Attention Please!

I have never given a dime to Facebook and it's likely you haven't either.


So how are they so stinking rich?


Facebook is huge! Their stock is about $160 a share. How is this possible?


They are so rich because of competition for YOUR attention.


They want to make a living off your attention, and it's happening!


Facebook sells advertising. It's about 82% of it's income.


Advertising only works when you have the attention of your target customer. (That's you!)


The advertisers pay for it, but you give it away for free!


Your attention has value!


Your attention directs your life!

Proverbs 4:20-27New American Standard Bible (NASB)

20 My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your sight;
Keep them in the midst of your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them
And health to all [a]their body.

Your attention has helped Facebook build a $42 million headquarters building in San Francisco!


Are they evil?


I don't think so.


I think Facebook is building on a desire we all have to connect with others and share our lives.


Let's not forget though, that where we put our attention will ultimately be where we end up.


Don't give your attention cheaply!

http://www.businessinsider.com/penthouse-apartment-for-sale-at-facebook-offices-2017-9/#a-living-room-situated-in-the-corner-has-10-foot-tall-ceilings-and-recessed-lighting-6

http://www.business-management-degree.net/facebook/

Live Like A Billionaire!

I read an article recently about the lifestyles of young billionaires. That's right I said BILLIONAIRES.

They are all in their 20's. In my 20's I was managing a salary under $300 a week I think.

Never in a million years would I have ever thought you could be a billionaire that young.

It seems like a recipe for disaster. Unlimited money with the foolishness of youth!

I was interested to see what these fresh-faced kids were doing with their time.

Well it turns out, stuff not much different than you or me!

21 year old Alexandra Andreson has a net worth of $1.3 billion thanks to her fathers investment banking.

She's the youngest one. What does she do?

She rides horses. I can do that. You can do that.

You can take a lesson for not to much money! When you do, you will have lived like a billionaire!

She likes to go hiking, camping and fishing. You can to! I've done it!

She enjoys skiing. She has a dog. She lives at home with her father.

I have done those things! I'm feeling richer! How about you?

A girl has gotta shop, right? What good is all that loot if you can't spend it?

If she's in the mood, she'll buy a new purse or handbag. Right, ladies?

Her handbags have different brand names, but in the end you have to like the style right?

She also buys some shoes or a watch. Who hasn't done that?

If she's feeling adventurous, she'll get a different haircut. Done it!

Another one is 23-year-old Gustav Magnar Witzøe from Norway.

He is worth a staggering $1.8 billion and owns 47% of Norwegian salmon producer Salmar, which was gifted to him in 2013 by his dad.

What does he do?

He golfs.

I can do that! Not well, but I can chase a white ball around all day! Billionaire living!

Then there's 27 year old, John Collison. He's an Irish entrepreneur who founded payment company Stripe with his brother in 2010, which went on to make the pair both billionaires in their own right after a deal in 2016. John is now worth an estimated $1.1 billion.

He does fun-runs. That means he participates in runs for charity!

The last guy, invented an internet app you may have heard of, "Snapchat".

Evan Spiegel is the 27-year-old founder and CEO. With a net worth of $3.5 billion, he's the wealthiest billionaire on this list.

Evan pretty much stays off social media!

You can do that to if you want to live like a billionaire!

Here's an interesting scripture...

1 Timothy 6:6-11 But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.
You and I may not be billionaires, but, in the end if we live a life on simple contentment, doing things that make us happy and having good relationships, we are truly rich indeed!

http://www.businessinsider.com/how-the-worlds-youngest-billionaires-spend-their-time-and-money-2017-9/#and-like-many-21-year-olds-she-enjoys-getting-glammed-up-and-going-out-with-friends-its-more-glitzy-rooftop-bars-than-sticky-wetherspoons-however-6

You Are Loved. (You jerk!)

I do not have any grandchildren, but I am looking forward to it. 

Kids without all the responsibility, great fun! 

But if we are talking kids or grand kids, we can all agree that we love our children just because they exist. 

