Chuck Locklear
fascinating characters, impactful books and messages
Prioritize and Maximize Time
I love quotes and I don’t mind using someone else’s good ideas. So, when someone says something that resonates with my life experiences, I want to share the message with others. For example, I love the Dunkin Donuts commercial from a few years ago where a baker, in uniform, awakes early in the morning and says, “Time to make the donuts.” He does this over and over in the course of a 30 second advertisement. I say this often, usually when I am required to perform important, but routine, mindless tasks. However, the truth is this baker knows how to prioritize.
Pastor Bill Farina is a friend of mine and someone who offers insightful advice. He has talked me into one worthwhile project after another over the years.
One such project was the time that he sensed the need for some leadership training. Pastor Farina said, “When life is less cluttered, scattered, and hurried, we make better decisions.” He bases this advice on the truth of Ephesians 5: 16-17, which gives us the directive that we should “redeem the time.” So, the question is, as wise servants of the King, how do we redeem the time or, in other words, best manage our time in order to make decisions and take actions that accomplish God’s purpose for us?
I’ll share two strategies to help you redeem the time. First, “prioritize problems and challenges” into three levels:
- Solve the emergencies first. When someone’s health or safety is in doubt, this is an emergency. Stop what you are doing and move quickly into action.
- Solve the quick and easy problems. Some people call this the “low hanging fruit.” The low hanging fruit grows at the bottom of the tree. They are the easiest to pick, not requiring a ladder to climb into the tree.
- Back to the basics. Sometimes it is good to remind yourself of your main purpose. For example, at schools, this level is about solving student oriented problems.
The second strategy is “skip perfect.” Luke’s gospel describes an encounter at the house of Mary and Martha in which Martha, a person whom Jesus loved dearly, was focusing on getting things perfect. Jesus’ response is so relevant to the topic at hand: “Don’t fret over the details.”
Prioritize and Maximize Time doesn’t mean everything has to be perfect. Waiting for perfect can be the enemy of good decision making.
“When life is less cluttered, scattered, and hurried, we make better decisions.” This reminds me of another commercial slogan, from a Super Bowl advertisement, which repeats the phrase, “Here we go.” Of course, Wego is the name of a scruffy little dog and every time anyone in the commercial says “Here Wego.” Wego brings that person a cold refreshment. It is hysterically funny and a good reminder that we all need help sometimes.
“Martha, dear friend, you are so upset over all these details.”
Luke 10:41-42, TLB
Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear
Also, see
A Miracle Happened
A miracle, right before my eyes.
My sister recently contracted the virus. It turned into COVID pneumonia. Her oxygen levels were in the 70’s before I could get her to the emergency room. She went to the ICU and ended up on a BiPAP machine for a straight week.
God changed my perspective.
Afraid
She had knowledgeable and skilled doctors, caring nurses, and the best medication, but she was not improving. I couldn’t visit her and could not talk with her on the phone. Thankfully, she could text… just a few words at a time. . . every now and then. Mostly, the messages I received were “Afraid,” “Can’t breathe,” “Dying.”
At what felt like the bottom, I texted back, “Live or die, it is for God’s glory.”
What happened next was a miracle. God changed my perspective. He said, “You need to listen to your own words.” I had recently delivered a sermon saying, “Change your focus; praise God for the good work he is doing. Get this right and you will experience powerful prayer.”
But, God did not stop there. He put this song in my heart:
I’m praying God come
And turn this thing around
God, turn it around
God, Turn It Around, by Jon Reddick
He Is Up to Something
In the chorus, Jon Reddick sings over and over. . . “God, turn it around.” I texted a message to the church prayer chain with a link to this song. I didn’t ask for prayer. They were up-to-date on my sister’s condition. Just the words to this song:
God is up to something
He is healing someone
He is saving someone
God is doing something, Right now
God, Turn It Around, by Jon Reddick
Truly, “All of my hope was in Jesus.” I could give up and lose hope or I could trust. This one thought changed my perspective. I had to make a choice to trust, regardless of the outcome.
Choose to Trust
From that moment on, God began to turn it around. She began to get better. The doctors decided: no ventilator, no feeding tube. Her oxygen levels increased. Her doctor came in and said, “You are looking better. You will recover.” Next, he moved her out of ICU. It was a miracle. . . right before my eyes, a miracle.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Isaiah 43:19
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
My sister made it back to life. I know, however, as I write this, others are struggling, some are dying. My message to you is simple. All of our hope is in Jesus. Trust him! He is doing something, right now.
Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear
Also, see Step Out In Faith.
