Archives For Leveraging Life

Cancer Confessional – Behind the Mask

April 28, 2011 — 2 Comments
iStockphoto © PeskyMonkey

If you were to take the time to poll my family, my friends, and my co-workers asking them to describe my outlook on life, most if not all, would described me as an optimist…a glass half-full guy. Dig a little deeper into what makes me tick and spend a little time reading through my DISC profile (high D & I) you would learn that being an encourager is another characteristics which makes up who I am. Optimism and encouragement come naturally to me and throughout my career they have been utilized to build teams and help grow businesses.

However in the scope of writing blog such as Leveraging Life, I have a genuine concern, what comes naturally (optimism and encouragement) could be taken out of context or be misconstrued leaving readers with a false impression that I never have doubts, that I live my life without fear, or that I somehow trust blindly when facing trials or adversity. 

“saying trust God period and living trust God period are two totally different mindsets…one is contingent on circumstance and situation warranting that trust, and the other is influenced by a relationship which is nurtured through circumstance and situation creating an environment of trust.”   

Continue Reading…

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How’s It Going?

February 24, 2011 — 2 Comments

It’s a question that gets asked a million times a day, but have you ever been in a situation where you honestly have a hard time answering the question?

For me, it’s that moment in time where you’re experiencing the highest of highs and the lowest of lows precisely at the same time. How is that possible, some may ask, but I think most of us have experienced it at some point in our lives.

  • Picture a work life where everything is going up and to the right….quarter after quarter…yet the home life is disintegrating from the inside out.
  • Picture your house in order financially, emotionally, and spiritually….yet a family member is struggling and fighting all efforts which can provide help and healing.
  • Picture being in the best health of your life….yet that promise of a second interview call never comes.

    •  

Right now I’m in that exact place. In a recent post Out to Lunch, I mentioned a clear PET scan which was awesome news and started the year off in glorious fashion. Some unexplained pain in both legs began shortly thereafter, however, and subsequent tests suggest the possibility of some scary scenarios. Results are pending for other tests, and even more are on the horizon. In the midst of all this, I am experiencing love in a way I never thought possible. Having someone in my life who happens to be a cancer survivor is a gift from God to this cancer fighter, and that’s further compounded by her periodic reminder that it’s one thing to end each post with Trusting God Period, and it’s another thing to live it out.

We believe there is a big God, a God of healing, a God of love, a God of comfort, a God who walks with us every step of this journey, and a God who is in control!

So if you were to ask Shari or I, “How’s it Going”, our reply would be: “Good… so good, because we continue to leverage our Faith in a way that allows both of us to trust God period!”

~Shari & Tom

Thanks for taking the time to visit Leveraging Life, please use the Sharing is Caring links at the bottom to pass on the content here via Facebook and Twitter if you feel it could be helpful, and don’t forget to email your friends if you like what you see.   

If you are not doing so already, you might want to subscribe to Leveraging Life. (It’s free.) That way when I update you’ll be notified via email. 

     
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Empty Me – Worship Wednesday

January 19, 2011 — 2 Comments

~ Empty Me ~

Chris Sligh

There are certain songs we all can identify with, the kind of songs that you wonder if somehow the songwriter used the cliff-notes of your life to write the song. For me Empty Me is one of those songs.

The first time I heard the song was in the summer of  2008 and I was in a huge transition physically, professionally, and spiritually. Looking back now, I can honestly say the song….especially these lyrics served as a great reminder what I was capable of when I was full of myself and what God could accomplish when I was not.

I’ve had just enough
Of the spotlight when it burns bright
To see how it gets in the blood
I’ve tasted my share
Of the sweet life and the wild ride
And found a little is not quite enough
I know how I can stray
And how fast my heart could change
 
Empty me of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition and the poison of my pride
And any foolish thing my heart holds onto
Lord, empty me of me so I can be filled with you
 

 

Here is a link to the story behind Empty Me, with the lyrics, which Chris Sligh actually wrote while he was a finalist on American Idol. And since tonight is the season premier for season 10, I thought I would include this video from season 6 where Chris took exception to Simon Cowell’s critique and shared a few thoughts which Simon took exception to. The fun begins at the 0:45 mark with Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul sharing their thoughts before Simon and Ryan Seacrest join in.

