life.
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Letting Go of Vengeance
God is always surprising me. Several years ago, a man trained up by us at NBC took all our training, investment, and information and tried to run camps without us.
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Reclamation Instead of Regret
I have been considering how regret is a stronger emotion than gratitude. Regret can overrun our desire for gratitude. It can invade our thoughts and interrupt our thankfulness.
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The Healing Power of Praise
I read recently that gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. It counteracts against the four most toxic emotions: envy, bitterness, regret, and depression.
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One God
Sometimes we think we are God. We act like we alone know what He wants and others need to listen to us.
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Tranquility
My dad loved spontaneity, but he also loved ceremony. He believed events required the joy of planning, the importance of tangible ways to talk about the event, and the remembrance of an event.
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Preparing or Living
I love this quote, “There are people who go on infinitely preparing for life and not living it.” I can be like this. Most of my work life and daily living revolves around preparing for an event.
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Let Your Heart Take Courage
With war stories and upsetting news, I believe the most powerful decision is to praise and pray. When we as followers of Christ become afraid, when we take our eyes off Jesus, we give fear power.
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Metanoia
I love the word metanoia. It’s not necessarily a pretty word but the meaning is beautiful to me. It means a change in thinking and behaving resulting from penitence or spiritual conversion with a future orientation.
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Predicting the Future
I like to guess what will happen in the future. I would like to be a prophet. I hate to be caught unprepared.
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How’s Your PMA?!
This summer we focused on the topic of enthusiasm. It was one of Dad’s favorite words.
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We Croak
One of our family friends has an app that’s called “We Croak.” Seven times during the day, a small alarm goes off and a quote pops up as a reminder on how to live.
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Welcoming Mind
I am so often surprised by Jesus and I want to know more about His interactions on earth. The story that is shocking me right now is His meeting with the Samaritan woman at the well.
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When Frustration Comes
The other day I had a few inordinately aggravating difficulties that were more irritations than problems. If you follow Words of Hope regularly, you know what that signals for me.
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Peace on Earth
Recently, I had a waking vision of my dad. I was walking on the treadmill, praying through the Pray as You Go app. I saw Dad walking toward me, hugging me and welcoming me.
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God is Moving Mountains
How important is hope? I can’t believe how I need it. I have five big hopeful dreams right now and they are easily toppled with a few fearful thoughts. My husband Shann is infinitely more pragmatic.
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Wild Imagination
I have a bad habit of imagining someone else’s suffering will pass to me like a contagious disease.
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Solid Rock
The words from the hymn, “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand,”rang through my mind this morning. Dad loved this song. I can hear him trying to sing it.
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Eyes of Cain
I have been thinking about unity and violence. How does the turn happen? For Cain it is losing his joy for being in union with his brother.
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Best Thought
One of Dad’s favorite hymns came on when I was listening to my Pray As You Go app.
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Focal Point
My best frame of mind comes from meditation on gratitude and the truth that I belong to God. Every time I draw my attention away from these focal points I wind up off balance.
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Intentions
Dad loved the promise of the new year. He loved journals, plans, and renewal. Yesterday, on New Year’s Day, a group of us gathered around the table to discuss how to enter 2023 with intention.
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What time is it?
My daughter traveled to Melbourne for her college roommate’s wedding. She left the afternoon of Christmas Eve because flights were astronomical any other time.
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Christmas Intention
The world outside my window is covered in snow, the trees flocked with hoarfrost. A palpable stillness descends with the snow. I have a quiet, almost solemn but still joyful feeling as I look out in wonder.
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Stalwart
I love words and the word stalwart isn’t a common one, though it should be. Stalwart is a synonym for stable, committed, foundational, and secure.
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No Grumbling
This is a strange time to be alive. There is a zeitgeist moving that is full of portent like a mighty storm brewing. I believe the Lord is near though I am not sure what that means.
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Envy Observed
It’s basketball season. The starting lineups have been announced and I consider all the students who don’t make the starting five.
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Listen for the Blessing
I like to talk. Sadly, I often talk too much, and about the wrong thing. This hurts my relationship with my family. I say something that is judgmental, fearful, or just plain bothersome.
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A Life of Peace or Fear
I have a dreadful notion that arises now and then of God as a punisher. As soon as it comes, I remember one of the most consistent messages in the Bible, “Do not fear.” There are many different…
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Practice Gratitude
Practicing gratitude was one of the most important disciplines for my dad. Gratitude for God, for life, and for people were his intentional and pursued disciplines. I call gratitude a discipline because it is a habitual mindset.
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Right Intuition and False Suggestion
I am reading Swiss Reformed medical doctor Paul Tournier. He writes that neurosis is the division of right intuition and false suggestion. I see this easily in myself.
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Learned Contentment
Contentment has been a hard-fought lesson for me and also for Dad. He wrestled with finding contentment even in illness. I have been on a long journey as a student of contentment.
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Refuse Being Tragic (RBT)
Dad and Jay love the phrase POSP, which was an acronym for “P—on Self Pity.” My grandmother was very British, and I don’t love the P— word.
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Stiff Necks
Dad and I liked to take a sermon or scripture and understand it as well as we could.
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The Best Medicine
Shann is genuinely a happy person. He is cheerful, lighthearted, and never moody or depressed. He sings daily and is genuinely a joy to be married to.
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When Problems Compound
One of the great gifts from my Dad was the discipline to write each day in a gratitude journal. At NBC Camps, we say daily habits reveal our future success.
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The Choice of a Beautiful Life
Dad LOVED slogans—he had hundreds. One of his favorites was, “You win or lose by the way you choose.” This phrase has been on my mind each morning—a simple decision.
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Can You Feel the Peace?
