Discipline, Not Desire, Determines Destiny

Wow. It has been a while. I will be honest January was a little crazy and then…

I got lazy.

It’s true. I knew all of the missions I had already started and many more that I wanted to accomplish in this year but I was lazy. I didn’t ‘feel’ like writing and the longer it stretched out the more I didn’t want to continue these missions I had set out to do.

Yesterday was the first time someone tweeted me and asked what was up. That, and my wife gently asking me when I was going to ‘get back to blogging,’ helped spur me out of the slump.

I heard a great quote and I don’t know where it’s from but it says “Discipline not desire determines your destiny.”

I have a lot of desire. Maybe you’re like me you get really motivated and say to yourself “_____ must change,” or “I will accomplish _____.” Desire is great but without discipline those things will never happen.

I am working on daily disciplines and choosing the things are not the easiest or most enjoyable.

Choose to take time to spend with the family.

Choose to shut off the TV and go for a run or read a book.

Choose to respond to that text/email/phone call.

Choose to eat the healthy food and not the junk.

Choose to woo my wife even when I am tired and stressed.

It all starts with a choice.

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Top Three – Ep 4

Top Three – Food

Steak

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lasagna

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pad Thai

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See my other Top Three’s

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9 Reasons I Love my Wife – AKA Happy Anniversary

The Hinger Family

Nine years ago today the #2 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes shocked the #1 Miami Hurricanes in a double overtime victory for the BCS championship.

I only know this because all the guys in my wedding party were constantly trying to find a TV to check the score.

It was nine years ago today that I married the love of my life. We were married at the gorgeous Herrington Inn in Geneva, IL on January 3rd 2003. On one hand it feels as though it has only been moment since we committed to love one another until ‘death do us part,’ and on the other hand there has been so much ‘life’ that has occurred that it is shocking it has only been nine years.  Either way, I am thankful for the past nine years and thrilled to call Amber my wife.

Why is she so great?

I am glad you asked, here are 9 Reasons why I love my wife:

1. Amber is Beautiful – From the day I first met Amber to today she has only grown more and more beautiful. From her strikingly blue eyes and dark brown hair to her infectious smile I am daily reminded that I am a lucky man. Her beauty goes far deeper than the surface as you will see in the rest of these reasons.

2. Amber is Selfless – I have never met someone who puts others before themselves as much as Amber. It’s what makes her an amazing mother, someone that people feel they can open up to, and a joy to be around. I am continually reminded of my selfishness in contrast as I do things to benefit me and whatever she does is for the betterment of someone else.

3. Amber is Passionate – When Amber is fired up about something you will know. Since she is so selfless she has a heart for others and is willing to fight for those who do not have a voice. She is passionate about her family, her relationship with God, and people who bike on the road instead of the sidewalk (sorry babe, I had to).

4. Amber is Funny – She is one of the wittiest, sarcastic people I know. I am usually on the receiving end of said wit, but still I am continually laughing when we are together. What she finds the funniest is scaring the crap out of me. I never know if she is hiding around the next corner ready to pounce and freak me out. I have slowly come to appreciate and expect it.

5. Amber is Smart – Amber knows a lot about everything. I am not kidding. She has a quick mind an

d can hold her own in any conversation. I am always impressed by her wisdom that far exceeds her years. She should have been a lawyer.

6. Amber is Spontaneous – One of the best attributes about Amber is her spontaneity. At the spur of a moment we could be in the car driving to DeKalb for some corn festival or headed in to the city to find a little bakery that she discovered. I love it. It keeps things fresh. You never know when a family wide wrestling match might ensue with Amber as the instigator. Don’t ever change, Amber.

7. Amber is Creative – She has the most amazing ideas. She comes up with ideas all the time. I will give you one example. She has an amazing gift when it comes to cooking or baking. If you have been to our house for dinner or dessert you know what I am talking about. The difference between Amber and myself is that I have to follow a recipe to the exact specifications, no deviations or additions. Whereas Amber will create when she cooks. She doesn’t follow a recipe she just knows what to do. She will see a dish at a restaurant and be able to recreate it at home and it’s better than what we paid money for.  It’s wonderful and I have a waistline that proves it.

