What if you could give yourself a great accountability partner for Christmas who could help you meet your goal by the first quarter of the New Year? Would you?

I’m the guy. I will be your accountability partner.

I have researched goal achievement and the role of accountability partners and there is an art and science to reaching your goal. Here is what doesn’t work; just doing the best you can. It turns out that your chances for reaching your goal when “doing the best I can” are low.

Here is what works, according to the research; great big difficult to reach goals. Turns out that successful people have big goals.

And here is one of the main keys to successful goal achievement; accountability in the form of positive feedback. I’m not talking about your cubical mate saying they will hold you accountable to stop eating junk food.  I’m talking about someone who will help you with a smart plan to reach you goal in a systematic step wise process.

I have the plan and the system to help you and I would be happy to do it as part my personal life goal.

Let me ask you. What do you want? More business? More love? Better health? Well… what is holding you back? Here is a link to more information and an Accountability Partner agreement.  Check it out and get back to me.  Give yourself the best Christmas present ever and start the New Year right!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_banLcHXUnmIVL_XokjYhLSrnSqB5aLUfL4FNx_6ENg/edit

Love you, Bryan

Jadon and Joseph (my grandsons) wrestle with the Bad Donkey Wrestling Club in Clovis. Perhaps you can imagine another word for donkey and get the cryptic meaning behind the club’s name. They train boys and girls in the fine art of mastering their minds and bodies with subtle moves. They learn more than just how to dominate their opponents, they learn how to control their own thoughts and actions.

On this particular day Joe was using Papa Bryan’s Taxi Service to get to wrestling practice. Joe takes advantage of our alone time together to ask important questions about life, family, and friends. This time he asked me to pray for a class mate who was having surgery, it was something to do with his kidney and he would be out of school for two weeks. Then Joe asked, “Papa how did you get to be so wise?” I thought that was an interesting question coming from a nine year old.

“Wisdom comes from education and experience, Joe.” I’m not sure about how much and what kind of education makes one wise, but I wanted to reinforce the importance of an education. I am sure that life experience teaches wisdom.  “I’ll bet your friend will gain some wisdom as a result of having life threatening kidney surgery,” I said. To which Joe replied, “My other friend broke his pinky finger, he is very wise.”

Christmas makes me think of the three wise men who visited baby Jesus. Why is it that wisdom is often associated with children, as when young Joseph asked me about wisdom and wise men sought baby Jesus? It is because we, young and old, are seekers of answers to the difficult questions of life.

What I love the most about Christmas is the answers it provides. Answers to questions like; Is there any hope for the world?  How can we find any peace? Where is the joy? How can we grow in love? It also answers the question about how to have satisfaction in life; by being grateful for everything we are and have (such as it is) and sharing our gifts of love with others.

Of course I didn’t learn all those things in school. Well, I learn ABOUT them in school, but I experienced them in life and I am still learning/experiencing them. Maybe that is why I appear to be so wise in Joe’s eyes. Christmas reminds me that what really makes me so wise and happy is being surrounded by family, like Joseph, and friends, like you.

This Christmas I’m thinking about the hope, peace, joy and love of God; the mystery revealed in Jesus, and how people like you make my experience of life so beautiful.  Merry Christmas my dear friend! Merry Christmas indeed!

With Love, Bryan

“Love love love love love, love love love love love.” I had a dream, or was it a fantasy (perhaps it was a hallucination) that I was giving my acceptance speech for the Nobel Prize. As I stood before the august audience I gazed out at the world’s leaders and distinguished guests there, I began to speak my message to them and the world. Every word that came from my mouth was love, literally. With animated gesticulation, passion, humor and intensity I spoke “Love, love love love love. Love love love love love.” It was the most poignant and well received speeches ever given.  Now that I have revealed my innermost dreams I hope it removes any doubts about who I am and what I stand for. Yes, it is a little bit crazy, I will admit it, but at least I stand for something.

