It’s Tuesday again.  Time to write something positive.  I have noticed more and more people getting involved in this thing and I think it’s awesome.  I think that it has and can continue to grow into something really cool.  With more folks coming every week I wanted to re-post the idea behind this though most people already know.  The “guidelines” are pretty loose and it’s a pretty simple thing.  Write something nice, then share it.  This is from the original post:

I want to try something. (and it’s pretty early in the morning so I don’t know how good of an idea this is) I want today to be “Positive Post Tuesday”. Let’s today, all write something on our blogs that builds another person up. Someone who is doing an amazing job at something, or someone that is changing the world around them by living the way they are supposed to, or someone that you feel needs building up and deserves it. Write about them and comment here and post the address of your blog below.* Then at the end of the day we can all go through the links and check them out. Sound good?

That’s it.  It’s that simple.  Like I said, it’s been a pretty amazing thing to see people getting involved and coming up with nice things to say about people.  We live in a pretty cynical world and it’s cool to see things that will bring smiles to peoples faces every week.

We have some relatively new friends that we had over this week for the first time.  We have been trying to hang out with them for weeks now, but haven’t been able to align schedules.  Michael leads worship at our church and him and his wife Andrea have become good friends of ours.  We switch off driving the kids to school but now with Kristin working, and us with only one car, it seems like they have really taken the brunt of driving the kids to school.  It’s a pretty temporary situation, but it’s still amazing of them to do.

Michael and Andrea are also from California so we have that in common and even weirder, Michael grew up about twenty minutes from where I grew up.  Small world huh?  Anyway we have had a great time getting to know them more and hanging out with people that seem so similar to us.  It’s fun to be able to talk about the same places and even some of the same people, as if we have known each other for years.  They are awesome genuine people that are easy to be around and unbelievably caring.  It will be awesome to get to know them better and become better friends. 

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So, here it is Tuesday again. Time for another “Positive Post Tuesday”. Time to say something nice or not say anything at all.  This week is a little different because I wanted to build up you guys.  The readers of this here blog.  The people that, for what ever reason, keep coming back here to hear what I have to say everyday.  The folks that show an genuine interest in our family.  Who pray for us even though they may not know us, the friends that I have gotten to know better because of this blog, and also the new friends I have made.

Almost two years ago now, I started this blog with no real intention of actually keeping it going.  I had no idea what to talk about and even if I came up with something to talk about, I wasn’t sure anyone was listening.  Now almost two years later, I have met some really cool people, created a “profession” and been more encouraged than I could have expected from a blog.  There is a pretty solid group of people here that come back and comment, and are involved in this little community online.   I call it a community because I know that there are people involved in this blog that, if I were in trouble, would jump at the chance to help out, as I would with them.  For that to happen with people that I may never know just blows me away.

It’s been amazing to see the support and interest that you guys have shown in what is going on here. There is no way that I would be getting to do what I am doing for a living without this little community here, and I appreciate that.  One of these days we need to have a big fat “…in case you were wondering” party, and you are all invited.

You guys know what to do.  I know there are more people out there that have nice things to say.  Let’s make today a very Positive Tuesday.  Who can you build up today?  Who needs it most?  We do plenty of tearing down throughout the week.  Let’s see how many we can get on this list today.

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I know I have already done a “Positive Post Tuesday” about Kristin, but you know what?  There’s a lot to brag on her about and I felt like it.  Plus it’s my blog and I get to do that if I want.  

Kristin is the most loving, genuine person I know.  She has dealt with my weird ideas for almost eight years now, and from what I can tell, still likes me enough to hang around me.  I remember a handful of people telling us, when we got married so young that it wasn’t going to last and there was no way we were mature enough to start our lives together.  Maybe we weren’t mature enough, but we were determined enough to prove them wrong.  Now it’s been eight years, we have lived in six different houses, had three kids, and are still figuring things out, but it’s been an exciting adventure so far.

