Say It Ain't So

So I'm not sure that the title has everything to do with the subject of today's post but it was designed with the hopes that you would open the link to see what its all about.

I hope your still with me because I just want to share a truth with you that I always seem to forget. The truth about how lucky and blessed that I truly am, that we all truly are. You see no matter what is going on in our current lives, I've discovered that somebody always has it worse.

Most of my family has been down with the flu bug in one capacity or another over this Thanksgiving Holiday and its just been kind of rushed. My wife and I both got hit hard Sunday into Monday just as she was scheduled to go back to work and to top it all off the heat is not working in her car so now I have to also get up at 5:30 to drive her to work in the dark and the rain with a belly ache.

Wow, talk about a whiner and no I'm not complaining honey, just trying to make my point. Actually to tell the truth I was really kind of feeling that way on this particular morning but I sucked it up and smiled and on our way we went.

As we drove off in the dark I started to think about the fact that my lovely wife gets up five days a week and heads off to work at the wee hours of the morning while I lie in bed. You see I've worked from home for 15 years now and for the most part set my own hours.

As we drove and started our morning conversations I noticed all the other folks out there headed off to their morning destinations. Probably going somewhere they didn't want, to do something they really didn't want to do just for the good of the cause. 

Then I noticed a mother walking her young child along the dark city streets bundled up under an umbrella while I was driving my late model truck with good heat and Sirrus XM radio. My wife says yes, I see that every morning and I began to think about that.

She told me about a another young mother and her child that she sees walking towards a day care near our neighborhood every day of the year. We talked about how she probably lives in "that apartment complex" and can't afford a car of her own.

Then my wife started telling me about a NFL Team that partners every year with a furniture manufacturer and other companies to provide beds and linens for 100 children from the city streets that don't have beds of their own. Can you imagine not having a bed of your own?

After I dropped my beautiful and patient wife off at work assuring her I would return later I began to think about the situation in Tennessee. The last I heard over 140 homes have burned to the ground in the last several days, businesses are gone and people have lost their lives and I'm whining about getting up at 5:30 to take my wife to work, did I mention in a warm vehicle and Peter Frampton to entertain me on the way back.

So I get home and start to begin my day and in my emails I find an all important message from a company I partner with that really kicked me in my butt. Yes just what I needed on a day like today.

You see as humans we complain, we try to figure life out (why me) and we take for granted most things that we have, especially in this great nation. With the recent happenings over our country's election, natural disasters, more school shootings and the oncoming of what should be one of our most sacred holidays - we still seem to forget who is in control.

Phillipians 4:13 says: I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

No matter what your beliefs are, I would ask you to think about that a little today. To think about maybe a time when things weren't really going your way. 

Who did you turn to? What was the outcome? Do you wish it somehow could of been different?

I would also ask you to always remember that no matter how bad things are, there is always someone worse off than you. That maybe reaching out with a helping hand may be something you could have used in your time of need.

Thanks for reading and may God Bless you always in everything you do.

No Matter Who Is President - Jesus is King

Matthew 28:18 (NIV) - 

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

I know they say that religion and politics should not be mixed, but I’ll ask you in light of the recent happenings in our country, do you know what God has to say about it all? 

And if he were involved do you think that maybe things would be any different than what they currently are?

No matter whether you believe in a Heavenly Father, God Creator of all or not I would bet that you would prefer to live in a more peaceful society than not.

The Bible says in Daniel 2:21 (NIV)

He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.

As a Christian believer I interpret this to mean that just like he changes the seasons God will control who he allows to become our current leaders and he will in fact send others if the current ones aren’t doing a good job. That he will guide those who will seek out the truth.

The Bible also says in Titus 3:9 (NIV)

But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.

Again, whether you agree with the outcome or not, it is the outcome. So wouldn’t it be wise for us to move on to other important things such as healing and repair, to support the position and not the person filling the position.

More importantly the Bible says in Leviticus 19:18 (NIV)

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

Let’s face it, many are happy about the outcome but there are many who are not. Would it not be wise whether you consider yourself a Christian or not to try and make the best of the current situation and to give it some time before passing judgment on what the future outcome may be. Research shows that 80% of the things we worry about never come to fruition anyhow.