It's a pure love of sorts. These little ones did not do anything for us. 

They can't pay us back, they have no job, no language...they just are! 

We love them, intensely, we would even give our lives for them. 

If you have ever had thoughts like, "No one loves me", that's a lie.

Have you ever wanted to invite someone to a party or wedding or function, just cause you wanted them there? 

They're not singing or doing juggling to entertain everyone, they're just awesome to have around. 

That's you! 

I believe there is a God, I believe, He is love. I believe everyone, including me, is loved, just because we're here. 

It means that even the most notorious person is loved...by someone!

How can that be? I'm not sure but it happens! Many a true crime story has a person who believes in and stands by the person who committed the law breaking activity. It's amazing! Men on death row have fans. 

It's hard to understand love. 

It's not a feeling, it's an action to. 

God loves you. 

The biggest failure. The biggest public failure! The most hated criminal. Wow.

It's comforting and amazing all at once.

Summer post season interview.

The media has questions for Summer...

We all have a favorite season. 

We're big fans of it. 

I wish we could cheer on our favorite season, just like a sports team, and see it come back and win, but it doesn't happen.

Summer has a lot of fans and I think they are disappointed with the overall performance this year. 

There was one day this week that just felt so cold!  It was still August!

I think, summer has given up! It's given up too early!

I imagine that summer has bowed out of the season, and now it's time for the post season interview, like in the NHL.

Summer has a towel around it's neck, it's marching down the hallway going back to the dressing room, and we the media, have a few questions for it.

MEDIA:  "Summer, summer, can we get a quick word...?"

SUMMER: (Heavy breathing, exhausted, limping...) Sure...

MEDIA:  "This season started off rough for you, you didn't really gain any momentum, and from what we're seeing and feeling, it's all over. What happened out there?"

SUMMER:  "Well, I know it's a let down for all the fans, but you gotta know when enough is enough, you know? Clouds were really strong this year, they came out hard and never let up, rain was in there to making things difficult. The moon blocked us out that one day. That was bizarre. It was a struggle to get temperatures up anywhere near 30, and just, by the end of August, I just knew I had nothing left in the tank. It's time to call it a game, regroup and start thinking about next season. You know, I have the best fans on the planet, I want to thank you guys for your support, for getting out there and making an effort, even though you had your doubts. I saw that, it means a lot. We'll see everyone next year."

MEDIA:  "All right, that was Summer, stepping aside a little early, gracefully and gratefully, I think it deserves a hearty applause for the effort this year..." 

(CLAPPING)

What Are You Ready To Hear?

I've lost 60 pounds. 

Check it out...

In Sudbury at over 220lbs

Same bench, 60lbs lighter.  I'm sure the bench felt better.

Those were 60 pounds of extra flesh I did not need and did not want anymore.  

I looked down at my gut one day and realized this was unacceptable.  There was no excuse for it.

I realized that it would only go away if I was honest about how it happened and honest about how to eliminate it.

I was the only one who could do something about it.

So I did it!  I lost 60 pounds!

It was me.  Jesus didn't take the weight off, I did!  (With His help!)

I feel great, and I think I look way better.

I look back at pictures of myself from before and I can hardly believe it's me.

Truthfully, looking at those pictures, I got a little angry.  Why didn't someone say something?

The reality is, a few people did, but I was not ready to hear it yet.

That's what I want to talk to you about.

Real change only happens when you are ready to hear the truth about something.

Because if the ground of your heart is hard, the seeds of change can't be planted and get stolen by the hungry birds of bitterness!

Real change only happens when you are given the tools make a change.

Because, knowledge is power.  The more you know, the more you can grow.

Real change only happens when hold on to hope.

Because change is slow sometimes.  Plus, other people need to get used to the new you!

In my case, I had to do the work.  The biking, the walking, watching my food, it's on me.

I can change me, but I can't change others.

I can be an influence, but I can't change someone else.

Let's make it personal, YOU, have to want it.  Whatever "it" is.

A better marriage.  A restored relationship.  Improved health.  Freedom from the past.

