What Is A Firefighter Worth To You?

This is a letter written by a firefighter's wife. I think it makes a profound statement. For those of us who are firefighters, well, we already know this. And for those who aren't, well, it gives us something to think about:

WHAT IS A FIREFIGHTER WORTH?


There has been so much talk recently about things like containing costs, lowering taxes, and those who work in public safety being overpaid - particularly firefighters - that it could make your head spin. We've all done the "simple math," crunched the numbers, and it all seems to boil down to a simple question. What are firefighters worth?

I guess that depends. We live in a country that seems to have forgotten what our priorities are. A man can be a skilled athlete who happens to throw and catch a football well, and make millions and millions of dollars to do so. And we as a society are not only OK with that, but we gather in front of our televisions and cheer that man on. Meanwhile, a firefighter kisses his children goodbye before every shift knowing the harsh reality that it very well could be the last time he will see them, and he is fighting tooth and nail for decent health coverage and substantial pay to support those children.

He is the man that you call when your elderly father has a stroke. He is the person that will extract your 16-year-old son from a mangled vehicle on the highway in the middle of the night. He is the person that will be there in a heartbeat when your newborn infant stops breathing. He is the person who is exposed to countless dangerous scenarios and has seen horrific things during his career that would psychologically haunt most of us for the rest of our lives. We trust him to save our homes and belongings in the event of a disastrous fire, and we trust him to keep us breathing and our hearts beating when we face our most critical moments. What is he worth to you?

He sometimes will go days without sleep, and make life altering decisions on every call he shows up to. He has missed family meals, bedtime stories, Christmas mornings, school plays, anniversaries, Thanksgiving dinners, and his own children's birthdays. We all know that life is so very short, and firefighters sacrifice precious time with the most important people in their lives to save the lives of the most important people in yours. And now they have to defend and protect their pensions, well deserved health benefits, and their paychecks. It has been proposed by some that they lose many of their benefits, and work extra shifts that they will not be compensated for. There seems to be a serious misconception that firefighters are in it for the monetary gain, and more and more often have been portrayed in a negative light for actually expecting to be compensated for the sacrifices that they make to do their job. For an individual that has chosen this selfless career, it begs the question: Is it worth it?

Most of us are willing to pay a little extra for something if it is important to us,Šwhether it be the shoes we wear, the doctor we choose to treat us, or even the cup of coffee we drink. It is something that we value, therefore it is worth the cost. Most would agree that our safety and protection is of unmeasurable value. Those of us that are skilled in math may look at the numbers and think that stripping those who serve our public of their way to earn a decent living is an answer to a financial equation. But firefighters and their families are not numbers on a piece of paper. They are human beings that are doing their jobs every day to the best of their ability, and possibly sacrificing their own lives for the life of a stranger. Not many of us in our right mind would do that for free, and no one should have to.

So before making our minds up that firefighters are the financial problem, sit down with a local firefighter and ask him about his job. Ask him about his wife and his sons or daughters, what kind of house he lives in, and what type of car he drives. And then ask yourself, if you were to take on such a career, what would you expect in return?

Tina Clarke
Proud wife of a Cumberland firefighter

Visualize Yourself Succeeding

Success is something that everyone needs to experience. Some people have more chances than others, but we all need to experience it. The culture that we live in is a very selfish culture. It’s all about me. Almost everything you do is about you and to better you and to make sure everyone knows that you are “something.” IF you read this and say that the last statement is false, I would ask you to take a look at your finances and lifestyle.

In our society, people do not grab life by the horns because they have fears. Fear will cut you down. Fear will keep you from attaining your goals and going beyond your potential. God calls us to not fear, but believe. Believe that He is going to provide for you. Believe that He is going to satisfy you. Believe that He will give you an abundant life.

Did any word stick out in the last paragraph to you? Believe. Correct. Do you want to succeed? You have to believe that you will succeed. You have to visualize yourself succeeding. Once you believe in yourself, you will succeed and you can believe in others. When you believe in others, something huge happens. They start believing in themselves. When they believe in themselves, they succeed.

