About Me

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Welcome to my blog - My name is Jim Bull and I share this information with you in the hopes of helping you or a friend or family member in some way. Here you'll find motivational material, my views of life and some background info from my past. I help others live the life they've always wanted through the sharing of information regarding all areas of life.Please let me know how I can help you. Ezekiel 36:26

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

The Leap of Faith - Again

Here I am again finding myself on the verge of a huge change. It's funny how life guides you or should I say how God guides you through life. It took me a lot of years to figure that out and I certainly went about it the hard way. I am a firm believer though that the path has been etched, that from the day we are born that a plan has been laid out for our lives. Yes, we have the free will to make decisions and to change the course, or do we really, is that all part of the master plan.
I read an article from a pastor last week that really struck home with me. He was talking about all the people that come to him on a regular basis and ask him, "how do I recognize God's will for my life"? His answer is always, have you asked God what his will for your life is? And if so, have you listened? I'm sure most of you already know the answer to that and yes it is that simple - just ask and don't ask anyone but God.
Anyhow there have been many major leaps of faith over the years and yes the human side of us always makes it frightening? Why we act that way I don't know because God has promised us a life of great treasures as long as we follow him. Human nature I guess, and as I set on the verge of this move I look back and smile because we have been faithful and we have made it through. Yet I am still scared.
So surge on and believe and work hard. I'll pray for energy and success daily and I'll follow some of my favorite words of the Bible. Seek and you will find, ask and you will receive, knock and the door will be opened. I've found that it applies to everything I do in life.
How could I go wrong?

Friday, February 24, 2012

Excellence vs Mediocrity

I started to write this post yesterday but then I stopped. Many times when I think about the above comparison I stop and say, go easy on people, nobodies perfect and everyone makes mistakes. I know I make my share. I remember back to when my son was playing ice hockey at a pretty competitive level. I used to complain all the time about the kids on the ice that didn't give it their all and about their parents who were always saying
"It doesn't matter if they win or lose - as long as they have fun". I say crap...
It's this kind of teaching that is allowing our youth to be soft, to expect everything to be done for them, for everything to be fair - unfortunately life is not that way and future generations will suffer because of it.
Now I know that this could open up many areas of discussion and I know that most people agree with the above statement. My own son even called me out on it one day while he was sitting on the starting line for a motorcycle race. I said to him, take it easy, it doesn't matter how you finish son, as long as you finish safe. He was about twelve at the time and he said to me - "Dad, then why are you always complaining when the kids on the hockey team don't give it their best"?
It was a defining moment in time where I was about to teach my son another life lesson. The difference as I see it is this. When playing on the team, especially at the AA level, as a team member you have to play with excellence and not mediocrity. The whole team is counting on you and if you want to play at a lessor level then join a group that is not as competitive. Now when racing the motorcycle, your results are only based on the effort you put out. How you perform doesn't affect anyone but yourself. You really should operate at your best effort possible - but the result only affect you.
There are not many things that work that way in life, individual sports is one of the only things that come to mind. In most professions or families it takes teamwork to be successful . In my businesses I find myself always depending on other peoples efforts to achieve a high level of quality service. It seems however that most people only want to operate at about half speed. I know most of us don't like policies or rules, myself included. Here's the thing though, if you take a position or agree to play by certain rules, then do it. Do it to the best of your abilities each and every time you do it. You don't know who you're going to affect if you don't or if you do.
I hear people say all the time, I need a raise. You know what I say, work like you just got one then maybe you'll get one. You have to give to get. Perform at your best at all times and you'll make a difference not only in the lives of others but in your life too.
Go ahead, give it a try - I dare you.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

The Next Time...

Hey all, wow is all I can really say. I just read my last blog post dated I believe Nov. 15, 2011. I was talking about learning to live in the blur and about finally getting a chance to breath and wanting to post more regularly. Well, it's been more than three months and I'm still trying to shake out the cob webs. Again I'm a few days away from a deadline but I really don't care, it will all get done.. It's time to blog again - writing is what I love to do and my goals are to help other people with my ramblings - so here we go.
I have no clue where I left off in my life story. I'll have to go back and see. Lately, I've been thinking that there is so much happening in my future that I don't even need to talk about the past. The main reason I shared some of that stuff with you is to let you know that anybody can change, if you really want to. That bad decisions from the past need not hold you back in your present. That no matter what you've done that God will forgive you and that life can be good.
That even if you've made bad decisions lately, that things can be fixed. Don't be fooled by the quick fix either, stick to your plan and move towards your goals.
Back to the present, yeah, I'm tired and I struggle with getting all of it done lately but my G-Son has been the biggest blessing to me and my entire family. It would be easy to fall down and take the "apparently easy route" to have a drink or sneak a toke. That would make it better, not. No matter how many sleepless nights we suffer or how many trips to the store for supplies that we make - A is the man, and all our lives are better because of him.  
Until next time, stay strong and come along for the ride. Life is good on the righteous side.