I guess a couple of things to possibly take away from this are that number one, Gods Will ultimately controls everything and nothing that any government will do can overthrow that. You may ask then if that’s true why God would allow such violence to be going on in our country.  I guess to that response I would ask if you believe that current activities in our society are a Blessing or maybe rather a Judgement from God.

Secondly, we must grasp the fact that our government cannot and should not save us. Only we can do that through the power of Jesus Christ by humbling ourselves, by loving our neighbors and by determining Gods Will for our lives and discovery of the transforming power of the gospels found in the Bible.

Proverbs Follow Up - Wisdom vs Salvation

Hello All,

Wow, we just finished our Motocross for Christ August Proverbs Bible Challenge.

A verse a day for each of the 31 days in August. I don't know about you but I certainly learned a lot. Below find a video to follow up from that study with.

Proverbs talks about how we should live our life but not about how we get to Heaven.

Watch video - Wisdom vs Salvation  Click Here

I hoped that helped and I would certainly appreciate all feedback on the subject.

Remember - we can never be good enough to get into Heaven. The good news is that all we need to do is accept the fact that Jesus is the Son of God and believe that he died for all of our sins and confess those to the Lord.

The rest is a project in the making. God Bless until next time.

Proverbs Chapter 9 - Motocross 4 Christ August Challenge

Hi all and thanks for stopping by:

Motocross 4 Christ is a non profit group who ""Connects Kids to God's Love Through Motocross". Please join us as we seek to discern the book of Proverbs on a daily basis in the month of August.

◄ Proverbs 9 ►

Invitations of Wisdom and Folly
From: Bible Hub.com

1Wisdom has built her house;

she has set up^a its seven pillars.

2She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;

she has also set her table.

3She has sent out her servants, and she calls

from the highest point of the city,

4“Let all who are simple come to my house!”

To those who have no sense she says,

5“Come, eat my food

and drink the wine I have mixed.

6Leave your simple ways and you will live;

walk in the way of insight.”

7Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;

whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.

8Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you;

rebuke the wise and they will love you.

9Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;

teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.

10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

11For through wisdom^b your days will be many,

and years will be added to your life.

12If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;

if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.

13Folly is an unruly woman;

she is simple and knows nothing.

14She sits at the door of her house,

on a seat at the highest point of the city,

15calling out to those who pass by,

who go straight on their way,

16“Let all who are simple come to my house!”

To those who have no sense she says,

17“Stolen water is sweet;

food eaten in secret is delicious!”

18But little do they know that the dead are there,

that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.

Selling Out - Are You All In

Hey All,

As I get older I sometimes wonder why I am even here. I mean, life on this earth is just temporary and sometimes so challenging but the word on the street teaches us that we are all here for a reason. Do you ever wonder what your purpose is, or why you are even here?

There is no reason known to humanity that I'm even still alive after the life I've led unless there is a bigger plan for me, a mission to fulfill, a difference to make.

I guess the big question for all of is, have we figured out what that is yet and if we have, are we sold out to it? This can apply to your home life, your job and most importantly the world around you.

Now I guess there are some of you that believe that we are just here and then we die and I don't get that because its not what my belief is. I'm also not here to try and change your belief, I would just ask you to reflect on your life and everything that happens around you and ponder whether or not it can all be for nothing.

For those of you who do believe that God created you for a purpose then I'll ask you - have you pondered what that purpose is? I know its difficult, we are always searching for that answer and I personally believe that I have found it but won't always acknowledge it because its not always what I want for my life. How about you, do you know why you're here and are you sold out to it if you do?

I would challenge everyone to search, to pray, to follow those nudges from the Holy Spirit and discover what your true purpose in life is then sell out to it, to give it everything you've got and to make a difference not only in your life but in the world around you.

Motocross For Christ Camp - 2016

Hey All,

I just wanted to reach out with a short post and thank all that attended for making 2016 another great year at camp. I've attended just about every camp ever held since the beginning way back in 2004-05 time frame. Each and every one has been a blessing to me and I just wanted to thank everybody who helps make it happen.