At the beginning of this great autumn month of October when we celebrate the harvest of grapes for table, raisins and wine, many people turn their thoughts away from long hot days of summer and prepare for the holy and merry days of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and, yes, even Christmas. These are days of fun, food and family gatherings. These days provide for us 1001 ways to love. The big irony surrounding autumn this year, which is the season of abundance of harvest, is the dirge of the economy, political unrest in Washington (Europe and the world, too), and the high level of concern and anxiety people have. It hits especially close to home. It is precisely at times like these when the message of love, my message of love, is so important.

I am not just referring to talking about it, but doing it. I rejoice at having the moniker of love but I would rather be known for the love I actually do. There are more opportunities to love at times like these than any other.

Loving is very simple. Perhaps that is the beauty of it. It is merely responding to the immediate need with whatever resources are at hand, whether that be an hour of service or a thousand bucks…from the heart.

Loving is very complex. Perhaps THIS is the beauty of it. These problems are systemic and profound and take the marriage of our collective ideas and resources…from the heart.

Either way, simple or complex, love is from the heart. The question is… What is in your heart and how will it translate to loving action at this time, this month, on these occasions, with your family, friends and world?

As a reminder, let me leave you with these powerful words. May they inspire, encourage, and empower you to be and to do everything that God wants for you in the world. “Love, love love love love. Love, love love love love.”

With Much Love, Bryan

The tenth anniversary of September 11 terrorist attacks on our nation is being observed this year. Life after that fateful day was forever changed. Thankfully the focus of this anniversary is not the destruction and mayhem but on the valiant heroism of many who responded to the attacks, many of them gave the ultimate sacrifice to save others. May God bless their souls and may God bless their grieving loved ones.

We also remember the thousands of mostly young people who, seeing an opportunity to help their country in the war on terror, enlisted in military service to protect our homeland by fighting in foreign and hostile countries far away from home. Many of them died or were grievously wounded making us safe. We honor them with sincere thanks and our heartfelt love.

The terrorist attacks of that day did not evoke fear into our hearts, as the evil ones supposed. It did evoke vigilance, patriotism and pride. Prior to 9/11 many naively took for granted the safety and peace that we enjoy in our country. Now we are aware and watchful. Now we are grateful; we are grateful for the freedom, liberty and safety we enjoy and we are grateful for those who worked to ensure it.

Every story I hear about those brave responders brings tears to my eyes. Their heroism was as great as their sacrifice. When I think about 9/11 I don’t allow my mind to dwell long on the terrorists and their evil plot (Many of them have been killed or are in hiding). I brush them from my mind as unworthy. Instead I think about the first responders, the soldiers, and every person who has contributed to the heroic response. They truly are our heroes and they truly deserve to be remembered and honored. Please join me in turning our thoughts and prayers to these brave ones and their families this September 11^th.

My hope is that you will join me in a time of meaningful reflection, whether that is to watch one of the many programs on TV, attend a local memorial event or merely observe a time of private prayer and reflection. Further, I would recommend making a generous donation to a charity that supports wounded and recovering first responder and warriors. Let us all, each in our own way, remember and give thanks for our heroes who, even until this day,  make our country safe and secure.

Thank you very much.

Bryan Lee Martin

Below you will find my August 2011 Church Newsletter. Sometimes I like to share it here… this is one of those time. Enjoy!

Nothing happens in August. Well… school starts for most kids. Parents are rejoicing because they don’t have to “entertain” kids any more. But besides that, nothing much happens in August. There are no Federal Holidays. Well… some grapes may be harvested in August but I’ll bet that a lot of grapes will be harvested in September.  But besides that, nothing much is happening. I’ll be doing a little hiking in Yosemite. It is kind of boring in August. Hot, although the weather has been just gorgeous thus far. That reminds me, the mornings have been just stunning. Jennifer and I get up and go to the gym early in the morning, just before dawn these days, and the coolness of the air and the beauty of the morning in exhilarating. Did I mention that we ride our bikes to the gym? But other than that… not much is happening. Well… June went to Avila Beach with her daughters, granddaughters and granddaughters-in-law for a week end celebration, a belated 80^th birthday party. That sounds kind of fun but I’m glad I’m not going; too much estrogen!