8. Amber is Competitive – It’s how we met. Playing volleyball and she would not stop trash talking me. She was competitive. It was all in good fun but that is what made me seek her out and find out more about this girl. We have been playing games ever since and she loves to beat me whenever she can.

9. Amber is a Motivator – Amber has a gift to be able to speak into peoples lives and motivate them to do something greater. She has been my greatest supporter and enragement. She is constantly seeing things in me that I don’t see myself and stirring me up to achieve greater things. I am not the only who has benefitted from her, there are countless numbers of people who have sat down for coffee with her and come away refreshed and encouraged.

I could go on about how amazing my wife is but I’m sure you need to get back to work now.

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New Year’s Resolutions, Missions, and Blogging

I took a bit of a break over the holidays from writing and it was wonderful.

Family. Food. Christmas cookies. Games. New Year’s Eve/Day.

I loved every minute of it.

Now with the New Year it is the perfect time to jump back into the Missions and what I am hoping to accomplish in this thirty first year of my life.

I am excited about what 2012 has to bring. There is anticipation in the air around our house that something big is going to happen this year.

What are your resolutions or missions this year? Let’s make it happen together.

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The Power of Words

I love you.

I hate you.

 You are beautiful.

You’re ugly.

You have the ability to do anything.

You will never amount to anything.

You’re extremely talented.

You are pathetic and worthless.

Words are powerful. They have the ability to bring life or death. Proverbs speaks of it often.

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts. Prov 12:18

Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. Prov 16:24

Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Prov 18:21

We had our staff Christmas party a few days ago and it was an amazing time of fellowship and food. The tradition is that our boss then picks one word to describe each individual and encourages them in the process. It is a simple, yet powerful, moment when the words are being spoken over each individual. Words like supportive, dynamic, enthusiastic, joyful, and inspiring were used to describe the people that I work with on a daily basis.

Dale Prescher is my boss and I have a great amount of respect for him. When he spoke over me it was encouraging, motivating, and almost prophetic. Here is his word for me: John my word for you is courage – you respond to danger without the thought of retreat. You apply the resources you have in creative ways when faced with overwhelming odds. You have been able to follow difficult instructions in the face of adversity and you confront with confidence.


(watch at 24 seconds)

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Mission 16 – Clean it Up

I have mentioned before that I work in youth ministry.

There are a lot of assumptions about youth pastors.

We play video games all day.

We eat three square meals a day of Pizza, Chic-fil-a, and Five Guys.

We are disorganized.

We sit around on Facebook all day.

We dream of making it big on Youtube.

We are only a youth pastor because it’s a stepping stone to becoming a ‘real pastor.’

We can only last 5 minutes while playing Ultimate Frisbee with the students before going into cardiac arrest.

We must have facial hair of some kind.

The trunk of our car is a graveyard of past youth events.

Now some of these assumptions are accurate and some are ridiculous. However, the last one is especially true for me. In my car I have items from a mission trip last year, my pirate costume, and a trophy and megaphone from Turkey Bowl. It’s a problem. My car has become a youth event graveyard.

Mission 16 is to clean up my car and keep it clean. Seems simple enough. We shall see.

Do you find it easy to keep things clean?

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Paralyzed and then Unparalyzed?…

I might be late on this story, but I read it yesterday and I had to pass it on. You can read the full story over at NBC sports but here is an excerpt of Monique von der Vorst‘s story.

“…Paralympic silver medalist Monique van der Vorst has miraculously become an able-bodied Olympic hopeful after a crash reversed her paralysis.

Paralyzed from the hip down since she was 13, the 27-year-old handcyclist, who has just signed with the Rabobank women’s professional cycling team to compete as a top-class able-bodied athlete, was hit by a bicycle last year while training in her wheelchair for the 2012 London Paralympics.

While recovering from the trauma, van der Vorst’s feet started to tingle and miraculously she began to move them again. From that point on she spent months in the hospital and in the rehabilitation centre trying to regain the use of her legs…”

Here is a news clip with a few more details:

This is seriously blowing my mind.

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