The group from the second camp of the week.

The format changed a little this year for camp. In years past camp would be held at two different locations at different times of the summer. To ease up on volunteers this year both camps were held back to back in the same week at the beautiful Miles Mountain MX facility in Tioga, Pa - truly God's Country.

Miles Mountain Website

This year again between the two camps we ministered to over 100 campers and many more adult volunteers and parents. Once again God decided to bless the efforts and multiply and a total of eight people were baptized at camp.

Baptisms from the first part of the week.

Motocross for Christ is a non profit organization that "Connects Kids To Gods Love Through Motocross". Each camp offers faith based learning, motocross training, service projects, testimonials, great fun and entertainment and a peaceful solitude that only God can bring.

For more information or to attend a future camp please follow them on their Facebook page and please share that information with all your friends.

MX4C Facebook Page

Reading - The Big Fail

Hi All,

I'm fired up here today. I'm an avid reader and have learned most everything I know either thru life experiences or by reading it in a book. Many don't realize the power we have at our fingertips if we are just willing to read and most times you can get the info for free or next to nothing.

Check out a little video I put together by clicking here then I'll share more.

Yes, I've spent the last 20 years of my life researching ways to get ahead in life and I learned it mostly by reading books. I didn't pay attention in school and I grew up in a time that education and getting ahead in life weren't huge priorities. 

The population was much smaller, there was no internet for the transfer of information and everybody just kind of floated through life "Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll" was the theme and we all lived it.

As I grew older and started a family I realized that I needed to know more. I also realized that I needed to have the right attitude or mental focus to get what I wanted out of life.

Hence the reason I'm so fired up today. After 20 years of research and 5 years of procrastination I finally released my first written project in this category.  I wrote this little book over 5 years ago in the hopes of helping others and launching my writing career. After pulling a rough draft out of a drawer and reading it several times I decided it was time to get her published.

The concept is simple, you read this little book out loud to yourself three times each day and your attitude and beliefs will change which will in turn change your position in life.

So you have a $10 investment and 15 minutes each day for your three reads and you'll be well on your way to accomplishing anything you want in life.

To order you can contact me through my blog or send me an email to: jimbullsells@gmail.com

I don't know, will it work for you? What if you could lead a better life? What if it really was that easy? Would you take the time to find out?

Order today - what do you have to lose?  Get three copies for $10... jimbullsells@gmail.com 

Reaching Your Goals - You Can Do It Too

I wanted to talk with you today about reaching goals, #1 because I just met a huge one myself and #2 because for many, the biggest race of the year is right around the corner.

I'm going to share my success with you just as example for you to know that you too can reach any goal you want to achieve.

If I can do it at 50 + something being a junk food junky all my life then you can too. My doctor told me to lose at least 25 pounds, 35 he said would be better. I had no clue how I was going to pull that off but thru getting the right information and lots of hard work and discipline, to date I am down 30 lbs and there is no turning back.

Now to you - the NE Regional Youth qualifier is this weekend followed by the Amateur National Championships in just about a month and a half.

Never fear, I believe you can do it but more importantly you need to believe you can do it. You all have natural talent and lots of support from your sponsors and families. There is one key component though that can take you that extra lap.

You need to get the mental edge, you need to know the secret tricks to get you that extra lap. It is the easiest and the cheapest training you will ever do and it will get you the biggest results.

The best part is that all you need to do is click here: How to Win The Big One - Free Info

Please do it now and please follow the directions in the report. I know school is out but I promise you if you follow this one last lesson, it could be the best thing you ever do for yourself.

The Battle in the Brain

Hey all,

As promised I'm back with my weekly update. I had this post scheduled for later on the calendar but a phone call with a friend yesterday made me realize how important the topic is, not only to weight loss, but to everything we do in life.