Attitude Determines Altitude!
“Attitude determines altitude!” This is a statement frequently made by Dick Moscovic, a teacher with whom I worked for many years. Dick is an outstanding individual and a blessing as he has positively influenced 47 years of students in our community. (Yes, Dick was a public-school teacher for 47 years.) But these are not just words, he lives out this principle, always demonstrating a positive attitude, not that his life is easy. He has three sons, two very successful. One, however, is severely handicapped. For as long as I have known him, Dick has started his day early, hours before school starts, by taking care of Drew’s needs, helping him with even the most basic of human functions. Yet, Dick’s attitude remains positive, helping to elevate the attitude of everyone around him.
Positive Mindset
Over many years, I have observed Dick convincing his students and me of the truth of this powerful statement. What Dick means by these three words is that having a positive mindset, one that expects success and prepares for success, will result in positive and successful things happening in one’s life. This principle has certainly proven true for Dick’s students, who have accomplished great things over the years and become leaders in our community. For me, I have found that you can’t go anywhere in our community without meeting someone impacted by Dick’s positive attitude.
Coachisms
Actually, Dick has many sayings that he uses to motivate and encourage students. We call these Coachisms; Dick was a wrestling coach for many years, and his students continued to use the title “Coach” long after he hung up his wrestling shoes. Dick’s coachisms are inspired by his faith, sayings such as, “Better to be the shining moon, than the barking dog,” and, my favorite, “Every day is a good day, but some are better than others.”
Recent research on the brain has confirmed the truth of Dick’s wisdom of the importance of attitude. Carol Dweck summarizes 30 years of research in her book Mindset (2006), which shows the power of attitude. When students believe they can get smarter, they put in the effort, which in turn leads to higher achievement. We have also learned that humans use only a small amount of our available brain potential. In other words, there is much room for growth and development.
Growth Mindset
The Lesson we learn from Dick Moscovic aligns with a familiar lesson from the Bible.
Daniel is a familiar Bible character to most Americans. We learn the story of Daniel in the lions’ den in Sunday school. In the young man Daniel, the King of Babylon noticed a mindset or attitude that was “excellent.”
The question for us today is what is our attitude? Do we have a fixed or growth mindset? This reminds me of the woman who said, “Don’t confuse me with the facts. My mind is already made up.” Are you open to learning and growing?
“Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.” (Daniel 6:3, KJV)
Copyright © 2020 Chuck Locklear
Also, see Passion.
Love the Mother of Your Children
One of the best gifts a father can give to his children is to love their mother. Fathers loving and treating the woman in your life with kindness and with respect is a habit. Just like any habit, the more you do it, the easier it is. Unfortunately, the reverse is also true.
It is easy to fall into a negative pattern of criticism and blame. The world is not perfect, neither is your wife. You can focus on the good things about her or the one or two things that you don’t like. I have learned the hard way that anything critical I say will be taken to heart by my wife. She values my opinion. I don’t completely understand why, but I have learned that my comments validate her value. Do I want to validate her value? Yes, I do, because I value her. She is a blessing to my life and the lives of my children.
Your children are paying attention to your actions and words. This is true even if you are divorced from your spouse. It is true for boys and girls. For boys, you are teaching them how to treat women. You are teaching them how to have happy, healthy relationships and lives. For girls, you are teaching them how to expect to be treated. If you mistreat their mother, they will learn that this is normal and will accept mistreatment from the men in their lives. If you love their mother, they will not choose mates that abuse and disrespect them.
Also, see Mother’s Day is Coming.
Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear
Family
My granddaughter, Selah, sometimes, acts like a storm, but she is family. That may sound funny to you, but she doesn’t look like Lizzy and I. She has long dark hair and hazel eyes. She didn’t start out as family. When she was born, I knew that she was precious, but she was a stranger, and it would take a while for her personality to develop. Now, at four-years old, she has a strong personality. She is strong-willed, quick witted, and kind. She has won a place in my heart and our family.
Open our eyes to opportunities to spread kindness…
Eating Peaches
One of the best things about living in the guest house, on my daughter’s property, is spending time, getting to know Selah and the other grandkids. We get regular visits from Selah, like early yesterday morning. I heard a knock on the door, but before I could open it, she was gone. Actually, she was walking around the house trying to find another way in.
Once inside, she made herself at home, sitting at the kitchen table, while I cooked breakfast. When she saw me opening a container of peaches, she let me know that they were her favorite. I found another container and opened it for her. Next, she told me what she liked best about peaches… the juice. As we sat eating, she told me a lot more. She loves to talk.