I think true success is when you help others succeed in life. I talk with clients on a daily basis. The most effective statement I make is this: “I’m here to help you succeed, because if you don’t succeed…I don’t succeed. I believe in you and your business.” This statement speaks volume, but only if I truly believe. Anyone can say these words, but only you can choose to make them true!

Be an influence of something positive. YOU can change the world. Believe in others. Help someone experience success.

OneLove,
JNix

Blink & You Might Miss It...

I blinked and found myself on the brink of a new era in life. I've met the woman of my dreams, the woman that I will spend the rest of my life with...my beautiful Bonnie (and no she doesn't lie over the ocean or the sea, she is actually right here with me). I'm in a new industry. My work environment has changed drastically. No longer are the days of wearing shorts and flip flops in the office. Or hanging out in student's cafeterias and planning spring break mission trips. While a huge part of my life, which has impacted me and shaped me into the person I am today. I was ushered into a new phase of life. God was preparing me for something bigger than what I had ever imagined.

I am now working in the corporate world, in risk management. I wear slacks, dress shirts and dress shoes to work. I take business trips across the nation to meet with clients and help them understand the importance of managing assets. I work in a big downtown office...with lots of women, and they all know way more than me! I'm no longer that frontman. I have moved to the bottom of the totem pole and I'm making my move back to the top.

I deal with clients all over the nation on a daily basis and I have to implement what I have taught to students and adults for nearly 10 years. I actually have to put into play the whole "practice what you teach" method.

It's difficult at times, but students and adult leaders from Arkansas, Missouri, Florida and Texas have taught me a great deal in listening and managing this new corporate world. I commend each and every person whoe life I have touched becuase you may not know it, but you have touched my life even more! Thank you.

I'm excited about the journey God has me on. He has carried me through tough times and relationships to ge me to this point, so I could say "WOW! God you are amazing!"

If you're wondering "what next or why God" I encourage you to hold on to His truths because Christ is going to blow your mind away! Keep seeking God and showing His love to others. Don't blink...you just might miss it.

I'm still writing so stay tuned. You who read this keep me in the writing business!

OneLove,
JNix

Friendships

Friendship: Value that is found in friendships is often the result of a friend demonstrating the following on a consistent basis:

-the tendency to desire what is best for the other

-sympathy

-empathy

-honesty, even when the truth hurts

-understanding

-compassion

"A true friend is the man who knows everything about you, and still likes you" -Elbert Hubard

God is a true friend that values you on a consistent basis. Have you ever thought that you have really given up on God? I don't know about you, but I don't like seeing people get hurt or hit rock bottom...because after a while, they may not be able to get back up. God says that he turns people over to their sins...He doesn't give up on them, but He lets them waller in their sin. IF your sin gets the best of you, it'll kill you...but if you can see and truly experience Christs love and reach out to Him, then you can be restored and healed and made new. God says that when we become His children that we are a new creation. God knows everything about you and me and He still loves us no matter what we have done or will do. He loves, unconditionally.

You see, as children of God, friends...we never give up on God or fall from his grace. You know the song: He's got the whole world, in His hands. He's got the whole wide world... You get it and you are probably singing now, but He has the world in his hands, He has you and me...and just when you think that you are running from God because you think you are giving up; remember that God has you. You are merely running circles in His hands. God is a true friend...He never leaves you, never forsakes you, but only loves you. He sees not your faults, but only the good in you. Christ values you on a consistent basis. That is what a true friendship looks like.

The next time you feel like you are standing all alone on a rainy night, thrashed and wasted from the hurts of this world and wondering what has happened... Remember that Christ is your friend and that He values you on a consistent basis.

Value people on a consistent basis, show the world the love of Christ and the true meaning of friendship. To all of my friends...you know who you are, I love you and value you.

OneLove,
JNix

Attaining a Peace of Christ

At first glance you think that I misspelled "peace" in the title, but actually I didn't. It is exactly as it is written. There is a peace that is Christ that we can all attain. I encourage you to read Ephesians 5-6 today and see what God says to you. These are some thoughts from Ephesians 5-6.

Peace Of Christ.
How do you get the peace of Christ? When I think about it, for peace to be attained in our world many people have had to and still have to fight for it. It doesn't come cheaply..it's actually purchased. You see, everyone can enjoy God's perfect peace by reconciling the past, present, and future.