At the celebration of life, we had a video of my Dad talking about peace and the importance of pursuing peace.
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How’s Your PMA
One of the most famous lines at NBC Camps was a question Dad asked. He would ask the campers, “How’s your PMA?” They would jump up and respond, “Boy, am I enthusiastic.” PMA stands for positive mental attitude…
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Compelled by fear or love?
I read about a twin separated from her sister for years. Her grandmother lost her in a crowded market in Korea when she was quite young. Though her family searched for her, they never found her.
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Where Your Treasure Is
A huge table in the center of our kitchen seats twelve people comfortably. This table is the focal point of our home, a place to eat, play, and write.
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Retribution
Being a basketball coach, my Dad studied momentum. He analyzed how teams and coaches responded to mistakes and difficulties. He often asked, when crisis strikes, how does a family or business, or country respond?
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Contentment Mindset
When I think about the many things Dad taught me, contentment is one of the most crucial. Contentment is the state of living where we are peaceful and, for the moment, happy.
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Thick Skin
Dad and I struggled with thin skin at times. We love people and want to be loved. Dad often encouraged me to have tough skin with a soft heart. I wrote down his advice.
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Next Steps
The news of Ukraine and Russia is everywhere, with images of war, suffering, and trauma. Just watching it is unsettling to a high degree. It can overwhelm.
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Awakening from The External Illusion
Here is an insight into conversations I would have with Dad. One of our favorite topics was how to live outside the external illusion.
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Pure Joy
The book of James says, “Consider it all joy my brethren when you encounter trials of various kinds.” Some translations say to consider trials, “pure” joy.
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Weather Man
Dad would say, “Imagine an elevator. Most of us have moods and emotions which take us up and down the elevator. But some people get off and live on certain floors.
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Surprise Journey
Dad loved surprises. We liked to take him and mom on a secret trip each year. It would be a 3-4 day trip within driving distance of our house. Dad LOVED the secret trip.
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Clean Heart
Dad’s nickname around the house was Norman Neat or sometimes Matt Ticulous. He loved it clean, but he also loved having people over, which caused some tension for him. I like it neat as well.
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A Beautiful Mind
I opened my journal from 2017, where I had listed concerns I had during that time. They seem so trivial in light of my current point of view.
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Perfectly Teachable
After watching thousands of athletes at NBC Camps, Dad said the two most dangerous emotions which hurt any athlete are arrogance and fear. Those emotions are the opposite of humility.
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The Age of Enragement
My Dad’s father loved rage as a tool to solve problems. Dad desired to learn to be gentle. He sought out gentle men as mentors to help him learn how to navigate difficulty without getting angry.
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The Decision of Gratitude
Dad asked our family to be with him when he first received the news he might have cancer. We gathered around the kitchen table to wait with him when the hospital called with his results.
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Outside of Time
My Dad left me a lengthy voicemail before he died. I waited to listen to it for a few weeks after he passed, waiting for a time I really needed to hear his voice.
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Overflowing with Thankfulness
Dad liked to use a jar illustration to help people diagnose the quality of their thoughts and words. Picture a large glass jar in which you can inspect all the contents.
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Every Thought Captive
Dad valued quality thinking. For most of us, we assume whatever we think about is reality. A thought enters our head, and we unequivocally believe it.
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Be Anxious for Nothing
I opened up Dad’s journal from 1987 recently. The year I survived a severe car accident on my way to school.
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Heaven Minded
Dad met with his doctor for the last time in July. A cancer doctor is such a massive part of a cancer patient’s life.
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Find Ways to Laugh
Laughing seems difficult for me right now. I almost didn’t write this though I felt my Dad intentionally gave me this word. Dad loved rocks with words inscribed on them.
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Right Here Right Now
Dad loved to do crazy things, like two-footed hops down the middle of main street Disneyland or teach strangers how to laugh or practice his Qi Gong breathing technique in a crowded elevator.
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Doing Good
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 Experience tells us when an exhortation is given in the negative, there…
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Ego, Pride, Humility
Recently my brother Larry relayed Giannis Antetokounmpo’s comments to me. Giannis is the shooting guard for the Milwaukee Bucks that won the 2021 NBA championship.
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Myelin Protects Hope
You must build hope, for the day will come when it is desperately needed! Myelin is a coating that covers your circulatory neurons. Every time you perform a skill, you are creating myelin.
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Be of Good Cheer
Here in Spokane we have had record-breaking heat in June. Now in July throughout the Pacific Northwest we need rain. Don’t you agree there always appears to be a good and bad side to everything, even weather!
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Not Afraid of Anything
Fear is a dominating emotion that cripples performance and steals success. Is it possible to live without fear? Probably not because there are two types of fear. First the good type of fear.
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The Word for All
Happiness is watching your granddaughter dance. Possibly one of the greatest joys of being a grandparent is watching grandchildren excel and love life with passion.
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Make Today a Masterpiece
“You pile up enough tomorrows, and you will find you have nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays.
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Have or Have Nots
This is the ultimate difference between contentment and discontentment. Contentment is living in abundance. Discontentment is living in scarcity.
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Happiness a Gift
“Folks are usually about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” This is what Abe Lincoln felt. For some, happiness is a common occurrence.
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Life Is Hard
“Once we admit life is hard, it is no longer difficult.” – Scott Peck It baffles me when people; notably Fred Crowell, think we deserve an easy life.
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The Climb
When we stop climbing, facing the challenges life presents every day, we lose our mission and purpose . For the toddler, the climb is learning to stand and then walk.
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The In-n-out Phenomenon
One of the most important life principles is the phenomenon of In-N-Out . Coincidentally, an American popular fast-food chain is named In-N-Out, where placing an order necessitates driving in.
