“Boy, you need to learn to eat the meat and leave the bones.”

This is what my Paw Paw advised when I told him about how someone at school had said something mean about me.

“What does that mean?” I asked.

In his matter-of-fact way, he replied, “It means you accept the truth, and ignore the rest.”

I didn’t realize it at the time, but I had just learned an important principle. My Paw Paw was teaching me about discernment. The ability to filter what’s true and false, what’s good and bad, what’s safe to absorb and what’s meant for scraps.

You and I have a thousand little preachers preaching to us everyday. Through the books we read, conversations we have, websites we visit, shows we watch, billboards we see, stories we hear, you name it.

Many of us accept anything, which is really believing in nothing, and often leads to confusion.

Others of us reject everything, which is also believing in nothing, and often leads to apathy.

The truth is, with almost everything you take it in, some is true and some is not.

This means your favorite authors are probably wrong about something.

This means there’s likely a kernel of truth in what critics say about you.

Don’t accept everything at face value; but don’t reject everything either.

Allow the scriptures to guide you, think things through, and learn to eat the meat and leave the bones.

That’s the way of wisdom.

At least, that’s what I’m learning.

Ever had a pebble chip your windshield?

If you have, then you know that the first thing you do is get it repaired. If you don’t, that small chip will turn into a big crack.

I’m guessing there are relationships in your life right now that have a small chip.

This leaves you with two options:

1) Ignore it (and hope it just goes away)

2) Take care of it (and don’t take your chances)

If you ignore it, odds are that small chip in your relationship will grow into a full-blown fracture.

If you take care of it, you may prevent that small chip from becoming a full-blown fracture.

Make the first move.

Take care of the chip.

And don’t do crack.

Clever Inception-style trailer for Dumb & Dumber.

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“Someday, I’m going to chase that dream.”

“Someday, I’m going to get in shape.”

“Someday, I’m going to help those less fortunate.”

“Someday, I’m going to overcome that fear.”

“Someday, I’m going to ask her out.”

“Someday, I’m going to take my family on that trip.”

“Someday, I’m going to finish that project.”

“Someday, I’m going to learn that instrument.”

“Someday, I’m going to be debt-free.”

“Someday, I’m going to be a leader.”

“Someday, I’m going to spend more time with my kids.”

“Someday, I’m going to get these addictions under control.”

“Someday, I’m going to make a difference.”

A life full of regrets is paved on a path littered with somedays.

What’s it going to take to turn someday into today?

Someone dying?

Your health going downhill?

Your kids growing up?

Why wait?

You’re not promised tomorrow!

You have this moment- where your past and your future collide.

Replace the word someday with the the words, “Beginning today…”

And take the next step to advance that someday list forward.

You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life?  For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. - James 4:14

Now’s the time!

Today’s the day!

Don’t waste your life!

You’ve got a story to live!

Go live it!

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When I was a kid, I collected baseball cards.

Today, I collect experiences.

I blame it on Forrest Gump in a way.

That film moved me when I first saw it.

His life was a single story made up of multiple stories.

Stories worth telling.

A life in full.

I wanted a life like that.

In my life so far, I’ve experienced many cool things.

Some of my favorite snapshots…

Popping the question to my bride-to-be during a huge blizzard.

Going overseas when I was in the Air Force for a critical mission (a Top Gun moment)

Sitting in a boardroom atop the Chase Manhattan building overlooking New York City helping make some strategic decisions for a Fortune 500 company.

Seeing my daughter born.

Baptizing my son on Father’s Day a few years back.

Teaching the first message at Project Church and seeing it move from a vision to becoming a reality.

Being able to say thank you and I love you to my Maw-Maw before she breathed her last.

Going to my first wrestling match as a kid and touching all the pro wrestlers as they entered the ring.

Seeing my parents slow dance in the living room to “Sea of Love.”

Planting a tree in Israel.

Driving with my high school buddies on a Friday night listening to “1979″ by the Smashing Pumpkins.

See my beautiful wife walk down the aisle at our wedding.

There are so many more things.

But I have many regrets.

Not just things I’ve done.

But things left undone.

Dreams and experiences collecting dust.

What about you?

Are you living a life worth telling stories about?

Better yet, what’s the story your life is telling?

We settle for a life of trinkets and trash.

When we could have so much more.

Don’t collect Precious Moments, create them.

Your life matters.

Don’t waste it.

You were meant for more.

Love God.

This will fill your heart.

Love people.

This will give you meaning.

Collect experiences.

This will give you stories.