This year has been rough for us.  Literally starting at the first of the year, things seemed to have been attacking us from all sides.  It hasn’t stopped, and at times has only felt like it has only gotten worse.  Kristin and I have had so many long talks that result with only one thing for certain.  That we are in this together and that is the only thing that makes us feel like we can make it through.  I know for a fact, that there is no way that I could be doing anything without her right next to me, and I hope she feels the same.

Kristin is the hardest worker, most loving mother, caring friend, and creative artist that I know.  I know that most men will say that they don’t deserve their wives and they are mostly all right.  I too, join in that list of men that truly, honestly don’t deserve to have such an amazing woman in my life.  However, I am ambitious today.  I am ambitious to treat my wife in a way that she deserves.  I don’t know how, but I want to show her how much she means to me and just how much I couldn’t live without her.  I could never completely show her how much I need her and love her, but today I want to show her more than I have.

This “Positive Post Tuesday” thing has gone so well and I have been blown away by all the people participating in it.  I hope that through this the people writing the posts are being as encouraged as the people that are being written about.  I know sometimes it’s hard to come up with something nice to say every week, and it has been for me too, but I think it’s an amazing exercise for us to practice.  Let’s see how many posts we can get today.  If you are new you can go here and read how this whole thing started.  Then the rest is easy.  Just write something nice about someone, come back here and add your name and address to the list below.  Tell your friends. Let’s make this massive. Sound good?
 

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*It’s Tuesday again, and you know what that means. It’s time to dig deep into our hearts and actually say something nice about someone. It’s been great to see all the folks that have participated in this here “Positive Post Tuesday”, and I can’t help but think that it’s bringing people a little closer together every week. That’s the goal anyway.

This week I decided to write about my parents. I put my parents through a lot when I was growing up. There was never a time when I was “pushing the envelope”, as they say, figuring out new ways to cause trouble while yet still avoiding trouble. I went to a pretty conservative Christian High School and typically found myself on the “less of a model student” side of things. Randy and I found ourselves in different types of trouble nearly every day.  I know for a fact they went to bat for me more times than I could count, even when the principal told them he was counting the days until I graduated.  

 But aside from bailing me out of situations I found myself in, my parents always seemed to support whatever decision that I made. If it was something I truly believed in or at the very least didn’t harm anyone, they got behind me and supported me. Even now as an adult, it seems like every decision that I am passionate about (even if it’s moving their grandkids across the country) they get behind.

Growing up I know there were times where my parents chose my comfort over theirs and made decisions based on something that in the end would benefit me. Things like the high price of that conservative Christian high school, was a sacrifice that they made because they felt like it was best for me. And for as much trouble I got in there, it was probably the best decision to keep me out of a normal high school.

All this to say that I think my parents are pretty cool cats, and I’m glad they still manage to put up with the weird things I decide to do. I know that my mom will pass this post around to everyone she knows because she thinks I don’t have nice things to say about them, but in the end I can honestly say that I wouldn’t be who I am today without the love and support of my parents.

 Now it’s your turn. Remember how this works? I know there are a bunch of people that read this blog that haven’t participated in “Positive Post Tuesday” and if you haven’t you should. No seriously. It’s cool to see how just thinking and vocalizing (even though you are typing it) something positive about someone can brighten your day and theirs. There’s no reason anyone reading this can’t come up with something nice to say about someone, so let’s see what you’ve got. Remember the rules? (1) Write a post saying something nice about someone. (2) Copy that posts URL address and paste it in this box. (3) Read some other “Positive Posts” and have a great Tuesday. Ready? Go.

*No that is not a picture of my parents, but I plan on getting my dad a kilt like that some day.

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I don’t deserve this kid. He’s our oldest. Our trial run. The one where we look back and say, we should have done things differently. He’s also the one that has taught me more than anyone about forgiveness, and he’s five years old.

Blue will be six in August. He and I have a special bond. It’s not like I love him more than any of my other kids or anything weird like that. We’ve known each other longer, we’ve spent the most time together and we both have learned a lot. Blue has grown up going to concerts with me, helping me work, and has always seemed older than he is. He plays hard and sleeps harder. Everything in his life is done with as much passion as he can muster. I’ve never seen him do something half-way. To me that is an inspiration and I hope it never goes away.