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Hope in 1865 – Hope in 2021
JUNE 3 is an important date. June 3, 1865, was the date for the Battle of Cold Harbor, Virginia, as part of the Civil War (156 years ago).
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Most Awesome
The Psalmist wrote, “ The Lord Most High is awesome . “ The word awesome always reminds me of my brother Larry.
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World Attitude Championship
View this IMAGINARY CAGE FIGHT: Nemsa vs. Pemsa. In the south corner of the cage, wearing red/orange is Nemsa. He is fighting for world domination of NEGATIVE emotional, mental and spiritual attitudes.
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Crowellians Chapter 1
Greeting from Fred Crowell! This letter from Fred to all who have a special place in my heart.
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The Imposter Within
Sooner or later in life, we discover we are not who we think we are! We discover there is a difference between who we are and who we want to be.
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The Law of Attraction
Key Statement: People have an internal compass. This compass points in the direction of people who have a compass pointing toward us. We call this the law of attraction. True counseling story.
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Clinical Trials
After 12 days with my new Medical Trial by UCLA, I now more fully understand why it is called a Clinical Trial. It is because the prescribed drug is on trial.
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Enough Is Good Enough
“The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want, I have everything I need, all I really want is God.” – Crowell It’s been said that when John D Rockefeller was asked how much money was enough, he…
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Let There Be Light
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. In basketball language, an excellent metaphor for shooting a basketball is an automobile, where the legs are the engine of the shot.
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Immutable Laws of the Universe
No reasonable person can dispute there are immutable, unchanging laws that govern our lives. There is no escape from them. One such law is the Law of Expectations .
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Top 10 Characteristics of Being Wise
For about 100 days, the mysterious and remarkable topic of WISDOM has been on my mind and heart.
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Exit Hell Hallways Enter Peaceful Rooms
Key Statement: “Ex” means to get out, and “en” means to enter. Get out of the hallway and enter rooms of beauty, grace, peace, joy, and love.
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Stuck in the Hallway
Ideas from a sermon about being stuck in the hallway of life. People get mentally stuck in hallways because only 5% of our emotional decision-making occurs in our conscious level of thinking, while 95% of our actions happen…
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No Taxes?
I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethoughts of grief. – Wendell Berry No taxes – no future fears? No takes – no worries for tomorrow?
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God Is Good… Always
The giant enemy of the human spirit is self-pity! Years ago, one dark emotional day at an NBC Camps clinic for the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Washington, the self-pity engine engaged my mind.
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People Watch You
People watch what we are doing, how we do it, and how it makes them feel.” – Derrick Sebastian “May I have another cup of coffee?” Asked the person at the counter.
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The Climb
Today is the 43rd day of the year 2021. Wow! At least 10% of the year 2021 has already evaporated!
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Win Is a Choice
The win begins with the decision to know you can and will win. A win is in the preparation. Preparation builds confidence. Confidence promotes high-level performance.
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Guard Your Heart & Mind
“Defense is the best offense in basketball and in lifeball” – Fred Crowell One of my father’s passions I inherited was a clean car.
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Life Experience
“Experience is a term used to name our mistakes.” – Oscar Wilde Four pillars form the foundation for my meaning and purpose in life. Life experience is the fourth and most vital.
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The Wisdom Discipline Link
King Solomon combined WISDOM and DISCIPLINE in his Proverbs writings. In fact, he advised us to not despise them or treat them with contempt. It intrigues me to question the close linkage between wisdom and discipline.
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Wisdom Wednesday
Each 2021 Wednesday, Words of Hope will focus on the personal skill development of being wise . It will be designated WISDOM WEDNESDAY. The first Wednesday of 2021 is January 6th.
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The Adventure of Living, Part 1
Life is meant for good friends and great adventures! Life is an adventure to be lived! Even Aristotle said, “Adventure is worthwhile.” However, why should it take a catastrophe to wake us up to find it?
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The Triple A’s
Adversity – Abundance – Appreciation Is it possible to go through life without adversity? Are learning valuable life lessons possible without adversity? In your life experience, how has adversity shaped you?
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DON’T NEVER STOP – Positive Force Statement
Don’t never stop being HOPEFUL Don’t never stop being kind & cheerful Don’t never stop loving life and people Don’t never stop loving the Lord with mind heart and soul The use of a double negative is done…
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The Law of the Unreachable Itch
In broad terms, there are only two kinds of body itches. However, there are many types of “life itches.” One kind of Body itch is reachable; a gentle scratch solves the problem. Relief is welcomed with thankfulness.
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Hope Does Not Disappoint
The best experience in life is simply living, breathing, loving people, delighting in God’s creation, and earth as our Disneyland. Life is a blessing! Yet, one of the worst experiences in life is a disappointment .
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What Thankfulness Is
“ Thank you “ may be the most forgotten phrase in all mankind! Is the loss of a couple seconds of our time worth not expressing thanks? What is thankfulness?
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Leave Magic Wherever You Go
Something incredibly positive has happened during my 10-year journey of over 250 oncology appointments. As always, ATTITUDE is the difference-maker in all of life experiences, cancer being no exception.
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Health and Human Behavior
The relatively new science of phenomenology, empirical-based research, is understanding the meaning of people’s lived experiences.
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Time for a Trade-in
The auto industry survives on used car sales, not new car sales, according to some experts in the car and truck industry.
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War Against Unbelief
Sad to say, in today’s culture you and I are at war. The enemy is unbelief . Too often we view the enemy as other people, but in reality, it is our personal unbelief.
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Cancer Beater #1: The Spirit
To WIN against cancer, it is first and foremost necessary to understand what war and winning are. War is intense conflict and combat; winning is conquering and gaining a triumph. Unfortunately, cancer has no rules. Cancer cheats.
