50 Years of Learning

Now that I am turning 50 years old this month, I wanted to compile a list of 50 lessons, ideas, or truths that I have come across that have struck a note with me.  Please note however, that this is not a complete list.  I would like to think that I know more than 50 things, but felt these were an encapsulation of my journey.

1. The most important thing in life is to be yourself, unless you can be Batman, always be Batman.

2. The root of all sin is the suspicion that God is not good. - Oswald Chambers

3. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it... we are in charge of our attitude. - Chuck Swindoll

4. Whatever you do, always give 100%, unless you're giving blood.

5. God does not always call the qualified, but He qualifies the called who are willing to be led by His righteous right hand. - Tommy Barnett

6. He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? - Micah 6:8

7. Faith is only as good as its object. - Warren Wiersbe

8. Don't confuse your work for God with your walk with God. - Don Lichi

9. Build character, and integrity will follow. - Trent Thomas

10. I am the wretch the song was written about.

11. Wrong is wrong even when everyone is doing it. Right is right even when no one is doing it.

12. One can make any choice he wants . One cannot, however, choose the consequences of that choice.

13. Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalms 37:4

14. A ship is safe in harbor, but that is not what a ships for. - William Shedd

15. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

16. When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember the Fire Department uses water.

17. Friendship is born at the moment when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought I was the only one." - C.S. Lewis

18. If at first you don't succeed, maybe skydiving isn't for you.

19. Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23 NIV)

20. The key for men in marriage is to be comfortable with your wrongness. - Dr. Titus Sheers

21.There is no charge for awesomeness or attractiveness. - Po

22. Life is hard. You are not that important. Your life is not about you. You are not in control. You are going to die. - Richard Rohr

23. Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;- James 1:19

24.Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase. - Martin Luther King Jr.

25. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

26. The early bird might get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

27. I believe in Christ like I believe in the sun - not because I can see it, but by it I can see everything else. - C.S. Lewis

28. Every father should remember that one day his son will follow his example instead of his advice.

29. An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. - Prov. 31:10

30. Life in the end will be measured by significance, not by a golf score ( or job title, or bank account, or social standing). Significance will be defined by your character, relationships, values, virtues, and faith... - Seven Days In Utopia

31. Success is a destination, while significance is an eternal calling. - SDIU

32. Growing older is mandatory; growing up is optional.

33. Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. - Dr. Seuss

34. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. - Phil. 4:8

35. Golf is an easy game. It's just hard to play.

36. No man is a failure who has friends. - It's a Wonderful Life

37. When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends.

38. Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn. - Ben Franklin

39. Character is what you are when no one else is around.

40. A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything. - Irish Proverb

41. Happy wife, happy life.

42. "The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own image. Otherwise we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them. " - Thomas Merton

43. Never lie, never cheat, and never steal. Don't whine, don't complain, and don't alibi. - Coach John Wooden's father

44. Wag more, bark less. - my 3rd grade teacher Mrs. Espeland

45. If you don't raise your son to manhood...the world will. - Dennis Rainey

46. If you scatter thorns, don't go barefoot. - Italian Proverb

47. When you can't change the direction of the wind - change your sails. - H. Jackson Brown Jr.

48. It's not the years in your life that count; it's the life in your years. - Abraham Lincoln

49. Never let success go to your head; never let failure go to your heart.

50. You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.

Important Note:  This is not a complete list.