Tommy Newberry's Secrets to a Joy Filled Life

One 4:8 Day At A Time!

Tommy — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:54:39 +0000

Just for today…

Reduce all forms of whining and complaining.
Use spare moments to dwell on the character of God.
Refuse to nurse old wounds with your attention.
Support and defend a victim of gossip or hearsay.
Use your words to encourage your spouse and kids…a lot.
Maintain your brain with healthy sleep, nutrition, and exercise.

Then wake up tomorrow morning, rinse and repeat!

Hope you will be tuning in to today’s TeleCoaching Conference Call!

It is 2008, so think 4:8 and…

Thanks for spreading the Word!

Socially Acceptable Negativity?

Tommy — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:28:45 +0000

What was your experience like with The 8-Day Challenge?

As I’ve been reviewing feedback from nearly 6000 individuals that recently participated in The 8 Day Challenge, I have come across some common feedback that I thought would be of interest to you.

In one way or another, most participants developed a heightened awareness of the negative influences they encountered in their everyday life. Some commented on how pervasive negative thoughts, feelings, and conversations tended to be, especially in the midst of doing the challenge. Others, unsurprisingly, commented on how negative media coverage seemed to be. Many also noted that nasty gossip or “social cancer” was uncomfortably common and accepted. A significant number noticed, for the first time, how their children’s or spouse’s self-talk was so critical and self-defeating.

Lots of people reported the dramatic disconnect between their values on the one hand and the words and images that deluge their environment on the other hand. This was noted in the form of shallow conversations, chronic complainers, unwholesome songs, bill boards, talk radio programs, television shows and movies, and even youth sporting events.

Even though these observations seem bad, they are actually good. They represent awareness, and this awareness of 8:4 thinking, speaking and acting is the first step toward minimizing it in your household and in your life overall. If you did quite well over the 8 days, then this is great news. If you didn’t do so well, then there is enormous room for improvement…and this is still great news.

The more you focus on Philippians 4:8, the more alert you become to the people and circumstances that will lead you away from the peace and joy that God wants for all of us. Too many people are guided by what “most other people are doing.” Too many people are swept up in fads, trends, and the popular hype of the day. No matter how socially acceptable it is, don’t become one of them. Join the 4:8 crowd instead!

Think 4:8 during 2008!

It’s 4:8 Day…and the 8-Day Challenge Has Begun!

Tommy — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:13:37 +0000

The 8-Day Challenge has begun! Hope you’re one of about 6,000 4:8 thinkers taking part in this interesting experiment. If not, make it a priority to participate the next time we offer this.

The idea behind this challenge is to hyper-emphasize the good stuff in your life, both at home and at work, for eight consecutive days. Remember, every thought you think is shifting your life in a particular direction. Each thought leads either to the destination of faith or the destination of fear. Where are your thoughts leading you today?

For more information about this challenge read my previous blog entry. (just scroll down)

Join the 4:8 movement…here are some ideas for consideration, just for today:

·         Today I practice prayer and forgiveness beyond the norm for me.
·         Today I give up all forms of whining.
·         Today I dwell on the nature and character of God.
·         Today I refuse to nurse an old wound.
·         Today I defend a victim of gossip.
·         Today I encourage my spouse and kids…a lot.

It’s 2008, think 4:8!

It starts at 6AM on April 8th…and it’s FREE

Tommy — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:48:45 +0000

The 8 Day Challenge, Starting 4/08/2008

I invite you to join me for the first annual “4:8 Challenge” beginning when you wake up next Tuesday April 8th and continuing through bedtime on Tuesday April 15th. The challenge is to live in complete alignment with the 4:8 principle at all times (even on tax day) for eight straight days.

You Can Do It!

Do you think you could do it? Even though it is FREE, it may still sound like a pretty daunting challenge, but you probably already know the effort alone will produce enough rich rewards to make the attempt worthwhile. If you’ve already read The 4:8 Principle, you know this will be both enormously beneficial and also quite challenging. But as you know, it’s what you do after you read the book that counts the most. Are you ready for the challenge?

I’ll Coach You Through Each Day For 8 Days

To get you ready and supply a few final reminders and ground rules, I’ll send you the KICK-OFF email on April 7th. Then beginning on the morning of Tuesday April 8th, you will receive a short email prompt from me each morning, containing inspiration, encouragement and the 4:8 Challenge of the Day. Your objective will be to THINK, SPEAK, AND ACT all day long in a manner consistent with Philippians 4:8. The challenge will be to keep your mind as well as your mouth preoccupied with what is beautiful, excellent, true, just, and worthy of praise. Are you ready for the challenge?
I ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE! click here

What You Can Expect During The Challenge

Throughout the 8-Day Challenge, you can expect to see the people and situations in your life differently because, as Thoreau wrote, “we find only the world we look for.” During this brief eight day period, you will be looking for, and consequently finding, fresh value in your relationships and circumstances and especially, new virtue within yourself. After all, it’s so easy to get consumed with your obstacles that you forget about your goals. It is so easy to entertain hostile thoughts about the future and end up missing the gift of the present. This is not for you! Are you ready for the challenge?

Here Are The 4 Ground Rules

Avoid any and all negative energy for eight days. During this 8-day challenge you’ll be asked to steer clear of specific thoughts, words and deeds that violate the 4:8 principle. You’ll also be encouraged to increase other thoughts, words, and behaviors that are in harmony with Philippians 4:8.

First, let’s identify some of what you should INCREASE during the challenge:
1. Prayer and forgiveness beyond the norm for you
2. Verbally encouraging your spouse, friends and family
3. Thinking and reviewing your goals
4. Smiling and laughing
5. Dwelling on the character of God
6. Reviewing your blessings, especially the little ones
7. Defending a victim of gossip
8. Predicting a positive outcome aloud
Can you think of anything else that should be increased?