-We all have a past
-We have to realize where we are now in the present
-And if we're really God's children...then we have to realize that we are going somewhere...you have a future.

You are not just stuck right here...and you can't be stuck in the past. You have to know that you are here for a purpose. You are still here for a purpose. God saved you for a purpose and He brought you here for a purpose! And maybe He brought you here so that you could get this: that He is not done with you yet! Your future is bright and He has incredible plans for you...but you have to reconcile your past, present, and future.

Ephesians 5:20- "submit, love like Christ loved, to die completely to self and to lay our lives down."

Make Peace with Your Past.
How do you do that?

-make peace with others...Jesus said "blessed are the peacemakers"

Philippians 3:13-14- "forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me."

-making peace with the past (whether good or bad) means forgetting what is behind and pushing forward with Christ.
-saying "God what are you doing right now? What do you want to do in me?"

Ephesians 6:1-9- "obey, serve God sincerely with your life."
Jeremiah 29:11- "for I know the plans I have for you, to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

-You have to ask "God where are you taking me right now?"

Make Peace with Yourself.
You can't change the past...but you can change the future!

Ephesians 6.10- Remember that maturity is a moving target. You have to know that you will never arrive. You won't wake up one morning and say "wow...I'm there!" It'll never happen...you will never arrive until you see Jesus face to face in Heaven. Until then you are growing and learning...and breaking old stuff off that shouldn't be in your life. You are still BECOMING the person that He wants you to be.

-God gives you that kind of grace! Realize that you are still growing and make peace with your past.
-You can't change it, make peace with your present by being realistic about who you really are:-It's why prayer and repentance are so big...because if you become real honest with yourself and do a self assessment you will say "that you're not all that you should be... but thank God I'm not where I was and I'm becoming someone so much better and so much stronger than I used to be."
-Make peace with your future and realize that you're not going to get there overnight.
-It's not OK to be OK with your sin once it's been pointed out to you. Let God's truth begin to illuminate in you life and then you need to change a little bit about your present and future as you see faults...and then begin to peel off sin and clothe yourself in righteousness and not let yourself be tainted.

Make Peace with God.
This is the only relationship that matters.

-We need God's peace...I need God's peace...You need God's peace.
-If you're trying to function without God's peace...then you are missing out on God's plan for your life. Because the Bible says "that He's supposed to give you a peace that surpasses all understanding." You should have peace when everyone else is freaking out!
-You have the peace of God in YOU!!!

This peace will eliminate fears that you have carried all of your life. It is a peace that is super-natural...and you can have it, but you have to reach out for it. It will not be handed to you. And just like people today have to fight for peace...You will have to fight for it! And I promise God will honor it...He will in His perfect timing and you have to trust that and know that.

I want to see you all succeed and I want to help you when you fail. Not because I have it all together...trust me, I don't, but because God calls me to that. May you find and have this Peace of Christ in your life today! God is doing something in your life...hold on, because you are going to be blown away.

OneLove,
JNix

What does God call you too?

I remember as a kid, I would watch the baseball greats like Bo Jackson, Jose Canseco, and Nolan Ryan do things on the field that would blow my mind. Everyone wanted to see them at the ballpark, everyone wanted their baseball card. I mean, I can still smell the piece of bubble gum as I ripped open the baseball card pack and I can still smell the popcorn and hot dogs in the air as I think about these baseball greats. The cracking of a bat and famous "take me out the ball game!" These guys were legends, they were "the BEST."

It was an honor to be considered the best. Whether it was the best at baseball, academics, computers, coffee, food or sewing. There used to be something great about being or being considered "the BEST." Nowaday's "the BEST," is not good enough. If you're "the best," you're just mediocre or not even actually on the radar...or are you?

Society says everyone and thing has to be better than the best. There is a phrase "best of the best," it alarms me. What is the definition of "best of the best?" Dictionary.com defines "BEST" this way: of the highest quality, excellence, or standing. How does it get any better than that?? Our society places this standard on us that many times people give up because they can't attain this "BEST OF THE BEST" in their life. They are, in a sense, just sidelined in society as the best. Losers, if you will. When I looked up the phrase "best of the best" I find only one definition, and that, in the Urban Dictionary. "Best of the best" is equated with the words crap and garbage. Which I find strikingly disturbing. You see people sell out and will pay any cost to try and be this so called "best of the best." They will forsake everything because of their selfishness to become this "best of the best." And...for what? A title? I don't know about you, but I am completely fine with being the best.