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Certain Path to Peace
With many mental parts moving about in the “Crowell Cooker” today, I wonder how do I find peace where there is so much pain in our world, both micro and macro?
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Dancing with Death
Dear Words of Hope reader, please do not flee from this WOH because of the word “death.” To equate it with dancing will be mind and heart boggling.
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Labor Day Celebration
I discovered far too late in life what Labor Day Celebration should be. I thought it was valuing hard work.
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Gut Check Diagnosis
From time to time, all of us need to assess where we are emotionally. We need to be willing to open the door and take an honest look, a self-test.
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Abundance Not Scarcity
“I have come that you might life and have it abundantly.” – Jesus Often people tell me, “We grew up poor but I never knew we were poor.” The six Crowell kids knew every day of our growing…
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Mookie Fights Cancer
Meet Mookie! He lives in Thailand. He is a favorite at NBC Camps; always smiling, inspirational, hard-working, and a pure delight to teammates and coaches. Why is Mookie our hero?
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The New Normal
Recently USA News made two statements: “Ignorance is the new normal. Stupidity is the new normal.” Where is there hope in these two philosophical statements? Curiosity is a significantly powerful learning skill.
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People Fear
“Do not be afraid of people or I will make you look foolish in front of them.” – God’s words to the Prophet Jeremiah Elegant question: Are you afraid of people?
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Relax
Slow the bus down. Relax. Breath. Call Time Out. When the pace gets too fast, relax. When words flow too quickly, relax. When the conversation heats up, relax. When anger seethes, relax.
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Five Daily Gratitudes
Research suggests gratitude helps beat cancer. Dr. John Gottman has proven through extensive testing that when the heart jumps over 100 beats per minute when angry, the ability to solve problems diminishes.
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Wake in Darkness
When I awaken in darkness in the middle of the night with a sudden thought that cancer will defeat me, fear grips my heart like a villain.
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Never Ever Quit
Never ever be discouraged Never quit Never ever let cancer win Never stop loving people Never cease to love God & His Son One of the greatest men in the 20th century was Pope John Paul, the first…
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An Elegant, Profound Question
After reading yesterday’s blog entitled, Prepare for Battle, my special friend in Mexico asked, “How can I identify the enemy besides CV-19?” Enemy identification is difficult because the enemy is crafty .
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Thank God It’s Friday
We build our personal world within the global world with the words that proceed from our mouths. So, if words matter as I believe they do, perhaps the idiom TGIF is not a great thing.
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Mind Management Self-discipline
There was a time in my life I detested all pain. It was to be avoided at all costs. Certainly nothing good about it! Yet I discovered it could not be avoided.
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Today’s Light
My 20% PMA advantage plan today is gratitude. I am thankful I am alive with a strong heartbeat and breathing ability.
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Phenomenology – the 20% Life Experience Advantage
Doctor Shann Ferch, my highly esteemed, intellectual son-in-law, introduced me to Phenomenology (phe·nom·e·nol·o·gy). He is also respected as my daughter Jennifer’s husband and cherished father to their three miracle daughters.
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Hope Wins, Cv-19 Loses
When fear grows in me at the least unexpected time (now concerning CV-19), I go to my secret place, my secret garden.
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The Two Way Mirror
Mirror Mirror in my hand who has a pure clean glass that can show reflection in two directions; first at me; second to my world set before me.
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Can’t – Never Did Anything | Can – Does Almost Everything
Long ago when my dad was in school one of the basketball games fan chants was: “Ash can, tin can, who can, we can beat Everett…Bellingham… Mt.
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The Life Elevator
Yes, in life we are either going up, going down, or not moving! Just like a mechanical elevator.
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Happiness Is…
Happiness is: an emotion of joy a feeling of merriment absence of anxiety an attitude a decision encouragement a smile kindness purposeful practiced a learned behavior a choice commitment If happiness encompasses all these virtues, no wonder happiness…
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Coach Crowell’s Gratitude Story
The year 1999 is the year the gratitude story began. The world was in disarray. Brilliant minds predicated the world economy was going to collapse because the world of technology was not equipped to deal with a new…
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Memento Mori
MEMENTO MORI is the Latin for “Remember your death.” Three important men of the past reminded us of this. St.
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Living in the Moment
I am sure you have discovered, as I have these past years, that having a fulfilling profession, a joyful marriage, doing daily exercises, and staying away from diet no-no’s can all be difficult.
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You Make Your Own Weather
Settling for the story: Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama 1977 a conversation between Fred Crowell, Basketball Coach & Dr. Joseph King, 88-year-old professor emeritus ensues. “Good morning Dr. King,” smiled Coach Crowell.
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Hey World, How Is Your Pma?
If we don’t protect our minds and hearts the negativity of the world will rob us of our positive mental attitude!
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Dwell Together in Unity
The world’s pandemic has forced isolation upon us with a heartless vengeance. This isolation for the vast majority of Americans changed our lives in dramatic ways; some positive; some negative.
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Depression – the Black Box
Sir Winston Churchill, given to depression, called it the Black Box. This Black Box is too deep to climb out of by sheer human strength and effort. The sides of the box are slippery, the walls, high.
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Protect Your Mind
“But Jesus didn’t trust them because He knew human nature.” – St. John The words “protection” and “guard” have been on my mind and my heart these past days.
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Death Is Not the Enemy-the Enemy Is Not Living
Hey, wanna come over for dinner tonight and have a meaningful discussion about death? How about a conversation over a latte about what you want to see happen at your funeral?
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NBC Camps Delivers Hope
A great high school coach told me many years ago, “If NBC had a finger painting class my 3 children would be there.