Worship Wednesday is a feature on Leveraging Life where I hope someone finds a message in a song that they need to hear. A song offering encouragement, support, promise, or hope in the moment they need it most. I will make every effort to provide a link to the story behind the song if it is available.

~Tom

trusting God period

Thanks for taking the time to watch the videos and thanks in advance for spreading the word about Leveraging Life, please use the Sharing is Caring links at the bottom to update your Facebook and Twitter pages, and don’t forget to email your friends.  

If you are not doing so already, you might want to subscribe to Leveraging Life. (It’s free.) That way when I update you’ll be notified via email.

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No Auld Lang Syne For Me

December 30, 2010 — 1 Comment

New Year’s Eve Alternative Song

With all due respect to Guy Lombardo and Dick Clark, I’ve never been a big fan of the Auld Lang Syne song tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation. Last New Year’s Eve I posted this on Facebook which, for me, more appropriately sets the tone for closing out the year and sets the stage for the upcoming year.  

From Facebook-Dec. 31, 2009

Oh what a year it has been! Highs and lows with challenges on every level, personally, professionally, and physically, but through it all the one consistent in everything is God’s spirit alive in me and my desire to leverage my life in Christ better now than before!

So once again as this year comes to a close and another year begins,

I’ll Stand With Arms High 

trusting God period 

 

You stood before creation
Eternity within Your hand
You spoke the earth into motion
My soul now to stand

You stood before my failure
Carried the Cross for my shame
My sin weighed upon Your shoulders
My soul now to stand

So what can I say
What can I do
But offer this heart O God
Completely to You

So I’ll walk upon salvation
Your Spirit alive in me
This life to declare Your promise
My soul now to stand

So what can I say
What can I do
But offer this heart O God
Completely to You

So I’ll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One who gave it all

So I’ll stand
My soul Lord to You surrendered
All I am is Yours

 

Wishing Everyone a Blessed New Year!  

~Tom

trusting God period 

Thanks for taking the time to visit Leveraging Life, please use the Sharing is Caring links at the bottom to update your Facebook and Twitter pages, and don’t forget to email your friends if you like what you see.    

If you are not doing so already, you might want to subscribe to Leveraging Life. (It’s free.) That way when I update you’ll be notified via email. 

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Go Tell It On The Mountain

December 25, 2010 — 1 Comment

 Merry Christmas from Leveraging Life

The Christmas Story in Bible

Go Tell It On The Mountain

Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain,
That Jesus Christ is born.

While shepherds kept their watching
o’er silent flocks by night,
Behold, throughout the heavens
There shone a holy light
Refrain

The shepherds feared and trembled,
When lo! above the earth,
Rang out the angels chorus
That hailed our Savior’s birth.
Refrain

Down in a lowly manger
The humble Christ was born
And God sent us salvation
That blessed Christmas morn.
Refrain

 

 Winter Snow Song

Audrey Assad & Chris Tomlin

Wishing you & your family a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!

~Tom

trusting God period

If you are not doing so already, you might want to subscribe to Leveraging Life. (It’s free.) That way when I update you’ll be notified via email. 

 

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2010 Subaru Share the Love Campaign

December 17, 2010 — 1 Comment

 
For two years, Subaru has been winning prestigious awards at an unprecedented rate:
The list goes on, but the point is clear. Subaru has grown beyond a “best kept secret” and the industry is recognizing Subaru as a leading maker of world-class cars.

 

  • Subaru is the only manufacturer to win Motor Trend’s SUV of the Year award in consecutive years with the 2009 Forester and 2010 Outback.
  • Subaru is the only manufacturer with 2010 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety “Top Safety Pick” awards for all its models. It’s clear – at Subaru, safety is not an option.
  • Subaru is the brand which retained the highest resale value of any manufacturer, domestic or foreign, at both the 36 month point and 60 month point by Automotive Lease Guide (ALG) and Kelly Blue Book respectively. Basically two of the most respected sources in used-car values recognizes Subaru for holding its value better than its competitors.
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Why I Go To Catalyst

October 21, 2010 — 1 Comment

Yesterday I gave you a glimpse of what the worship experience looked like at Catalyst, hopefully today a few of these videos along with some of my comments will explain why I go to Catalyst and how I can look back on 2009-2010 and say with confidence Catalyst helped me grow personally, professionally, and spiritually and also why I hope you might consider joining me there in 2011.

If you only have time to watch one of the videos please watch the Compassion Moment video it has the potential to change lives and you will see!

