A Future Basketball Player

Last week, Caleb decided to play me in basketball on a slightly lower rim that I am used to playing. To put it plainly, his skills were better than mine. After the game I decided it might do good to shoot a recruiting video to show off his dunking ability.

Here it is…enjoy!

14 Years of Marriage and Now This…

After 14 years of marriage, Carrie is finally sick. No, not sick of me, but she is “Type-A-Stay-in-the-bed-for-days-sick.” Since Carrie and I have been married she has not been sick and Wednesday was the end of the streak. We are now on day #3 and I would like to announce the house is still upright and the children are alive! See, prayer does work.

Here are some thoughts regarding the “Top Ten Things I have Learned with Carrie Being Sick.”

#10 – Chicken Nuggets and french fries are a good dinner for many consecutive days!

#9 – The makers of Tamiflu makes millions a year.

#8 – Being in charge of a home is not as cracked up as one may think.

#7 – Seeing your wife sick is awful!

#6 – Fixing dinner is always a “cajun” experience when I am in charge.

#5 – Caleb and I’s trip to the grocery store should have been on YouTube.

#4 – I can survive more than a day without coffee.

#3 – Getting everything ready each morning takes a mathematical formula Einstein could not figure out.

#2 – I am thankful to have such awesome kids who put up with my antics.

#1 – I am blessed with an amazing wife who does more than I will ever realize.

Just some thoughts,

Chris

Saints and Soldiers

Based during World War II, Saints and Soldiers grabs your attention from the beginning and holds it until the end. The emotions of a war torn army are quickly seen in the beginning as the events unfold in an interesting twist on the American soldiers.

The movie focuses on the struggle of a young American soldier, his beliefs and his course of action as he seeks to regroup with the Allied army. While the others in the group find his way of life intriguing, one even from the young soldiers life haunts him each day. HIs only relief comes from a small French girl in one of the most grabbing scenes of the movie.

Without spoiling the ending, I will say the movie did not end as I thought it would.

Give Saints and Soldiers a view; after all it is free on Hulu.com

Just a thought,

Chris

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Our family streams Hulu Plus to our T.V. using a Roku box and our subscription to Hulu Plus. Interested in hearing more, let me know!

Start the Morning Right

Counselors, therapists and psychologists will tell you that the first few minutes of the morning can make or break your day. Your waking thoughts will determine your attitude and your course of action through the rest of the work day and even blend into to your family life once you get home.

Consider this:

• Why do parents expect their children to be excited about school when we are always griping at them to get ready because parents woke up late themselves? Griping and screaming at a child early in the morning will definitely effect their views of school.

Below are some tips to start the morning right:

Plan the Night Before

• Use a notepad or planner to collect your thoughts about tomorrow: to-do lists, people to call, people to see, cards to write, books to read, etc. Use this time as a mind clearing session to relieve all your thoughts for the coming day.
• If you do not journal, give it a try for a month and see how your day changes. Journal about what happened on that day and clear your mind of the days activities.

Wake Up Smarter

• Stop the annoying alarm clock "buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz" and choose a more soothing sound. This does not mean turn the station to hard rock or talk radio, those will have the same effect as the good ole "buzzzzzzzzzzzzzz."
• Zig Ziglar says to stop calling it an alarm clock and begin calling it an opportunity clock.

Stop Watching the News

• I am not really sure about your area, but I bet it is like mine. The morning news is filled with the awful events of the evening, and the horrible events of yesterday. Give the news a rest and spend time with good motivation:  Daily Bible Reading, a devotional book, Rudder of the Day by Dan Miller, just to name a few.
• Doctors inform us breakfast is the most important meal of the day, because it is the food which kick-starts our bodies into action. If that is true, what do you think that says about the "food" we put into our minds in the morning? Make it positive.

The 10 Minute Rule

• Get up 10 minutes early! Stop waking up late, rushing around the house and scrambling out the door to figure out what to do each day.
• After you have planned your day, getting up 10 minutes earlier with a clear mind will make a HUGE difference in the day.

Expect the Best

• Our expectations can make our reality. What we perceive will happen will determine our reactions to any given situation. Begin expecting the best out of your co-workers.
• Expect positive changes and encourage people in a positive way. make the difference in yourself you want to see in others!

These are just a few quick thoughts to begin waking up every morning on the right foot!
What would you add to the list?

Have a great day!

Chris

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This article was previously sent out as a part of the Gallagher Institute Weekly Email Newsletter. You may sign-up for the weekly newsletter by going here. The newsletter arrives in your inbox each Tuesday and is filled with motivation and inspiration. The Gallagher Institute is where personal development meets reality.

Announcement Time!

The Gallagher Institute is here!

After laying groundwork since June, I have decided it is the time to make the push in 2011. Some of you were aware of this new journey, but others just found out. The information contained below will assist you in answering some of the questions you might have regarding the “Gallagher Institute.”

Last June I posted a note on the Preacher’s Pen website about a step I was deciding to take after running it through my mind over and over. It is a step that I have prayed about and discussed with Carrie and several others. The feedback I have received has been positive and I am grateful to many for their words of encouragement. Beginning last year, I decided to create the “Gallagher Institute” as a professional speaking website to take advantage of the opportunities in the business world.

What is the Gallagher Institute?

• The Gallagher Institute is a website created for the speaking opportunities I am pursuing. The Gallagher Institute seeks to provide information and resources to assist others in “creating a better day today for a better life tomorrow.”  The Gallagher Institute will provide various material to inspire and motivate you in achieving the possibilities.
• Want to find out more? Why not sign up for the weekly Gallagher Institute Newsletter and find out more about our new venture? Sign up by going here: http://www.gallagherinstitute.com/resources/newsletter/

Why create the Gallagher Institute?

