So Much More From The Overtons

In my SpotOnTheLake blog this week, I mentioned the Overton's water sports company.  In the 1990's, Kristi Overton was a world-record holder in slalom skiing, and her dad was the founder of the Overton's company.   After retiring from professional water skiing, Kristi started a non-profit organization called In His Wakes.  In His Wakes provides opportunities for kids who would never have a chance to experience water sports to have a day filled with fun on the water.  Click here for more on Kristi's story including some great vintage film.

Kelly Clark Winning

I am a huge fan of the Olympics and have been watching faithfully for the last week.  Kelly Clark is a US snowboarder specializing in the half-pipe event and has broken records by being in her fifth consecutive Olympic games.  Kelly finished fourth this year, just two points from her fourth medal, but I am pretty sure that her performance will only lead to greater things for her.  Kelly finds her significance is something bigger than snowboarding and will be sure to tell the world about it.  I hope you can take time to hear her story about how she made this life-changing decision here and then hear more about her journey since then here.  Prepare to be inspired.

Pride and Pretense

I mentioned earlier that I have been reading "The Pursuit of God" by A.Z. Tozer.   The introductory verse to today's reading is from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.  "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."  This is one of the tough ones for me.  Being in real estate, we are taught that buyers and sellers want to work with the best, and in order for people to know that, I feel the urge to tell them.  Telling others about our success does not feel very meek to me.  It is a little more biblical to just treat people right, and have them tell others and have those others tell others.  That works well to some extent, but I am not sure it is enough.  The common ground that I try to get to is that I know that everything I have; every skill, every client, every transaction - everything - comes from God.  I would have nothing without him.  I praise Him that He has gives me work that I look forward to every day, and I praise Him when He gives me tough clients that force me to look to Him for guidance.  I don't want to feel the need to pretend to be something other than what I am.  I want to know that I am exactly what God intended me to be and that it is only my sin that can separate me from Him.

More About Michael

This week in my SpotOnTheLake blog, I recognized Michael Miller as the fourth highest producing real estate agent in our area.  Michael is also my son.  I have been in real estate for 15 years, and Michael probably knew from the beginning that us being in business together was an option.  Five years ago, he decided to join me, and our business has flourished in large part due to his efforts.   I hope that we can continue to find success working together.  In addition to the business success, I love watching him thrive at being a husband, father and a son.  He has an amazing capacity for balancing his emotional energy.  No doubt, much of that capacity is driven by his deep and abiding love in Jesus.  I am so proud of the man that he has become.