Video Highlights

Catalyst East 2010: Recap Video from Catalyst on Vimeo.

Speaker Highlights

Speaker Highlights from Catalyst on Vimeo.

Then you get author Donald Miller challenging individuals and leaders alike to ask those the big “What If” questions, which is in itself a reminder to keep dreaming. Leveraging Life the blog is the answer to one of my “What If” questions.

Catalyst West 2010: Donald Miller from Catalyst on Vimeo.

This initial Compassion International moment in the video from 2009 expanded my view of the world and my role in the world. Had I not been there to witness that incredible moment live, a 6 year old boy in Ecuador named Pedro might still be in need of a sponsor but now has the same opportunity Jimmy has. Compassion International is not a hand out, it’s a hand up to help someone realize their fulll potential.I hope you might consider doing the same by sponsoring a child as well.

Compassion Moment – Catalyst 2009 & 2010 from Catalyst on Vimeo.

Another video that left an impression on me last year was this one from Charity Water, not out of guilt for because I saw a lot of myself in it, but because I saw a tangible way I could make a difference.

    Vimeo.

Bottom line is Catalyst is an experience. And for those of us living in Atlanta it is the best kept secret and it’s right in our own backyard. For those looking to make the next 5, or 10, or 15, or 25 years look different than the last 5, 10, 15, or 25 consider attending next year. The Next 25 also happens to be the next series of blog posts I have on the horizon, so check back and thanks for checking in today!

~Tom

trusting God period

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Stick it 2 cancer-Friday Favorite

October 15, 2010 — 7 Comments

Most Fridays I feature a website or a blog that for me has become a favorite. It maybe a favorite resource, a source of inspiration, or just some distraction I frequent. Give the Friday Favorite a look, read, or listen, and please feel free to comment about mine and share a favorite or two of your own in the comment section. Who knows maybe we will feature one of yours as a future Friday Favorite. 

 

Friday October 15, 2010

The Facts:

  • -Every 4 minutes one person is diagnosed with a blood cancer.
  • -Every ten minutes, someone  dies from a blood cancer.
  • -Leukemia causes more deaths than any other cancer among children & young adults under the age of 20.

I met John & Torri Westmoreland last week while attending a Twitter networking event at Village Tavern, and after a few minutes John and I realized we traveled in the similar automotive circles, but we also realized we also spoke a similar language one which includes PET scans, remission, chemo, radiation, because we both have cancer. 

John and Torri’s story is an incredible one in that, years prior to John’s diagnosis of hodgkin’s lymphoma they, through their company In Depth Signs & Designs started providing automotive wraps for the leukemia society. In a matter of months they, family & friends, and the social media community they built raised over $25,000 as part of the leukemia & lymphoma Light the Night Walk. Here is where they were featured by 11 Alive’s Donna Lowry Light the Night-Westmorelands .

Obviously the cancer subject is something I’m passionate but maybe not for the reason you think. Yes I have merkel cell cancer, yes I’ve had 3 surgeries in the last ten months, and yes today marks my 55th radiation treatment in two rounds of radiation. But the reason I’m passionate about Stick it 2 cancer is my cousin Matthew P. Stahl.

Through the early years the Stahl and the Martin family were mirror images of each other. John Stahl is 15 days older than I am and Matt was 15 months older than my brother Mike. Matt was a great athlete, good student, full of life till leukemia stole that life on August 27, 1979.

While a lot of progress has been made in 31 years of research, the fact that a child, any child, your child may have their lives stolen is the reason why I feel the work John and Torri are doing is so important. And when you factor that it covers both lymphoma and leukemia along with the research benefiting any cancer, maybe even merkel cell, as it moves through the blood stream makes Stick it 2 cancer is not just a Friday Favorite, but an Every Day Favorite.

So I hope everyone here at Leveraging Life will join them. First in spirit by using the links provided to learn more about Stick it 2 cancer and spread the word by sharing this post. Use the links on the side or at the bottom to share with your community of friends and associates. Join their Facebook page, maybe buy a shirt or three on the website (only 64 shopping days to Christmas), and consider making a donation if you feel moved to do so.

For me it will be $77.00, $12 for the 12 years we were blessed to have Matt in our lives and $55.00 for each one of those dates I had with “Puff the merkel cell Dragon“, oh and to also celebrate tomorrow being my last day of radiation!!!