So this weight loss battle that I've been doing. This time it has been unbelievably easy as compared to other times I've tried. I owe it all to a couple of things but number one to finding the right system. The system includes putting the right things into the body and getting the bad things out, it also includes a support system and a road map to get things done. It also includes coaching from others that have gone before. But the biggest thing that is required, is the belief that you too can accomplish it. (hence the battle in the brain).

I related the image above of Bugs Bunny fighting  Homer Simpson to today's subject.From what I know of Homer he is always down and believing that the world is against him and Bugs, well Bugs just goes through life getting what he wants. I don't know the outcome of this boxing match but I'd put my money on the rabbit.

I'm sure Homer had a teacher in life or a father figure that taught him all of his lovely habits. You see Homer let his subconscious mind rule his world vs Bugs who was a guy who took control and didn't listen to the status quo.

The point I'm trying to make is that we all have our demons. Most of us have not been taught the proper way to think and many of us have had other people in our lives who have drug us down. This stuff gets embedded into our brains and our brains control our world. I've read that your subconscious brain is the size of an elephant compared to your conscious thoughts that are the size of an ant.

(Read the Ant and the Elephant by: Vince Poscente)

The good news is - if you try really hard by getting around the right people, reading the right stuff and telling yourself the right things. Your ant can kick your elephants butt and start to turn things around for you. 

I'll use my weight loss as the example because thats my current mission. Many times through out the day, my elephant says "its time to get something to eat" and then my ant says "but you aren't even hungry you fool". If I would let my elephant control my life, I would fail once again. (old bad habits)

So be aware of your thoughts, when they are headed in the wrong direction make a conscious effort to change them and life will get better soon. 

The Transformation Project

Hey all,

For those of you that have been watching my posts lately you know that I'm on a new mission in life. Well, that is, an added mission to everything else that I am into.

Earlier this year I had just had enough. Enough of the feeling fat, enough of the feeling bad, enough of the clothe not fitting, enough of the Dr. telling me to lose weight. Anyhow you get the picture.

And I think that's what it takes sometimes, you just have to be fed up with where your at in life. I've heard that you either hate change enough to stay where you're at or you hate where you're at enough to change.

And that's when my own personal "Transformation Project" began. I knew I needed help because I had tried before and I was serious this time so I finally gave in and asked for help.

Thank goodness I found the answers I needed.

I'll post a before picture here and a current picture. I don't know how long this is going to take, a lifetime I guess but here are my results from about two months in.

March 15, 2016 - the day I started.

May 20, 2016 - today.

I hope you all will follow me on this journey. When I began it was all about me but as I go forward I see where so many others need the answers too. 

Just over two months ago a family member introduced me to a nutritional rebalancing system and that has been the key to date. I drink two meal replacement shakes a day that give me all the natural nutrition that I wasn't getting before and I eat one good meal a day, and lots of water. We also cleanse out the bad toxins once a week. I'm learning that its 80% nutrition and 20% exercise. 

You see before I would go to the gym 3 or 4 days a week and spend an hour and a half on a treadmill or bike just literally killing myself and 6 months later I would be down 5 pounds if I was lucky. I just didn't have the answers or the will power to eat the right stuff and the time at the gym was boring.

Today I can say I've lost 22 lbs and I'm down a pant size and I feel better than I have in years. I know what I'm going to eat and when I'm going to eat it and I'm learning new habits that I hope will last a life time. The coolest part is that I only joined the gym two weeks ago for $10 a month. 

So here's the deal - get the right stuff in, cleanse the bad toxins out , do the 30 minute express work out at the gym 2 -3 times a week and continue on with the project.  

I hope you'll all follow along with my transformation and watch the progress. Better yet if you want to join me, shoot me a message and I can help you make "the I'm fed up change" too.

Until next time...

How Much Time Do We Really Have

I've heard that time is our most valuable commodity and for the most part I guess I would agree. It's funny though because time after time I hear people say, I just don't have time for that, I'm guilty of it myself. I guess we all assume that time is infinite here on earth and that we'll get to that special task or things that are important to us, "someday".

The older I get the more I realize that even if everything goes right that my time is getting shorter. It makes me more aware of what I'm spending my time on and what is really important to me. After all, tomorrow isn't promised.