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We Saw Giants
“We were like grasshoppers in our own sight and so we were in their sight.” – Numbers 13:33b An essential element in preparing for a basketball game is scouting the enemy.
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Human Being or Human Doing?
“What is man that you are mindful of him?” Circumstances have motivated me to do some existential self-diagnosis.
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Dry up! Game On!
“When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” I’m reminded of a time when my fourth graders were playing for the city championship.
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Not Havin’ Any
The Crowell-Ferch family delights in really good movies. The great ones we watch over and over again. Over 30 years ago, SILVERADO was a family favorite. Brian Dennehy played a rugged, tough sheriff.
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The Biblical Law of Self-worth
Self-worth is the belief that our lives have value and significance . However, how do we know our own worth? Do we look to ourselves or others in order to grasp our value?
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The Law of Psycho Cybernetics
Spending a lifetime career as a “Basketball-ologist” has given me an advantage in the world of “Ologists.” This is because competitive athletics forces the coach to be results-oriented, not theory-driven.
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The Adventure of Living, Part 2
One way to get the most out of life is to look upon it as an adventure. Where can we apply this adventure of living to our everyday life should there be obstacles?
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Thankfulness
THANKFULNESS GRATITUDE CREATION Today is focus time on 3 impactful words! First, is the idea of thankfulness. It is impossible to have a negative attitude and be thankful. Thanklessness is a terrible robber of peace and contentment.
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Existential Diagnosis of Self-love, Part 1
The legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus reportedly said: “You cannot become a great golfer until you have the skill to watch yourself hitting the golf ball.” This is like taking your eyes out of your head and watching yourself…
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Not My Plan
“The steps of a man are established by the Lord; when he delights in His way…” – Psalm 37 Children are remarkably amazing.
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Miracle Searches
The difference between an Elegant question and a factual question. Elegant question – How many miracles can you see while looking at the moon? Factual question – Can you see the moon in the photo?
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Running Running Running
“Days at times can be very long, however, in the end, life is too short.” -FJC Often we hear the phrase, I am too busy .
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Delight – Delightful – Delighted, Part 1
The three D’s are the ingredients for a joyful, cheerful and fulfilling day! Oh, how we love the anticipation of a fantastic day! This feeling is because life is a gift.
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The It Phenomena
Key Statement: The IT of life is anything and everything that is on our radar screen. The IT demands our time, energy, and attention.
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Legacy Gifting, Part 1
Children are precious gifts from the Lord. The greatest legacy gift parents can give their children is to live St. Paul’s parenting virtues , especially in his letter to the Philippians.
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Contentment
The secret of this attitude. An elegant question from Jay Crowell: Dad, if you could visit one site in Rome what would this place be?
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Pain Produces Change
No discipline seems pleasant at the time but later on, however, it produces a fruit of righteousness for those who are trained by it.
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WHAT YOU APPRECIATE APPRECIATES – Jay Crowell
For a father I’m not sure many joys surpass the privilege of having children becoming lovely, healthy, successful parents. One of Crowell’s teaching principles is, “A son should become twice as smart as his Dad.
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Thankful Beats Unthankful
As in the lyrics of “Ungrateful Eyes,” do we ever stop and watch the stars shine? This may give us a clue if we are thankful or unthankful.
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Consolation & Desolation
“At any given moment you are either in consolation or desolation.” – St. Ignatius of Loyola The idea of “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” speaks to the fact that two people do not necessarily see…
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How high is high? How low is low?
Unless you know how low is low, knowing how high is high is not possible. My life experience tells me rock bottom is the low of lows. It is impossible to go lower than rock bottom.
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Authentic Power
Internal combustion – Internal motivation. Gottlieb Daimler is known as the founder of the internal combustion engine. This engine was a game changer in the world of automobiles and trucks.
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Master the Practice of Dressing Two Times at the Same Time
It is a proven fact a person’s first impression by another happens in the first 30-60 seconds. Once this impression is formed, it is very difficult to change.
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Psycho-cybernetics, Part 2
Dr. Maxwell Maltz states so clearly in his Psycho-Cybernetics book, “ We must turn to the Bible to discover how to change the self-image .” This is because God is man’s creator.
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Psycho-cybernetics, Part 1
This past summer have you seen a helmsman steering a ship to port? If so, this could remind you that the Greek term “cybernetics” is used to describe “steering .” Psycho-Cybernetics says each human has an innate steering…
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Almost Works
A leading human performance expert likes to say, “You can’t get enough of what almost works.” Here are some examples. Maybe the next drink will be enough for the alcoholic.
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Win at School
Millions of USA students enroll in schools across the continent in September with the hope of winning! Unfortunately, far too many will lose the battle to win. Questions: Why so many failures?
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Happy Land Is Not a Destination
Walt Disney grew up an unhappy child. His father did not make life fun for the young Walter Disney. Walter developed a dream.
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Start Where You Are
All too often it is asked, “Where do I begin to change the world?” The simple question demands a simple answer: Start where you are . Dr.
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Takes Awesome to Recognize Awesome
What’s better than getting a text from a person you highly respect telling you that you are awesome ?
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Position Doesn’t Determine Destiny
When position is more important than destiny the focus needs to be reversed. Research reveals focusing on destiny increases performance and health both individually and within a community. Position focus means: I am the father. Obey me.
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I Can Only Imagine
Nearly 16 million views for the song I CAN ONLY IMAGINE by Mercy Me. That’s a ton of views.
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Survive or Surrender
When tragedy or misfortune strikes there are two choices. The most difficult choice is to survive. The least painful way is to surrender. WIND RIVER it’s a movie based on a true story.