Yep… not much happening, we have been heading over to Yogurtland over at River Park several evenings a week. The non-fat frozen yogurt is to die for and the line circles around and outside the door. It is a blast just to sit and watch people. I don’t understand why all those young women get so many tattoos. Sometime a band will be playing. Once we saw the astronomy club there with their telescopes letting people look at the moon. Wow! We had our Bible study group over for dinner, too. But other than that… not much is going on in August.

Church has been really good this summer. Now were getting into the life of Joseph. It is undeniably one of the best stories in the Bible… relevant too. Great music too, we could probably sing a few more old hymns, but that Paul and Jana Aleman are fantastic musicians. We are incredibly blessed to have them. Did you know that I look forward to seeing you in church? I love talking with you and finding out about what is happening in your life. And what about all those good things to eat that you good people bring! Man… I love Sundays and church!

Yep… August…hum…not much going on. Oh well.

On a little different note I’d like to thank you for your generous financial support for our church. I appreciate that you help make it all possible. Thank you very much.

I Love You — Bryan Lee Martin

I have noticed how cheap life is in the world. People die or are killed without even a thought in virtually every corner of the globe. Some, they say, are justly killed for crimes, like the two who died with Jesus. But mostly it is the innocents that die, either directly at the hands of evil doers, or indirectly when evil doers refuse to allow humanitarian aid to reach the desperate.

As you know I am a preacher for love so this rush to vengeance and death reaches deep in my soul.  How can you and I help make the world more loving, as Jesus would have it? Jesus taught that the evil and the good would grow together until the final judgment, but does that mean there is nothing we can do?

Obviously we are supposed to be agents for God’s love and grace even in the face of tyranny and victimization. The hard part is that vengeance and death seems so removed from us. The truth, however, is that hate and murder are everywhere, even in our own fair city. The question is what can we do?

First, we must remind ourselves frequently and constantly that Love is the most important thing. To that end we gather weekly to hear the Gospel message of God’s love and grace. It is just part of our human learning experience that we need to rehearse the message over and over again, hundreds of times as it cleanses our minds of the stale air of indifference. The repetition speaks to our hearts, as we, ourselves, go through the ups and downs of life, of the supreme importance of, the power of, and the role of love in our lives. Living and learning love is a discipline like going to the gym to keep in shape.

Next we need to be encouraged to do the little things of love. Those little things are like the cells of your body. One, by itself, does not seem to be of much consequence. But many little things working together are organized like the cells of the body of a well-trained technician; precisely applying the corrections to maximize the functioning of the world. You and I must accomplish little acts of love every day on our way to be true representatives of God’s love. It is imperative! 

Hate and evil are not omnipotent as some suppose; they are merely terrorizing. Love IS infinite; God is love. Our battle is not so much against the impotent forces of evil, hate and murder. Our battle is to carry the message of God’s love to every corner of the world, beginning with you and me. Let your heart and mind be totally ruled and influenced by the Love of God, every week, every day, and let God’s love flow through you into your world with acts of love every single day. Your love will change your world… if you remember to act.

I love you, Bryan Lee Martin

The second was one of his best friends. “We took a trip to Vegas in our Winnebago and Max was sitting in the co-pilot’s chair. As we stopped at a light on the Strip, Max said, ‘Check out those shoes!’ Those shoes were 6 inch black stiletto high heels worn by a very attractive young lady is a very short black dress that was deeply low cut in front. From then on “check out those shoes” was a special code word.”

Finally his daughter got up and explained, “My dad said I was born with a tail, and I believed him until I was eight years old.” We all laughed as she went on to share stories about her dad.