• The Gallagher Institute can create speaking opportunities and possibilities that are not generally limited to a “minister.” The opportunity to motivate, encourage and work with people and organizations to assist them in achieving their goals is a powerful process with great rewards.  Last year I decided to begin laying some groundwork to create the Gallagher Institute so I can begin pushing the effort harder and farther during 2011.
• For those who know me best, you know that I am an opportunist. I see the world through eyes of countless opportunities each day. The Gallagher Institute is a way to take advantage of the opportunities the present themselves.

Does this mean I am leaving the ministry?

• No, I am not leaving the ministry or do I have plans to leave it. Instead, I believe this new venture will create opportunities and expand my influence to business and organizations outside of a church building. While many preachers are hindered from speaking in schools, business and other places because they carry a title of “minister,” even though their message at those places could be secular in nature. The title ‘minister’ can restrict a speakers message, whereas using an avenue such as a professional speaker provides opportunities to speak at a variety of locations. 
• In fact, the efforts of the Preacher’s Pen website (http://www.preacherspen.org)  will be made stronger because more information and material will be published which will create a duel purpose to each website and the speaking mission as well. The Preacher’s Pen website is currently undergoing some renovations to make it a more complete website from that of a blog. Various material will be featured on both websites, with the Preacher’s Pen being devoted to Biblical topics.

What is the future of a speaking career?

• After talking with several professional speakers, they will tell you the future career is great, but it takes work, determination and the ability to deliver results. Each speaker I talked would do it all over again, with just a few modifications.
• The future of creating a professional speaking business is broad. Lord willing, this effort could become a full-time position and create an avenue of income for my family outside of the ministry. Creating an income outside of the ministry allows for the congregation to use those funds in other areas.

What opportunities will this provide?

• The opportunities to assist others in living a better life are countless. Seeing people grow each day is a feeling that really cannot be described in words.
• A great opportunity will be beginning on January 11th, when the Gallagher Institute Podcast hits the airwaves. This podcast will discuss personal development as well as a variety of self-improvement topics. Stay tuned for more information as the time draws near. (Be sure to sign up for the newsletter to stay up to date with our work: http://www.gallagherinstitute.com/resources/newsletter/)

What are the obstacles in the path?

• There are a few obstacles that find themselves in a path to a speaking career, but aren’t their obstacles in every career? It was once said that, “the only difference between stumbling blocks and stepping-stones is the way you use them.” The obstacles in my way will simply become learning experiences to grow by. Overall, the biggest obstacles are…
  • The biggest obstacles in this path is getting those first few major speaking engagements and delivering a top-notch presentation every time.
  • Beating the perception that I am either leaving the ministry or taking away from the ministry somehow.
  • Overcoming the further perception that every message is delivered as a “preacher message.” (For those of you who have not heard me speak, about 90% of the people I talk to tell me I do not sound like a preacher. One person told me I have a “conversational style” of presenting lessons. I take those as compliments)
• The obstacles will come and go with every career, but large pieces of groundwork has been laid to enable for opportunities to arise and be grasped.

What are the benefits  of making a new journey?

• This new journey, as I continually mention, could provide opportunities I only dream of reaching and achieving.
  • Changing others lives and seeing them reach goals and become better each day cannot be describe in words – it is just awesome!
  • I would earn an income outside of a local church so they can refocus their funds somewhere else.
  • The extra income earned would provide support and security to my family.

How can we find out more regarding the Gallagher Institute?

• You may find out more about the Gallagher Institute by visiting http://www.gallagherinstitute.com. You may also join the Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/GallagherInstitute and continue to see what the Gallagher Institute offers. If you have LinkedIn, you may connect with us there by going to http://www.linkedin.com/company/gallagher-institute.
• If you would like to contact us you may do so on the Gallagher Institute website at http://www.gallagherinstitute.com/contact-page/ or by calling us at 843.608.8255.

How can you help with the Gallagher Institute?

• Many have provided great encouragement when sharing this new venture and it is greatly appreciated. There are several ways you can assist us in this new opportunity if you would like:
  • Pray for this new effort. I feel there are countless opportunities ahead and to take advantage of them would be great. We seek the Lord’s guidance and we know His will provides for all things of His choosing.
  • Sign up for our newsletter! Go here http://www.gallagherinstitute.com/resources/newsletter/ and sign up for our weekly email newsletter. This newsletter provides a weekly thought and motivation each Tuesday.
  • Put in a good word for us! If your company/organization has in motivational speakers and trainers, mention a good word about us. I can send any promotional material and information you would like to pass along for others.
  • Listen to our podcast beginning January 11th! As our podcast goes active on January 11th, you can download the podcast and listen at your convenience. The podcast will cover many topics  relating to personal development. Every third Tuesday of the month I will cover questions and answers relating to personal development, you can go ahead and submit your questions by using our contact page http://www.gallagherinstitute.com/contact-page/ or by calling us at 843.608.8255.
  • Schedule us to speak! Schedule us to speak at your next company event or other activity. The Gallagher Institute seeks to motivate and encourage others each day. Currently, material is being developed for educators and school administration regarding stress relief for teachers in the midst of greater teaching requirements and district budget cuts. You can see more regarding our presentations at http://www.gallagherinstitute.com/presentations-2/

If you have any questions, comments, concerns or if there is anything we can do for you, fell free to contact us, http://www.gallagherinstitute.com/contact-page/ or by calling us at 843.608.8255.

Stay tuned for more!

Just some thoughts for today,

Chris