Open letter to President Obama

Mr. Obama.  Congratulations on winning your second term as president of the United States.  It is a great victory for you and it must feel satisfying to have won the campaign.  In your first term, I admired that you pulled our military out of places we had no business being and that you oversaw the mission in Pakistan that stopped Osama bin Laden for good.  Your ability to speak has allowed you to go far.

I hope you are not unaware that many in this country do not agree with your view for America.  By voting for the other guy we were trying to say that we do not want to run up our indebtedness to other nations, we do not want the federal government to expand, and we do not want life to be cheapened.  We were voting for a prosperous future where we choose our own medical help.

You are in my prayers Mr. President because as a Christian I am instructed to pray for those in leadership.  Part of my prayers are that you will have a change of heart and will lead in a different direction.

Every man needs to push against the wild

A few weekends ago, I took the chainsaw out and cut up several tree limbs that had fallen and were on the edge of my property.  I was really getting into it.  Cutting, transporting, and stacking.  I liked getting a lot of work done in a short time.  It was great to have such a powerful tool in my hand.  The experience made me think how every man needs to push against the wild.  We men need to be working past the edge of civilization for our own good.  It is a way to get rid of excess energy and pour out our aggravations.  Instead of causing pain to someone we can do some benefit.  We need to use our hands to cut trees, break trail, and put things in order.  There is a big payoff to being out there.  We see that we can accomplish things and add value with the muscles we have.  I think our bodies were made for some heavy work.

So guys, get out there.  Cut up some wood and see if you don't feel better.

Why do people use drugs she asked

In my sunday school class, one of the kids asked about why people use drugs.  I was caught a little off guard but my short answer was that people want to feel good.  Which is accurate.  Personally, I think it is better to be honest with kids as they will find out soon enough anyway.  But upon thinking of this question I came up with a better answer.

People are looking for something big in their lives.  They want to experience something grand and venture into the mysterious.  Without God in their lives, they have to find a substitute.  They end up settling for all sorts of things, including addictive, destructive, and dangerous drugs.

We need something big in our lives.  Something powerful and eternal.  We were designed to worship and be in awe of Someone who is so much more than we are.  When that need is not getting filled legitimately, we fill it with junk that never satisfies.  People use drugs because they are missing God in their lives.

Phone étiquette

I have been doing a lot of phone calling lately.  This has been to Sam and Sally Public mostly.  It surprises me how poorly people answer the phone.  Answering the phone with a short "hello" in a tone of suspicion is not the way one should start a conversation.  Instead, say "hello, this is so and so speaking".  Have a brightness to your words and smile through the phone.  Answer the call with gladness that someone has taken an interest in you.  Welcome the conversation and put the shields down.

If you don't have time to take a phone call, don't answer the phone.  It doesn't make any sense that people picked up the phone only to say they don't have time to talk.  If you don't have time to talk, let the phone ring and let it go to voice mail.

Set up your answering machine message properly.  State your name and ask callers to leave their name, phone number, and message.  Anyone can do this.  The outgoing message helps to confirm that the caller dialed the right number.

People need to get better at their phone speaking skills.  With a little effort, I think they can do it.

LinkedIn vs. Resume

LinkedIn is superior to a resume.  It would be my wish to never write, update, or keep a resume ever again.  Hopefully, we will get to the point were we can drop this ancient document for good.

LinkedIn is dynamic, changing, and updating.  A resume is stagnant and confining.  LinkedIn is electronic.  A resume is on paper.  LinkedIn has a color picture.  Resumes generally do not have pictures.  LinkedIn has room for groups, lists of books read, and skills.  Resumes don't usually include these interesting tidbits.  LinkedIn is easy to update.  Resumes can be updated but editing seems like a lot of effort.  LinkedIn is fun.  Resume's are things you must deal with.  LinkedIn is interactive as you can post a status and read and like other people's posts.  A resume is sent to the human resource department where it is promptly sent into a black hole never to be heard or seen again.

Personally, I would rather point people to my LinkedIn profile so that they can get a more complete and accurate image of who I am.  For any business owners out there, I hope you will stop requiring people to send resumes and instead request the url of the person's LinkedIn profile.