Four-year-old Conversations
My conversations with Selah seem way older than appropriate for a four-year-old. When I said the prayer for our food, she corrected me. Rather than saying, “Thank you for this food,” she suggested saying “Thank you God for everything.” This way I wouldn’t leave anything out. I suggested that we play a game by taking turns naming some of the things for which we are thankful. This went on much longer than I expected. She was thankful for the earth, the grass, the dirt, and even our dog, Pansy. Selah had quite a long list.
Yes, Selah has won a place in my heart and in our family.
Family is a blessing, because, gathered with the people we love and the God who holds our days in his hands, we can discover that we are rich beyond the material possessions of this world. As I think about this, I am hit with the reality that this is true for the family of God as well.
Growing Our Family
We know, however, when our Lord gave us the greatest commandment, he followed it up with the second, which was to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” It is easy to show kindness to our family, but God desires that we do that which is more difficult… love all of those he puts in our path… even those who are not like us.
Kindness is an important fruit of the Spirit. If the spirt of God lives within us, we will want to share his kindness with others, even those not in our family.
It should be our prayer for God to open our eyes to opportunities to spread kindness and grow the family of faith. We should start with our own families, but we must look beyond our doors… to people that may not look like us… to people who may start out as strangers, and it might take some time to get used to their personalities and culture. However, our heavenly father loves them and so should and can we.
“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established…”
—Proverbs 24:3
Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear
Coffee Creamer Science
Lizzy retired from a 30+ year teaching career as the Queen of Science. Actually, she was the science exploration teacher for 600 elementary school children. . . weekly.
Exciting Discoveries
In this role, school days were filled with exciting discoveries for everyone, including me. She used the Collaborative Inquiry Model of learning (Bruce Wellman, Laura Lipton).This approach changes the classroom from a place where the teacher is responsible for knowledge delivery to one in which everyone collaboratively constructs knowledge.
Each lesson included activities designed to engage and activate student thinking. The students applied new skills to develop their thoughts and curiosities and grow a greater understanding of our world. Students needed to lose the fear of getting the wrong answer, and begin thinking like scientists and engineers. Then, they needed to be comfortable with making inferences that may be incorrect, engaging in experimentation leading to revised inferences, and new understanding.
The goal was to grow future aerospace engineers, plastic engineers, mineralogists and entomologists, etc.
“On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.”
Psalm 145:5 ESV
Wondrous Works
Even liquid coffee creamer can be a source of splendor, used to activate and engage thinking. Your children and grandchildren will love this ice cream making experiment. You start by explaining the three states of matter. Using water as an example, describe how by adding or removing heat the water changes states. Then describe how that adding salt lowers the freezing temperature of water.
With this new knowledge, it is time to make ice cream.
- Pour 1 cup of flavored coffee creamer into a sandwich size bag and seal it. Make sure to remove as much air as possible from the bag.
- Fill a gallon sized Ziploc bag about 1/2 full with ice. Pour about 1/2 cup salt on top.
- Place the small bag inside the ice bag and shake for 3-4 minutes. After shaking is done, remove the creamer bag from the large ice bag and rinse quickly to get all the salt off.
- Open creamer bag and pour ice cream into a bowl.
Queen of Science
Because the Queen of Science had to do this experience with 600 students, we learned that even single-serving containers of coffee creamer worked. But, this did get her into trouble with the local convenience store. The students wanted to try it at home, so they were stealing all of the coffee creamers from the convenience store. When Lizzy visited the store, the manager was waiting, “So, you are the one responsible.” She had to admit, “Yes, indeed, I am the one.”
Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear
Also, see Science Can Be Fun.
Jesus Was a Radical
Norman Rockwell’s “Golden Rule” painting hangs in the United Nations Building in New York City. In the mosaic, there are faces of twenty-eight people who represent all the different people we must love: black, white, Asian, Muslim, Jewish, Christian, atheist, racist, addicted, imprisoned, gay, homeless, young, old, sick…and the list goes on. It reminds me of this song I learned as a child: Jesus Loves the Little Children. This painting reminds me that Jesus was very different than those around him. He was a radical.
What Comes Naturally
Most of us have been around people who just rub us the wrong way—people we’d really rather not be around. Maybe we don’t share the same values or…maybe they are just different than us. Whatever the case, most of us would rather just avoid these people—we figure that it isn’t worth our time or energy to be around people “like that.”
This is the natural human response. But Jesus tells us that our natural desires are sinful, and that we should live differently. He asks us to do the opposite of what comes naturally. Instead of treating the people we don’t like poorly, we should treat them the same way that we treated those we like. This lesson also made those in Jesus’ time uncomfortable.