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Child Inspiration
Fall in love with children and you will be in love with life. Find joy in children and you will always be joyful. Play with children and you’ll always be playful.
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Use Your Eyes
If you have eyes, use them to see both external and internal beauty. How our eyes observe color through tinted lenses is comparative to how our emotional state affects our outlook on life.
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Delight in Delight
The law of attraction means what we attach ourselves to will multiply and expand. Therefore, what we purposely choose to delight in will grow into greater delight. Delight is not on automatic pilot in our lives.
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Dealing with Difficult People – Appreciate Awesome People!
A human flaw is our overpowered magnetic attraction to negativity. Negative people disrupt and influence us more easily than positive people and the beautiful energy force we receive from them. Why is this?
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Crowell on Second Guessing
The second of two WOH’s on the destructive habit of second guessing oneself. The biggest little word in the English language is the word “if.” Two letters that can make a big impact.
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The Snake Line
A powerful solution to stop worry, fear, self-pity, and other forms of negative behavior. I happened to hear a portion of a sermon about not controlling your thoughts and emotions. Babies can’t control their emotions.
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Practice Happiness
If happiness were a tool in a carpenter’s toolbox, it would likely be a pair of needle-nose pliers. Many t imes these specialized pliers are the only tool needed for the mechanical fix.
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Radical Challenges, Radical Choices
In our world, a challenge becomes a need for meaningful exploration. It becomes incredibly important. The late Dr. Scott Peck, psychiatrist, also saw it as perhaps a difficulty. He wrote: “Life is difficult.
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Happiness a Treasured Gift
How many times have you heard: ‘Just do what makes you happy! Don’t worry, just be happy!” We feel if it makes us happy, it must be right.
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Defeating Anorexia Addiction, Part 3
The teenage gal (in Part 2) began this day-by-day Win Life plan, the process of “living a brand new me.” There are FOUR FOUNDATION PILLARS to beat any addiction and all destructive behaviors, including anorexia and suicide thinking.…
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Defeating Anorexia Addiction, Part 1
Over the past 49 years of leading NBC Basketball Camps, there have been many opportunities to help student-athletes defeat the dreaded disease of anorexia.
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To Compare Is to Despair
“If you want to feel inferior, look at someone above you. If you want to feel superior, look at someone beneath you.” – Walt King Susie’s dad was a wise man.
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The Reality of Beauty
If we approach life from an inner beauty stance, we see beauty all around us, in all things; whereas if we are living in squalor life isn’t very pretty.
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Second Guessing Is Unprofitable
“We should have won that game.” – New York Mets Terry Collins Reading USA Today Sports , Bob Nightengale’s interview with Manager Collins brought me back to the Royals-Giants game 5.
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Contentment Leads to Life
It seems comparison has crept into every area of our lives prompted by social media and constant media ads. It can reveal a dissatisfaction and a disillusion. It can divide and destroy.
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Comparison Leads to Death
COMPARISON leads to death; GRATITUDE leads to life. COMPARISON leads to depression; GRATITUDE leads to satisfaction. COMPARISON leads to arrogance; GRATITUDE leads to humility. COMPARISON leads to self-degradation; GRATITUDE leads to positive self-assessment.
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The Talent of Success, Part 2
Success, the favored or the desired outcome will be more attainable if we like ourselves, like what we do and how we do it.
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Did So Good
Long ago God had some words to Cain (son of Adam and Eve). God could see in Cain’s heart, seeing his half-hearted motivation and attitude when bringing an offering to God.
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Finish Strong
“Work hard and continue to struggle.” – Timothy Last week a friend sent me a text with this question, “Why do we have to struggle?” Honestly, my first thought was, “why should we not have to struggle?” This…
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Words and the Word
Webster defines Word as a “Single, distinct meaningful element of speech or writing used with other words or sometimes alone to form a sentence.” Words fascinate me.
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The Defeat to Victory Factor
Former NBC Camps student-athlete Jay Huff on April 8th helped the Virginia Cavaliers win the collegiate men’s basketball national championships in Minneapolis. This past season he was ranked as the #15 power forward in the nation.
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Oceans
The creative genius of the Grand Master’s paintbrush was making two-thirds of our planet, Earth , oceans! How is it possible to be near the ocean, yet never stop to contemplate this miracle?
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Falling Three Times
Failure is thought of as a defeat, a lack of success. It is an event, never a person. Yet, failure can be a stepping stone to success . In this respect, it can become valuable.
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Existential Diagnosis of Self-love, Part 3
How does Self-Love work in the midst of a crisis? This is how it works for me. On January 3, 2014, Dr. Anthony showed me my Pet Scan results.
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Catharsis Is Pure, Part 2
C athartic heart surgery can purify the heart physically. There is also a spiritual catharsis that can purify the heart spiritually.
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Cleaning House, Part 2
It is wise to know inner house cleaning is good for us. It is wise to understand inner house cleaning is good for us. Yet, if we don’t do it, we really don’t know or understand!
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Cleaning House, Part 1
Long ago when Latin was the mother tongue, a linguist used the word FEBRUUM, meaning purification. The English translation is February. I hope you have enjoyed your February month.
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SELF-LOVE, Part 1
Today, when we hurt, we hear so often to love ourselves more. But what is self-love? Self-love is the introspective prioritization of my importance and acceptance of my real self – at least my positive self.
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Know the Enemy, Part 2
Here is a personal example of facing the No. 1 spiritual enemy. One night I had a horrendous dream. It was so intense and real.
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Kiss the Edge
Recently, my yoga instructor had her class members in semi-pain as they held a position.
