Oh boy, a month since last I wrote.

Not good.

Truth is, early in the month we were away a bit, which was really nice, and the second half of the month leading into this week has been madness.

Talk about 'back to reality'.

Dude.

Try this on for size...

How 'bout all four of your kids start school at a NEW school? Make it a private school. Now make it so that your wife and you are working (every day) at said school teaching Bible (me) and Fitness (her) so that you can *afford* to send said kids to said school. Add to that shooting 20 episodes of one of your television series and head coaching your youngest sons football team two nights a week while supporting your eldest son at his practice the other two key nights of the week. Oh, and don't forget moving your church to a new location along with all the technical/organizational shenanigans that go along with that. Lastly, make sure Friday has you flying to Philly for a day of pitch meetings and don't forget to prep all 23 of those pitches and get ready to write your sermon on the flight home 'cause Saturday (after your boys football game) you're going to be at the new location building in the tech side all day.

Plus, better preach your butt off Sunday, 'cause it matters.

Phew...

Some week right?

Two things.

One, the wife and I have been pretty stressed this week. This stress has gotten us questioning our life and calling as well as the practical ways in which we're walking that out. I keep reminding her to calm down and not judge her/our entire life based on one crazy week.

Two, when life gets busy (productively so) I tend to get encouraged because I've found that momentum tends to breed momentum and work breeds work. So I'm hoping that this busy run turns into a sustained new 'chapter' in our lives where we take the things we're doing to a whole other level.

Chances are your Fall is feeling a little like ours so, chances are, you should be feeling tired (just like me) and, maybe, just a little bit hopeful at the same time.

T

Some thoughts today...

I was working on financials today, which is my least favorite thing to do, and the thing I'm least gifted to do in terms of my working life.

So I made sure to watch some documentaries while I worked.

Here are some thoughts they shared that struck me, and which I thought might be helpful for you...

-Give them an idea they can't resist...

Big. Very helpful in terms of story development, and sermon-writing. Also helpful in terms of making sales pitches.

-Gifted advertisers are able to recognize what it is that turns people on...

Again, I like this very much. Both the idea that you can be 'gifted' to do something and the reality that turning someone on (whatever that means) is an absolute key to getting their attention and action.

-The TRUTH matters...

This is fantastic, freeing, and challenging all at once.

-Advertisers are trying to entertain society by using clients products...

They stressed that there is great value in entertaining someone. I like that. Am constantly seeking to apply that to each opportunity I have to speak to a group of people.

-We need to stop being careful...

We're told all our life to be careful, not to risk, to watch out. The sense from this doc was that it's only when we stop being careful and start routinely risking that we can achieve anything of significance. They also stressed how important it is to create a nurturing safe environment so that when you risk and get rejected you can find solace and healing so that you can up and risk again.

Great.

-The real risk is not in defying convention, but in trying to be authentic.

I really liked that. I get accused of being overly-sincere sometimes, but if getting labeled or called names is what comes from the quest for authenticity, so be it.

-A great product becomes the BADGE of a like-minded community.

Wow. So true. How can this be (appropriately) applied to a faith-community?

-There will always be somebody with a message...

True.

What's mine? How can I continue spreading it?

What's yours?

T

Episode 225...

Our last shot today.

Episode 225.

That's right...

two.hundred.and.twenty.five.

Pretty intense.

I was reflecting the other night with my wife that I'm doing things today that, ten years ago, I would've given my left, well, you know what, to be doing.

Today, they just seem routine.

225 episodes, yeah well, what's next?

And that's exactly how I feel; what's next? I think it's a good thing. I think it's generally positive to always be looking to the next thing, the next challenge, the next project. Especially in show-biz I've found that we have to be working years ahead conceptually to have any chance of being alive and producing years from now.

The show we completed episode 225 on today took my business partner a year and a half to set up. A key reason we got the deal was related to a series we produced four years ago and that series was one we landed because of work we did that got started in 1998.

Head of steam.

That's what this business seems to be about. Keeping at it long enough to build up a head of steam.

So keep at it. Whatever it is that you do, keep at it.

'Episode 225' here you come...

T

ps: for any and all 'boat related' posts from me in the future please visit LIFT Marine...

Rising...

I realize that my movie-loving friends will already be all over this. I also realize that many of my readers here are not industry types so there's a chance, only a chance mind you, that you've haven't yet seen the...

BEST trailer in years.

See you at the theater this weekend.

As usual, Christopher Nolan will equal parts thrill us and make us a little bit depressed about our lack of movie making awesomeness.

T

Reserved...

My wee daughters at 50 Point last week.

The beach you're looking at is reserved for 'boaters' ie: for those who braved the passage to said beach on their boats.

Interesting, you know, there are quite a few things in life that end up being 'reserved' for those who risk.

Not just beaches.

T

Sometimes...

You just gotta' go...

We were going to sail to Toronto, but the wind and waves were against us so, instead, we sailed to 50 Point. We'd heard it was a lovely spot, and man, was it ever.

On the way home the next day it was so freakin' hot that we just stopped the boat and jumped overboard. That's right, out in the middle the lake for a half hour swim.

Kids loved it.

The thing Niki and I really took away from the experience was how important it is to embrace life and 'just go'. We didn't overthink the decision to go, we were prepared, and then adapted to what the conditions dictated.

Sure, you can stay home 'cause you're not sure what life will give you if you head out, or you can get ready, go, and see what happens.

We're here to remind you that sometimes good things happen.

Like a mid-lake swim.

T

Time for thought...

Taken from the deck of our boat, motoring over to Toronto Island this past weekend. I took some of my guy friends on a bit of a sailing adventure.

I really love introducing people to the magic of sailing.

We were reflecting on how the SkyDome (pictured center frame above) used to *be* the skyline of Toronto but, in the past ten years, has all but disappeared behind the dozens of condos rising along the shores of downtown.

Toronto is changing.

Just like everything else.

Got me thinking about my life, wondering how it's changing. Of interest (at least to me) is that the wife and I are dealing with things changing in different ways depending on what's changing and what it's trying to change to.

Specifically, there are some changes in our life (kids getting older, jobs getting more entrenched, career changes looming, travel plans solidifying etc...) that can't be avoided. We're doing our best to embrace those and plan accordingly. There are other changes trying to force themselves into our life that we're actively resisting.

What changes do you need to embrace and help *make* happen, and what ones do you need to resist?

I think this is all related to our age and phase of life.

I realize this is an old story, but for us it's the first time we're dealing with it, so we're finding it a very interesting process and, in the midst of it, doing our best to find time to think.

T