God calls us to be the best we can be, not the best of the best. Not better than the guy next to you, just be YOUR best. It is a lonely road when you are trying to be the best of the best. I'll tell you what God has taught me: "love God, love others." If you can harness your attention and focus on doing these 2 things, then no matter what you do...you will be the BEST person that you can be. You WILL be everything that GOD calls you to be. Worry not about being at the top...but instead of the here and now. Love God, Love People. Just like I remember the smells of the baseball and the cracks of the bat, you too will remember what the best feels like when you practice this.

Serve. Share. Set in Motion.

OneLove,
JNixon

The Paradox of Social Media: The More Social it Gets, The Less Social We Become by Gord Hotchkiss

I read this yesterday by a writer named Gord Hotchkiss:

I have teenage daughters. At least, I assume they're still my daughters. They hang around our house and eat our food. But, to be honest, it's been a while since we identified ourselves to each other. Between Angry Birds, SMS and Facebook, there's precious little actual conversing going on in the Hotchkiss household. I barely recognize their faces, lit up as they are by the cool blue digital light of an iPhone screen. I assume that, at times, there's a living being at the other end of their multi-texting, but I'm not really sure.

Yesterday, I overheard this in our lunch room: "I went for dinner the other night but have no idea how it was. Between tweeting my location, updating my status and posting a review to Yelp, I never actually ate anything."

I'm guessing this comment was made in jest, but you never know. I remember one after-conference party held under the bridge in Sydney's magnificent harbor, watching one very well-known search guru tweet his way through the entire evening. I don't think he even noticed the Opera House on the other side of the bay. He was so busy tweeting his experience; he overlooked the actual "experiencing" part.

It seems to me that the more we engage in social media, the less social we actually become. The world in front of our noses is increasing being obstructed by one type of screen or another. The more we live in our new digital communities, the less we live in our real-life, flesh and blood ones. I can't remember my neighbor's name, but I can track the minute-by-minute location of people I've never met and probably never will. And by the way, congats on becoming Mayor of the Beans n' Buns coffee shop on the corner of "LOL" and "OMG" in a city I'll never set foot in. I'm not sure why that's important to me, but all the "in" people assure me it is.

Humans were built to be social, but I'm not sure we were designed for social media. For one thing, research has proven that multitasking is a myth. We can't do it. Our kids can't do it. Nobody can do it. Much as we think we're keeping all our digital balls in the air, eyes darting back and forth from screen to screen, it's all a self-perpetuated ruse. Attention was designed to work with a single focus. You can switch it from target to target, but you can't split it. If you try, you'll just end up doing everything poorly.

Secondly, we're built to communicate with the person in front of our nose. We pick up the vast majority of a conversation through body language and visual cues. Try as technology might, there's just no way a virtual experience can match the bandwidth or depth of engagement you'll find in a real face-to-face conversation. Yet, we continually pass up the opportunity to have these, opting instead to stare at a little screen and text our thumbs off.

As we spend more time with our digital connections, it's inevitable that we'll have less satisfying engagements with the people who share our physical space and time. The disturbing part about that is we may not realize the price we're paying until it's too late. Social media has slyly incorporated many elements from online gaming to make using it treacherously addictive. I suspect if we wired up the average teen while she was using Facebook or Foursquare, we'd find a hyperactive pleasure center, bathing her brain in dopamine. We're forgoing the real pleasures of bonding to pursue an artificially wired short-cut.

The ironic part of all this is that I wrote this column on a four-hour flight, spending most of it staring at some kind of screen or another. The person sitting next to me on the plane? I don't think we spoke more than four words to each other.

Gord Hotchkiss is a senior vice president at Mediative. He loves to explore the strategic side of search and is programming chair of the Search Insider Summits, as well as a frequent speaker at Search Engine Strategies and Ad:Tech.