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The Plain Pain Truth
Mother speaking to her distraught daughter says, “Sorry, honey we can’t teach pain to stop hurting.” A little boy falls in the bathtub; cuts his forehead; cries out, “Stop the pain, mommy, I’ll be good!” The Pain Truth…
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How Much Does It Cost?
Everybody is selling something. What’s for sale and are we willing to pay the price are critical questions. Years ago, Susie and I pulled into a car dealership to look at cars, not to buy.
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Memories
Over 50 years ago Susie King Crowell said to me, “Fred, let’s make great memories because when we are old, all we will have left will be memories.
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Neuro Plasticity
The human brain is the greatest miracle of all creation . There is nothing to compare to it. Modern scientific research is uncovering remarkable new data about its functioning.
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Hope – to Help Others!
In my mid-20’s during a powerful training session, a respected leader presented a strong case that words matter . It was then my philosophical and psychological views dramatically changed.
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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, 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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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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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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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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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 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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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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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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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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Humility Clothing
On a recent airline flight to Denver, Colorado, I had the opportunity to be a “typical” passenger.
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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.
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Destiny
Key statement: Destiny is the product of habits; habits are the products of actions; actions are the products of words; words are the products of thoughts, and thoughts are the products of dreams.
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Merry Christmas
Warm and delightful Merry Christmas wishes to all Words of Hope readers-friends. This WOH is my Christmas gift to you.
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Precious Presents
31 days of precious presents in December Savor is a great word. To me, savor means to enjoy to the maximum. To savor each day in December as Christmas is pure delight for me.
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Three Big Questions?
1. Are you ALL IN? 2. If ALL IN; all in for what? All in for living life to the max? All in for family relationships? All in for your career? All for what? 3. WHY?
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Three Important Questions
1. Where are you? 2. Who are you? 3. Who made you? One of my highlights in Ketchikan, Alaska at an NBC basketball camp was a father telling me this about his teen daughter: “As I walked down…
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An Elegant Question – You Should Know the Answer
How do you want to live? Be careful now. This is not a trick question! Seriously. How do you really want to live your life?
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Climate – You Make Your Weather
The Finnish say, “There is no bad weather only bad clothing.” The wise fisherman when I asked, “What kind of people live up the road?” He asked, “What kind of people were they where you came from?” The…
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Gratitude Is the Best Attitude
As iron sharpens iron so a friend sharpens a friend – Proverbs 27:17 One of the truly great men in my life, Steve Pence, stands in victory with the majestic Mount Blanc in the background.
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The Prognosis for Depression
The tactics used to get rid of ghosts in movies is never the same. Likewise, depression is unique to each person.
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Is High School a Joke?
Nearly 25% of high school students at a large school district in the state of Washington skip school every day.
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Crowell’s Gut Check
Existential Self Diagnosis -ESD Between 1971 and 1975 hundreds of people came to NW Counseling Services for family and personal counsel.
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Attitude + Hard Work = Win
The two things you can control are your attitude and your effort. The one thing, for sure, you cannot control is other people.
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Win Big
Winning big always begins from the inside out. The championship trophy at the awards banquet was first invoked in the heart or the imagination of the mind.
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Ready? – Ready Freddy!
For years, NBC campers have been asked if they are ready. The expected response is a loud, “READY FREDDY!” I have no idea who came up with this slogan but campers seem to love it.
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Lessons Learned from Italy
For 13 days 37 basketball players and adults toured fantastic Italy. These are a few of the lessons we learned and hopefully live out the rest of our lives. CONTENTMENT IS AN ATTITUDE!
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Make Your Bubble Blue
Colors are powerful symbols of emotion and can fuel our M/P (Meaning and Purpose). Today is a red shirt day for me. Red is courage – I have an oncology appointment.
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Smiles
KEYNOTE: “Isn’t She Lovely” is a song that brings a smile to my face and joy to my heart. The oncology clinic must require their employees to practice smiling.
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Fantastic News – Crowell Basketball
KEY STATEMENT: As Deuteronomy suggests, write it on your forehead, place a string around your forehead, so you never forget what God has given you in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Remember this!
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It’s Gonna Be Alright
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
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Knock Knock
Knock knock. Who’s there? Destiny I’ve been expecting you! The Ferch Crowell families love good movies. BOLT is a “fam fave.” Rhino, the hamster, who scoots around rapidly in a rolling ball is a gleeful character.
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95 to 5 or 5 to 95?
Key Statement: On average the human mind is engaged 95% of the time in the subconscious mind and only 5% in the conscious mind.
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Happy Happy Crowell’s
Key Statement: People are about as happy as they personally choose to be. Happiness is an attitude.
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Life Is Not an Accident
“The motorcycle crash that nearly killed me taught me how to live; to be a better person.” – Jay Williams At a management conference, I was asked this question.
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Laughter Is Good Medicine
“People who laugh easily bring joy to others.” My life experience tells me people who laugh often, easily and for no apparent reason grew up in a home with laughter.
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True Grit
“People can see the size of your body but no one can see the size of your heart.” March madness is the time for basketball.
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Your Belief System is Your Compass
Dr Jones, Deputy Director, Alaska Military Youth Academy “A guide that directs your beliefs on what’s wrong and what’s right and determines your life choices.” – Ms. Jessie Craig, Civil Engineer, head Girls high school basketball coach.
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Hello My Hero!
Four words, Needed this….my struggle! From early morning hours to nearly lunch time no words for Daily Words of Hope with Fred came to my mind. Susie encouraged me to wait and let it happen.
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God’s Grading System
“Teachers first instruct, then examine you. God examines you, then instructs you.” In the winter of 1966, I said, “Yes.” After months of deliberation, I made the profound decision to ask the Lord Jesus Christ into my life…
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Brilliant Moments
Those flashes of seconds when the lights of the world come alive in us. Recently the Lord blessed me with one of those “brilliant moments,” where time stood still and light flooded my being.