The attitude God desires is radically different from the attitude we desire. We must be willing to forgo some of our “rights” for the sake of other people. As much as possible, we should be willing to show love to others—even when we don’t like them or they don’t deserve it. Jesus goes on to distill this concept into a single phrase. He tells his followers, “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31, NIV). This has been called the “golden rule.” Yes, confirmation for this uncomfortable lesson is offered in Norman Rockwell’s painting.
A Radical Lesson
I’ve had to wrestle with this lesson and it’s made me very uncomfortable. Sadly, the public perception of Christians is not a good one. Many people in America today associate Christians with a particular political party and/or a particular news network. They have the idea that Christians are happy and kind only to those who share their views, and they will shun, ridicule, and marginalize those who do not. If this is the perception the world has of us, we have failed. We have become just like the world.
So, who do people think is your Father? Does the way you live reflect that you are a child of God, or do you live the same way as the rest of the world?
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:43-45
Copyright © 2020 Chuck Locklear
Also, see Tops Is Better.
See, Think, Wonder
The challenge of a relevant question can make learning fun! See, Think, Wonder is a thinking routine that can stimulate just such a challenge. See, Think, Wonder comes from Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
“Often, a fun quest starts with a challenging question.”
See, Think, Wonder encourages learners to make careful observations and develop ideas and interpretations based on evidence. It distinguish between observations and interpretations by separating the two questions: “What do you see?” and “What do you think about what you see?” It ends with wonder, encouraging questions that stimulate curiosity and help students reach for new connections.
Any object, related to a lesson, can be used as the focus. I have a picture Bible that works well for younger children. However, to demonstrate, I chose something more complex: Norman Rockwell’s “Golden Rule” painting, which on display in the United Nations Building in New York City. If you are not familiar with this painting, take a moment to do a quick Internet search.
Let’s Try It
Start the routine with the question, “What do you see?” This question is focused on observation. Answers might include: “I see a mosaic with twenty-eight faces.” “I see people representing different cultures and races.” “I see someone that looks like me.”
Next, ask the question, “What do you think?” This question may cause learner to think that some faces look Muslim, Jewish, Christian, atheist, racist, addicted, imprisoned, gay, homeless, etc. The painting caused me to think of a song I learned as a child, “Jesus Loves the Little children.”
Then, ask, “What does this painting make you wonder?” This question should become a launching pad for extending the learning. For example, it made me wonder whether Jesus had any idea how complicated our world would become. For me, this produced the challenging question, “Is the call to follow Jesus different in our modern world?”
Extending Learning
This challenge provided the opportunity to take a closer look and connected to a quote that I recently read from author Rick Warren.
“God’s ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development. ” — Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life
In pursuing my challenge, I learn that the call to follow Jesus is different today in that we don’t have Jesus here physically, but we do have his written words.
I discovered that the Bible is remarkable. It contains 66 books, written over 1,500 years, by 40 different writers. It was written by people who witnessed the events it describes; many were persecuted or martyred but never changed their story. I also came to marvel at the age of the Bible and discovered it is the oldest continuously used religious book. Remarkable!
In my quest, I learned that in some ways today is not that different at all. Life is not easy, but God is with us. God places us into situations for a reason, to give us the opportunity to shine his light and love on the people around us, people different than us, like those in the “Golden Rule” painting. Rather than praying, “Lord deliver me from this situation.” We should pray, “Lord give me the wisdom, courage, and strength to be the person you want me to be in this time and in this place.”
See, Think, Wonder is a thinking routine that creates wonder. Often, a fun quest starts with a challenging question. For example, I discovered that God gave us his Word and provides custom-made circumstances to allow us learn and grow.
Prayer
Lord, help us today to make the choices that allow us to grow closer to you and to see people through the light and love of your Holy Spirit. Teach us to respond to circumstances as you would.
“As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.”
—Mark 9:15
Also, see Jesus Was a Radical.
Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear
Joy and Gratitude
Joy is linked to gratitude, but not in a way that seems obvious. “For it is not joy that makes us grateful.” “It is gratitude that makes us joyful.” Practicing gratitude produces fruits of joy. Gratitude is illustrated in the story of the Philippian jailer who found that his prisoners had stayed to bring him and his house joy.