After all had said their good words I summarized them. “You know what that was, don’t you? The knife, the heels and the tail? That was love. Max loved that little brother, his best friend and his daughter and he gave them parts of him that they will never forget. Love comes in all kinds of shapes and forms, but it always comes to the ones we are with.

Celebrate your love today and give some to all the people around you. It really does make an impact.”

I love you – Bryan

Love Your Neighbor – Help One

                O’Connell’s final project looked like an fMRI machine tilted vertically. “With the technology and the energy limitations we have today it is just impossible to put a whole animal through my machine. Human beings are out of the question all together. However, I stumbled onto something I think will work.” He went on to explain that it wasn’t necessary to process a “whole” person in the “here and there” machine, or the HAT machine, as he called it. All that was necessary was that certain specific particles be engaged. Particles associated with specific brain function in specific regions of the brain would be isolated and tapped for the event. Even then not all the particles associated with these regions and functions were needed, only a few million which when organized together, would have enough functionality to capture images, perceptions and perhaps feelings from different places in time and space. “The problem I’m having is finding complimentary hosting at the other end of the continuum.” In other words, those particles need a host brain.

                The scientist continued with his explanation. “In order for us to gather any data from the future we have something like a receiver to generate the data. It is a lot like a Television. The image are produced in one place and then instantly visible, by the work of the particles, here. And since we are using brain particles we have to have another brain on the other side to use as the generator. Here is what happens; The HAT machine identifies specific brain particles and instantly sends and attaches them in the specific regions and specific types of neurons in the brain of the host. When that connection happens then the person in the HAT machine will instantly be connected to the sensory world of the host in the future.  The now person will be connect to the then person.

                “Will they be able to communicate,” I asked.

                “No. Well, not directly. Images may appear subconsciously or in altered states and sleeping, but it would not be like talking on the phone. We don’t send that many particles and the host brain may not even know what is happening. What you will be able to do is to make dream-like impressions and influence thinking… somewhat.”

                “What do you mean somewhat?”

                “Hey, we don’t know exactly what will happen… it is just an educated guess.”

                “How do the particles know where to go?”

                “Particles are going to hunt down familiar structure hosts. So they are going to travel from structures in one brain and look for something similar elsewhere. We think it is likely that they will find structures with similar DNA. So they won’t end up in a dog or a rock or a table.”

                I still had more questions. “This won’t damage anybody… will it?

                “I don’t think it will KILL them. But you know, when you mess with someone’s brain, even if it just a few million particles, it could have an effect.”

                “Wow. All this give me a headache.”

                The computer instantly responded, “Computer on. Good morning Dr. Martin. Today is Tuesday January 18, 51097. It is 2:04 am. The temperature outside is 42.5 degrees Celsius.”

                “Another hot one,” she said to herself out loud. Nora Martin was a geological engineer working with the task group looking for the source of the unusually strong and frequent seismic events that had been happening all over the world. There was massive destruction everywhere. Volcanic activity in North America had wiped out what used to be Yellowstone. Huge sections of Wyoming and Montana just no longer existed. The eruption created an ash cloud that completely obliterated the sun for six months killing plant and wildlife not just in North America, but all over the world. The drought that ensued lasted ten years. That was only one event. Earthquakes generated tsunamis worldwide totally decimating virtually every coastline on the planet. Millions more died. The natural disasters were exacerbated by the political strife as regions and government fought for limited resource. Wars in Brazil and South Africa claimed tens of millions of lives. The world was literally being pulled apart. But why?

                Nora’s team was focusing on how sun flairs might be affecting the earth.  For the last hundred years or so huge flares had been observed with greater frequency. There was some speculation that the flares had affected the magnetic poles, causing them to change and creating tectonic plate shifts thus causing the seismic irregularities. Her computer worked all night running complicated programs and it was finally complete. “Damn,” she said as she examined the results. “This just can’t be.” But she knew it was. This was the fifth time she had run the program.  One thing was for sure; there was nothing wrong with the poles.