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Revelation Demands a Response
Revelation is truth, knowledge, enlightenment or information. If the goal is for your audience to listen attentively and immediately act upon enlightenment.
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Fire in the Belly
Never quit. Never, never quit! A sellout crowd came to Indy to watch Kobe Bryant play his last game against the Pacers in the city famous for the Indy 500. Kobe was having a terrible night.
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Best Medicine
If you can laugh you can solve most of life’s ailments. One of my favorite early morning disciplines is to ask Abba Father one question. The question is quite simple.
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Pain Produces Change
Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later.
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You are a miracle IF you Believe it!
Hebrews Chapter 11 is called the faith chapter. It is a detailed account about the life of the saints who have gone before us and have demonstrated a life of faith.
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PEACE – A Fruit of the Spirit
Peace is a virtue that helps solve conflicts and bring common sense to the argument. “Operate in peace” is a core value at NBC Camps. Peace is easily achieved when the ball bounces our way.
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Disneyland and Livingland
Both lands were created to be the happiest places on earth. What happened? Walt Disney had a dream. He wanted children to be able to experience happiness. Disneyland is Mr.
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P+f+e+pc = Success
True success is how far you are able to rise above the place of beginning. If you start at zero and end up at 10 you are a true success.
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The Dumbing Down of America
“You either rise up and cross the bar, or you lower the bar to cross it.” Essentially, there are two ways in life to have success: 1. You get better, you compete and you excel. 2.
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Who Are You? Who Am I?
This thing I know, you and me are not what people think we are! In fact, we are not what we think we are!
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Eq-emotional Quotient
Knowing, understanding and managing your feelings is the foundation of emotional intelligence. Today the political debate rages on about three major factors: jobs, borders and safety.
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I Can Hardly Imagine
Anacortes basketball boy becomes basketball old man in China. Today is my first day in Beijing. My partner Mr. Lao Yang tells me we meet some “Big People” this morning.
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Enthusiasm Makes the Difference
These days enthusiasm is spontaneous for me. There have been times when enthusiasm has been hard-work. Those difficult days putting one foot in front of the other demanded a heart of enthusiasm.
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No Matter What
Want some joy? If yes, read a children’s book to a young child. Few happy life experiences mean more to me than having our 5 year old Kingston and 3 year old Giavanna sit on my lap entranced…
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Failure-pain-imagination
3 Vital Components for Future Success Recently at NBC Camps , nearly 200 students came to Whitworth University to get better at basketball – one of the world’s great games, and life – the world’s greatest game.
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Worm Tongue
On average we speak 1300 words a minute each day of our lives. What are we telling ourselves? We better be careful of the worm tongue.
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Don’t Forget That Feeling
Emotions are unreliable; change suddenly; are easily influenced by circumstances, and words; they work better when you lead them with strong and decisive leadership, with fact, and logic. Emotions can’t think, they can’t make decisions.
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Eyes to See
If you don’t look, you can’t see. If you don’t see, you miss glorious mountains, swift rivers, flowers that take your breathe away and, best of all, delightful people. This past weekend I visited the Crowell families.
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Where Are You?
The one good answer is right here, right now. At SEA-TAC while working on an intensely worded email, I lost track of time.
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Monday – Mundane or Momentous?
With this February being a leap year, we got a bonus day. We will not have another 29th of February for four more years! My bonus day started early.
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CLIMATE: YOU MAKE YOUR OWN WEATHER – Seminar & Breakfast
phone: 509.232.6490 email: gail@nbccamps.com
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Marvelous Workmanship
“Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex.” These days as I am in Cabo San Lucas, two questions I have been asking people are: Do you believe in miracles?
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Finishing Mode Is a Decision
30 days ago, football experts had written off the Seattle Seahawks. Today the Hawks are one of the most feared football teams!
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Climate – You Make Your Own Weather
I became fascinated with climate and weather in 1965. For nearly 30 days the temperature hovered between 20 and 30 below zero in Fairbanks, Alaska.
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The Wonder of Wonder
“If you are filled with wonder the world Is a wonderful place.” — Winnie the Pooh Yesterday at the Ferch families favorite breakfast spot 13 year old Ari was drawing in her journal book.
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Delight in People & People Delight in You
St Paul records multitudes of brilliant life giving principles. One used often among motivational experts is in the Apostles encouragement to the Galatians.
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Breaking News 0001 A.d.
JUDAS HANGS HIMSELF- a lesson in self-destruction. Matthew 27 Breaking news October 2015 Violent man guns down people in Oregon college. He hung others and himself with a gun!
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A date with Fairbanks, Alaska
My buddy the ex tax collector turned apostle won’t be asked for wisdom from me today, today St. Matthew gets a day off.
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No Expectation Sunday
Today, this 13th day of a Spokane “Indian Summer,” is no expectation Sunday! My firm resolve is to reduce all expectations from others for one entire day. In addition, I will reduce all expectations from me.
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Red Skies in the Morning
“The art of changing foul days to blue sky days” MATTHEW 17 500 years ago a young Spanish soldier led his troops to battle against France. A cannon ball ripped between his legs, one being severely injured.
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THE ULTIMATE CRUCIAL QUESTION? Who do you say that I am?
Vital lesson from MATTHEW 16. Lesson one: Watch out for unhealthy people who influence you in negative ways. “Guard against the yeast” is the metaphor used by Matthew. Why yeast?
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Marvelous Monday
Marvelous day? Why? Because it is a new day Because it is a new week Because it is the last day of the month Because it is an opportunity to really live Because we can exercise the gifts…