Hence some of the changes I've decided to make recently. When I think about time I ultimately come back to "quality time" because its very easy to spend time doing whats not necessary or even enjoyable. The more I think about it, the more I believe it really comes down to "healthy time". I mean, you could give me another 100 years, but if I'm not healthy is it really going to be time you want to spend?

And then there is my biggest thought, they tell us to work 45 years of our life and pinch and save so you have something when you "retire" for when you actually have time to do the things you want to do. I don't know about you but if I have to wait until I'm 65 or 70 to start enjoying life, I dag gone want to make sure I'm healthy to do it.

What about you, what do you think? Will you be healthy enough to enjoy your retirement?

My thought was that it was time to find a way to finally get healthy and to maybe create some more time to enjoy it and today I'm counting my blessings because I believe I may be on the right track.

Believe it or not, I believe I may have actually found a way to do both. (more next time)

Here's another "If I can do it you can too" Moment

Wow - the first one was huge, the moment that is.

The moment when I realized I was no longer the selfish, mean, do anything to anybody to get what I wanted kind of person. (for more on that story just read some of my past blog posts) and as my cousin says "are you sure your still allowed to live in this state. lol"

That change in my life was monumental and probably the biggest that will ever occur. But then again maybe not, this current metamorphosis has to do with my physical change, not my mental change. And without your health first, I guess you really have nothing.

You see a few months ago I went in for my 50 year tune up (physical) and I was pretty sure what the doc was going to tell me. Even back a few weeks before that I was out shopping for some new jeans and I just couldn't make it work. I have consistently been going up in size over the years and when I got to this latest benchmark the answer was - no way, Jose.

Anyhow back to the doctors appointment. When I stepped on the scales I was heavier than I have ever been before and over 50 pounds heavier than the day I got married. I have some health issues that have been affected because of my weight and the doc says - "Jim, its time to loose that 25 lbs we've been talking about".

Whew, ok I get it but how in the world am I going to do that? I'm a class A certified junk food junkie who works from home and scavenges the fridge and cubbards every other hour. And trust me, there's nothing good going in. I've tried the gym, you kill yourself on the treadmill for an hour, four days a week for six months straight and you lose maybe three pounds.

I knew it was time for drastic measures, I knew it was time to ask for help, I knew the eating had to change and that's when I called for help. Praise God I made the right call this time.

I'm happy to report that I'm only two months into the journey at this point and I'm down over 20 pounds and feeling the best I have in ages, the best part is that I've just recently hit the gym for the first time.

In the past I've quit smoking, quit drinking and literally changed my lifestyle but I never thought I could pull this off and I consider myself very strong mentally.

How you ask? We'll get to that next time around. I'm off to the gym for the second time in this journey and actually enjoying that too.

Check back next week and at some point I'll share the secret to my success.

What If....

Hello All,

Please excuse my absence but I will tell you however that there is no excuse for it.

Isn't it funny what we learn as we go? I've spent the better half of a century thinking that I pretty much knew it all. I've tried to educate my kids and even others, sometimes I believe just to hear myself talk. And probably not, deep down inside I have this burning desire to help others in my own special way.

I 've been struggling with some things lately and I was recently on a weekend assignment with my young adult son for our Brapp Magazine and he was listening to the old man rant and rave.

Finally he just turned to me and said dad,

What if you could be or do anything you wanted, what would you do?

Now I know I've asked him the same question at least 100 times. In our home we believe that you can be anything you want to be if you set your mind to it and are willing to work for it. I find it completely amazing when you think they weren't listening all those times and they turn it right back around on you.

Why am I telling you all this you ask? It hit me at that very moment. Although I enjoy very much some of the things that I currently do, what I really want to do is share.

Share my experiences, share what I know and hopefully help someone share to others along the way.

I started this blog years ago with the same intent in mind but somehow got away from it. Well if you are reading this I guess we've both figured out that I 'm back.

So I will ask you the same question my son asked me. 

What if you could do or be whatever you wanted, what would you do?

Think about that for a while and I'll see you next time at Jim Bull Talks....