                Nora hated these meetings with a passion. Her team had the brightest minds but it was the most dysfunctional team she had ever experienced. Now, armed with this new evidence, she had an even greater reason to hate today’s meeting. Each of them, Tom, Joaquin, and Derk were academic divas with huge egos and a propensity for exaggerated dramatics. Nora called them her Drama Queens. Every meeting was a complaining, criticizing, contemptuous airing of personal feelings, attacks, and extreme defensiveness. For every hour of meeting they were lucky to get five minutes of production done. It was such a waste of time.

                Tom was a super brilliant software engineer with a boat load of personal problems. His partner was an accountant for a financial firm and was under investigation by the feds. All of their personal bank accounts had been frozen which was a nightmare for Tom who already struggled with a suppressed immune disorder. The stress was literally killing him. Besides that he was just a jerk with zero empathy or compassion for anybody.

                Joaquin was from a long line of prominent physicists. His grandfather Georgio Mazio won the Noble prize for his work identifying water with certainty on extra-solar planets. Joaquin also inherit his Grandfather’s addiction to opiates. He is brilliant but worthless.

                Derk was the quiet single guy. The word was that he lost his family in the big tsunami that hit south Florida a decade ago, but he didn’t talk about it. He didn’t say much about anything, but when he did it was dripping like a butcher’s knife with the blood of sarcasm. One word describes Derk, negative. His cutting remarks were beyond critical; they were flaming contemptuous of every idea, person, and project. He was extremely proficient at his job, extremely detailed, on top of every new innovation in his field. He was a scientist’s scientist. And he was a miserable human being.

                When Nora arrived at the meeting they were already at it. Joaquin was standing leaning over the table, one hand supporting him and the other pointing his bony finger with angry blame like a gun at Tom. He face was as red as the shirt he was wearing and the veins were popping out of his neck. Tom was sitting just glaring at him, waiting like a lion ready to pounce on his prey. Derk was screaming at Joaquin to “Shut up.” Joaquin sat down, adrenaline still flowing like hot water thru his still pulsating veins. She didn’t even ask what they were talking about.

                “Listen, I ran the program again and there is no doubt about it,” she hoped that by getting right into the meat of the meeting they might actually get something done.

                Joaquin couldn’t wait to hear another word, “If that is the program that Tom wrote then I couldn’t disagree with you more.”

                Nora notice a little vein on this temple throbbing, “Shut up Joaquin, let me tell you…”

                “Yeah, Joaquin, shut up.” Tom quietly and passive aggressively added.

                Derk, just got up from his chair and started for the door, “Well this is going to be another total waste of time. Call me when you two idiots are ready to have a meeting.” Nora reached her hand up like a stop sign blocking his way out. He calmly reacted, “There is nothing that YOU can do with about these two either,” he said as his head moved rhythmically back and forth mocking her as he talked as if she was just as worthless as the other two.

                Now Nora was steaming. She could feel her body release adrenaline and cortisol into her body. He definitely had a gift for make people feel defensive. Nevertheless she didn’t strike back. Calmly and firmly she told him, “SIT DOWN.” She pushed him back without even touching him. She could feel her own heart racing now. “Damn it! We have to deal with this.” The data popped up on all their screens. The flash of the screens coming alive distracted them from the chaos and their eyes were drawn to the media.

                Micro seconds later Joaquin was the first to speak, “My God! It’s the Sun! It is expanding.”

                Nora took advantage of the moment. “This wasn’t supposed to happen for another billion years. But there is NO doubt. We are not just dealing with random solar flares. The Sun is expanding and dying. When you look at all the models at this accelerated pace our planet will be swallowed up in less than a thousand years, but all life with be destroyed well before that. I honestly don’t think we can last more than a couple hundred years. It is only going to get worse.” Just then another sharp pain made her hands involuntarily grasp her head.