Blue is also as hard headed as they come. If there is something he wants he will not stop until he achieves it. As much as that drives me crazy I hope it is something that never goes away. He is determined and strong. Other amazing things he has taught me. I don’t believe there is anything he doesn’t think he can do.

Because Blue is our oldest, he catches most of the heat for mishaps around the house. He’s in trouble more than the other boys and sometimes wrongfully accused. He takes things in stride and again, is very passionate about his defense. He has a fire that is strong, yet always sees the good in people. He loves his brothers and always has their best interest in mind.

I am excited to see what life has for this little guy. His passion and drive is something I have never seen. Even with this broken foot he refuses to slow down. He refuses to let that stop him from anything. Today we are headed back to the doctor for possibly a hard cast, and Blue keeps telling us he’s fine.

Determination, forgiveness, drive, passion, excitement, and love. That’s my five-year old and I love every minute of being around him.

Your turn. Write something positive about someone you know. Build them up like we are supposed to. Write about it on your blog, then come back here and let us all know. Sound good? Have fun. How many can we get?

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I’ve talked about Michael on here before, but this week I wanted him to be the subject of my positive post. I’ve known Michael for almost three years now. We met at a festival in Wisconsin (I think) and later realized that we lived a few blocks from each other.

From the first day I met Michael he has been nothing but kind and encouraging to me. And anyone that knows him most likely will say the same thing. The first day I met him I was helping a band selling their merchandise at festivals and our tables were next to each other. We started talking as the day went on, and almost instantly they offered to let me stay on their bus if I had no where else to sleep. From then on the consistency of giving coming from Michael and his wife is amazing.

We haven’t gotten to hang out much lately, but it seems that at least every few weeks or so Michael and I will get together to hang. It’s always a night of encouragement, and good talk when we do. I don’t know how he does it but somehow every time I talk to him he’s encouraging me and building me up. Michael and his family are unbelievably consistent friends and an example of something that I aspire to be in a friend.

Okay, your turn. Write a post on your blog building someone up and post the link (to that specific post - not your general blog URL) below.

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Most of you already know who this guy is, and most of you have probably heard nice things about him already, but this week I chose Bart Millard to talk about for “Positive Post Tuesday”. I think a lot of times guys like this get so much recognition in one aspect of their life, but it’s more of a fan’s praise than it is for them as a real person. This guy is literally one of the nicest guys in the industry.

I have had the opportunity to work with Bart, and the rest of the MercyMe family a couple different times and in different roles, most recently working with them on their blog and online presence. The more I work with these guys the more I realize how “normal” and genuine they are. There is nothing “rockstar” about Bart, that I have ever seen. He is the same to the guys in the band as he is to the fans asking for autographs.

A couple weeks back the guys had a show in Nashville and I got the idea to stream video on to their blog from the show and mentioned it without knowing if the venue even had internet. I had no way to really know how to do any of it until I was at the venue testing it out. I got there early and sat down with Bart to try to figure out how to make it work. He had some great ideas, got the rest of the crew involved and it turned out to work really well. The part that blew me away was the next day, when Bart called on the way to his family vacation just to tell me that he thought it went great, was appreciative, and thought it was a great idea.

I know it probably doesn’t sound like a big deal, but to me that shows Bart’s personality and thought of other people. Sure he’s written (and owns) one of the biggest songs in Christian music history, and has several people working with him and under him as a company. Sure he’s on vacation with his family after a tour that lasted three months, but he wanted to call and encourage me in something that I took a chance on. To me Bart is a legit lover of God and people and it’s evident in the way he lives his life. In an industry where competition for attention and status runs about as high as it can, it’s nice to have someone at the top continue to be such a nice guy. To me that’s refreshing.

So now it’s your turn. Remember how to do this? Write a post building someone up. Something positive about them. Then come back here and fill out this box below. Ready? Go.

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