Reminded of Gratitude
My 27-year old son, Holland, invited me to travel with him to San Francisco and he paid my way. It was a wonderful experience! One of his middle-school teachers responded to my Facebook posts asking, “Is that Holland?” Her question reminded me of my gratitude. I said, “Yes” and thanked her for helping Lizzy and I raise such a good young man. Then, I said, “There were days in middle school when we were worried.” A mom of Holland’s friend Nick chimed in saying, “Thank God they are both okay! It really does take a village.” This is so true and a reminder of the gratitude we should all have for those who have helped us along the way.
San Francisco is a great place to visit, though, I can’t image how anyone can afford to live there. I used my Zillow app to check home prices in every neighborhood we visited. The cheapest price I could find was a 700 square foot house for…$1 million. The cheapest rent was a 400 square foot apartment for… $2,400/month. Crazy! I suppose that is why they have so many homeless people and tent cities everywhere.
Oakland Stadium
Our excuse for going to San Francisco was to watch the Detroit Lions play the Oakland Raiders. Oakland is a tough town, just like Detroit. It was fun watching Detroit lose in a different city.
We visited Alcatraz, which is most famous for being a Federal prison, but started as a Civil War era fort and at one point was taken over by Native Americans to force the United States government into recognizing treaty rights for Native Americans. At Alcatraz, we learned a lot about Al Capone, the prisons most famous “guest.”
Grateful For Being Alive
In the example of the Philippian jailer, it was truly miraculous that God opened the prison doors. However, equally miraculous is that Paul and Silas stayed put when the doors opened. In Roman times, to lose a prisoner was catastrophic. The consequences of a prison break would have meant death to the jailer and his family would have lost everything. However, Paul said: “Don’t take your life away: Jesus’ salvation has come.” One can only imagine the sense of salvation the jailer must have felt. He was saved from death; his family was saved for a future. Theirs became a joy that was more consequential than their experiences of vulnerability. Joy poured forth from their deep gratitude at being alive.
“The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.”
Acts 16:34
Copyright Chuck Locklear 2019
Also, see How to Be Happy.
The Valley of Death is Real
Ever wondered if the Valley of the Shadow of Death is a real place? (Psalm 23:1) It is a real place, a bit off the beaten path. In the valley, you can learn to move from fear to faith. God promises to give us his peace when we give our worries and fears to him.
This valley is on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho mentioned by Jesus in the Good Samaritan Story. The walls of the valley are steep, and it was well-known that this is the place where robbers and thieves lingered waiting on easy prey. Today, it’s a national park where you can hike, see St. George’s Monastery, and if you’re brave enough, you can walk the Samaritan road.
Fear Tops the List
Fear rises to the top of things with which people struggle. Today, we will take a journey… from fear to faith with the prophet Habakkuk. He challenges us to put our faith into action when things are at their worst.
God had shown Habakkuk that his country was about to be invaded, pillaged, and destroyed. The people would lose everything… job, home, and family. It would all be gone. They would go from freedom to slavery. That is a whole different matter than trusting God though broken pipes, or when you had a bad day at work or school.
This reminds me of a story my son-in-law’s mother told me. Her friend loved playing the violin. She was on a small plane and the pilot informed the passengers there was nothing left to do; the plane was experiencing problems and it was going down. However, she experienced unusual calmness. She was at peace, knowing she would meet God that day. If that’s what is happening, she said to herself, I’m going to praise His name, because that is what I know to do. She got out her violin and began playing. The plane landed safely and she lived to tell this story. Regardless of the situation, God desires to give us peace beyond what seems humanly possible.
Choose to Rejoice
When there is no hope for the future, the present seems bleak, and there is nothing to fall back on, Habakkuk concludes, “Yet, I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Habakkuk 3:18). It is our choice. Like Habakkuk, we must choose to rejoice in God, regardless.
Habakkuk teaches us to find strength in God to scale to the heights even when you are down. He says, “The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights” (Habakkuk 3:19). Habakkuk learned to find his strength in God, not in his own resources or ability. Habakkuk was about to go through some rough times. The thought of it scared him. Yet, as he rejoiced in God, he found new strength.
What is this strength that God gives us? Habakkuk paints the picture of a female deer running on the heights of the mountains: steady, surefooted, unafraid, and full of confidence. We can feel secure and confident that God has our back. God loves us and desires for us to trust Him. Because he is God, a savior who will deliver us… in his time. He will lift us up when we commit to, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances…” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
I pray for God’s help as you begin the journey from fear to faith. Come honestly to God with your questions. He promises to give you peace if you give your worries and fears to him. Take the journey from the place described in Psalm 23:1 to the Mountain Top of Faith.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
—Philippians 4:6-7
© 2019 Chuck Locklear All rights reserved
Also, see Love and Faith Go Hand-in-hand.