~Tom

trusting God period

For those of you who partnered with me on my Lemons to Lemonade Charity Water campaign please don’t feel compelled to pitch in here, your generosity was key into what we did there. So as they say in church let this bucket pass you by…..but check out the shirts they rock!

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Thank you, thank you, thank you!

October 4, 2010 — 1 Comment

 

It’s amazing how time flies! It seems like it was just a week or two ago when I stepped out of my comfort zone to begin the Lemons to Lemonade Charity Water campaign. While my nature is to give to worthy causes, actually organizing something like this was a first for me.

Words cannot truly express my gratitude to those who spread the word via Facebook, Twitter, and email, and also to those who shared their love by making a contribution. Because of those efforts 54 people will have clean drinking water for over 20 years……not one week, not one month, but 20 years!

100% of the $1,090.00 we raised will be combined with other campaigns so a well can be built within the next 12-18 months. What makes Charity Water so unique is your involvement didn’t end when you pressed send. You will receive the GPS coordinates for and photos of the well you helped build so you will see your money in action and changing lives.

The greatest lesson for me in all this is Hope.

Hope that our effort better equips all those who draw water from the well and in doing so allows them to leverage their life experience for a greater good like YOU already have; and secondarily, if Life deals you Lemons my other Hope is you’ll look for a way to make Lemonade out of that circumstance.

Thanks again and God Bless!

~Tom

trusting God period

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Life Lessons part 3….Off Season

October 2, 2010 — 4 Comments

 Off- Season refers to the time between when my first round of radiation ended and the reemergence of cancer in my life this past June. 

Truth be told I never anticipated a second chapter to this story….and if I can be so arrogantly bold I thought my merkel cell story was Won & Done in April.

You would think with an attitude like that I’d been ready to climb the next mountain, tackle the next big project, restructure my life plan, but for me the off-season was a season of complacency. I withdrew, I went through the motions, and had I been honest should have acknowledged I was probably depressed. I expected everything to look different on this side of treatment, but the problem was I never changed the lens I viewed my life through.

Heal

I think it is important when you experience something similar to this, you allow time to regroup before immersing yourself back into routines. There can be an overwhelming urge for your life to return to normal, the only problem is what was normal before may not be normal now. Trauma is trauma (could be grief for a lost loved one, could be separation or divorce, could be job loss) and the mental rehabilitation may be more important than the physical rehabilitation with the results far less visible.

For me, not taking time to come to terms with how all this affected me minimized the effect it had on me which kept me from appreciating the potential for what God could do through me.

Wearing a yellow bracelet might signify I was a survivor……only problem was I didn’t feel like much of a survivor, only an existor. OK, existor is not a word, but it is the only term that describes the place I was in. Everything on my horizon lacked significance in my eyes. Sure I had family, friends, a job….more than what a lot of people could say, but I was also turning 46 and there were a lot of things left unchecked on my “to accomplish” list.

Focus

As I struggled, a key realization was brought to light when, in the span of 48 hours, I was reminded 3 times the opening line of Rick Warren’s book, Purpose Driven Life-“It’s Not About You”. My lack of purpose and significance stemmed from the fact I was trying to leverage my cancer experience for my benefit, rather than consider that God’s plan all along may have been to leverage my experience for His benefit. Each time “It’s not about you” was quoted it gave me a glimpse of what effect life with cancer could have on me and what God could do through me if my focus shifted from me and was leveraged where there was significance and purpose. 

This blog is not the significance I speak of, but it’s a component; doing my job better has purpose because that income facilitates what and where my focus can be leveraged. What the effect now looks like for me is being more intentional in all things and modeling what I believe. Survivor bracelets are great….they raise money, and they show support for the cancer community, but wearing something and being something are two different things.

Act

So before I place a bracelet on my wrist I need to do a little recasting of my DNA, that way the makeup of who I am and Who I serve will be the place I find purpose and I hope that will be the place God begins to leverage this experience. 

 

If what you’re committed to isn’t Who you’re surrendered you will have a tough time finding purpose in your life and an even tougher time finding peace-my life lesson.    

Is there something standing between you and the purpose your heart craves?

What is keeping you from removing those obstacles?

Let me know how or if I can help you!

~Tom

trusting God period

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Off Season  is part three in a series of posts called Life Lessons, all centered around life with cancer. Check back for Fast Forward which will bring this journey into the present tense.

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