It happens because you come to the end of yourself, drop the excuses and go for it.

What are you ready to hear today?

Going to the Movies

I used to love going to the movies.

I mean really loved it!

If I knew I was going to a movie that night, my day was pretty awesome.

The anticipation was wonderful!

I enjoyed the smell, the sights, the sounds, everything about the theater was fascinating.

I remember seeing Superman-The Movie, King Kong (The silly 70's version) and of course Star Wars!

We saw Star Wars 3 times.  It played in London, about an hours drive!

We pestered our folks to take us!

It was so good!

The drive-in was a cool experience.  If I remember right, we saw Close Encounters of the Third Kind at a drive-in.

Some of the scenes with UFO's blended so well with the starry night of being outdoors, it was magical!

I don't know if my love of the movie theater is in my blood, but my grandfather was a projectionist.

That must count for something!

Years ago, we were part of a church that purchased a movie theater!  A church, in a movie theater!

I enjoyed poking around the building and discovering new things.  I hung out in the projection room!

Good times!

Lately though, the thrill is gone.

To go see a movie is a downer for me.  I don't like trying to get there on time, the parking, the high price of food, the other people in the theater that kick my seat, the cell phone glare, the ads at the beginning of the show, the endless trailers...etc.

I would rather stay home.  (I may just be getting old and grumpy!)

It's been a dismal year for the cinemas, and I can see why from one perspective.

The entertainment experience ain't what it used to be.

Movies are just "a thing to do" rather than a special night out.

I get the feeling sometimes that no one really cares what they are watching.

It's just another YouTube video on a huge screen to be distracted from when a text from your friend pops up.

You're paying good money for this, pay attention!

Because I work in media, I have been to a couple of press screenings for upcoming movies.

It's a great crowd because everyone has a purpose for being there.

There's focus.  (Little movie pun there, sorry.)

The level of engagement is higher because, you will be asked for a response following the feature.

I call this active entertainment, not passive.  It's more fun!

Ya sure, you need a romantic comedy once in a while to go on a first date with someone, but it should lead to a discussion of WHY the lead character needs that hot guy to give her all that attention, just to discover the nerd REALLY loves her for who she is.

This would be more constructive.  Maybe relationships would be more clear.  No more "I can't tell if he's into me."  Let the movie do all the heavy lifting!

My point is, it's not just mindless viewing folks!

I'm not sure what the answer is for getting people back to the movies, but I for one would like to have that excitement again.

What's the answer?

Outrageously high ticket prices, to weed out the crowd that will update Facebook during a pivotal battle scene?

Members only subscriptions?

You tell me!

I want to feel the magic again!

Dead On!

OK, I think about death sometimes.  I know you have also.  I think it's a bit scary.

We should all be sat down at the beginning of our lives, as soon as we can understand words, and it should be explained to us that people die.  Animals die.  They cease to live and don't offer us love and conversation any further.  We take their remains and either burn it or bury it in an expensive box.

We will all be dead longer than we will be alive.  It's just a fact. 

Why don't we make "the talk" with our kids not about sex, but about what's the deal with death?
I have a lingering fear of crossing over.  What will it be like?

What if it's awesome?  What if it's painful?

We have some comforting words from the scriptures, if you choose to take them to heart.

Death is like falling asleep.

I'm GOOD at that! I fall asleep every night! I have tons of practice!

It should be no problem.

Knowing that death is inevitable, I like to keep that fact in mind during my everyday life and decisions.

I'm not good at THAT, though.

I should be nicer to people in traffic, I should be nicer to my wife. Time is limited.

Ever see someone who has had a terminal diagnosis? Ever see the smile on their face?

They choose to enjoy the time they have left because the clock is ticking!

You know what, my clock is ticking to. So is yours.

Life is terminal. We should all have amazing grins and positive attitudes!

We GET to spend time alive.

It may not seem like a blessing, but dig deeper. Life has meaning in the living of it, not the endurance.

Smile, forgive, laugh.