Now, let’s pinpoint the most negative behaviors that you MUST temporarily SUSPEND during the challenge:
1. All forms of whining and complaining
2. Talking about fatigue, boredom or aches and pains
3. Gossip-based conversations
4. Condemning language of any kind
5. Exasperating body language or mannerisms
6. Criticism of spouse, kids, coworkers and even politicians
7. Worrisome thoughts or words
8. Nursing old wounds
Can you think of anything else that should be avoided?
I ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE! click here

No worries - you can earn extra credit…and still pass!

Here’s some really good news. Even if you slip up a bit during the eight days, you can still earn extra credit and create a qualifying 4:8 day by completing The 4:8 Challenge of the Day. I always appreciated teachers that included this feature in their classes so I am extending it to you as well. The Challenge of the Day is a brief assignment that will refocus your attention on what is lovely, brilliant, positively exciting, and praiseworthy. The Challenge of the Day will be at the bottom of your daily 4:8 email prompt.

Go the extra mile…encourage four more!
Ever wish more people in your life practiced the 4:8 Principle? How would this improve your life? How would it improve their life? Well, here’s your chance! Ground rule number four requires that you invite four important people in your life to join you for the 8-day challenge. This is your opportunity to positively impact the important people in your life. You’ll find the 8 days is even more productive and fun when you’re experiencing it with your friends and family. You could involve your spouse, kids, parents, business partners, top clients, small group friends, accountability partner or mentor. Who will you invite to experience this challenge with you?

Will You Accept The Challenge And Experience The Thrill?
Since you’re still reading this invitation, I expect that you’re ready to go. Am I right? After all, what do you have to lose? It could even end up being the best eight days of your life. And if you don’t like living 4:8, you can always revert back after the 8-day challenge ends.

Here’s what you need to do to get started:

It is FREE and it only takes 48 seconds so click here to register and you will also instantly receive a FREE digital copy of our brand new, updated SMALL-GROUP LEADER’S GUIDE. That is all you have to do. Can you believe it? We’ll even keep track and let you know how many fellow 4:8 thinkers are participating with you. This is going to be fun and productive! Thanks for accepting the challenge.

Your Joy Blesses Others!

Coach
I ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE! click here

“Oh great media gods…what does the future hold?”

Tommy — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:38:34 +0000

Whatever you focus on grows in your own mind, right? This is true for an individual, a couple, a family, or an organization and yes, even our great country…

Take a moment to follow the link below and read the story.

The Media Driven Recession

Make you own headlines this year…and Think 4:8 in 2008

Coach

Words Matter

Tommy — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:56:05 +0000

The words we use reflect our thinking. Listen closely today to the choice of words and phrases used by the people you’re around. Don’t comment on them. Just listen. The quality of the words you speak reveals the quality of the thoughts you are thinking. You don’t think excellent thoughts and then speak with criticism, pessimism and cynicism. You don’t think mediocre thoughts and then build up yourself and others with positive, encouraging words.

Make the effort today to filter what you say to others and to yourself. Today, speak about what is beautiful, valuable, praiseworthy and awesome. Train your mind with your mouth. Start right now.Words Matter.

Think 4:8 in 2008!

Wouldn’t You Know It People

Tommy — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 15:50:15 +0000

After landing at the Hartford, Connecticut airport on Friday for a speaking event with Iron Sharpens Iron, the pilot apologetically informed us that there was no gate available and we would be waiting on the tarmac for ten or fifteen more minutes. Immediately some woman behind me muttered aloud, “Wouldn’t you know it?”. It caught my attention because she quickly added, “Wouldn’t you know it, we finally arrive on time and now we have to wait so we’re going to end up being late anyway.” Then a man who heard the woman chimed in. “No surprise, they’ll get you one way or another.”Then the woman replied back to the man, “just our luck, I suppose.” Exercising as much discipline as I could muster, I withheld my opinion and jotted down on my note pad the words I had just heard. I tried to remind myself of the somewhat significant detail that we had at least landed safely on the runway.

Fast forward to Sunday morning…I receive an early morning call on my mobile phone from Delta notifying me that my flight home had been cancelled and that I had been rebooked on a flight six and a half hours later. I would miss my two older sons lacrosse games and not arrive back home until after dinner time. Once I realized there were no other alternatives and this situation was a fact, I started to make the most of it.

Imagine what you could catch up on if you suddenly had an extra 6 or 7 hours available…

I later learned the flight was cancelled because the pilots and crew had reached their maximum consecutive work hours limit to safely execute the flight. That suited me fine, to say the least, as I have no personal goals that involve testing the endurance and alertness of commercial pilots flying planes on which I am a passenger.

Fast forward Sunday late afternoon…After arriving at the airport I learned the rescheduled flight had been delayed another hour or so and I’d be getting back even later. As the announcement was made, you guessed it. More grumbling. “Wouldn’t you know it…Just my luck…Of course there’s NO WAY I’ll make my connection…and on and on.”

I was ready to be home as well, but honestly, the thought that kept going through my mind was this, “ This is so unusual for me. Normally my travel plans go off without a hitch. I can’t remember the last time I was stuck for very long in an airport.”

The words we use are vitally important. When you say something like, “wouldn’t you know it,” you’re revealing and reaffirming mediocre expectations. It obviously means that you were not surprised because “these types of things have a tendency to happen to you often.” Think about it. You may say, “it’s just a figure of speech” and you’re right. It is a figure of speech that represents your outlook on life and expectations in general.

With our words we train our minds to look for the gunk or the gift. And what we seek we usually find. And this mindset is, no doubt, contagious. What about you? When you’re disappointed or inconvenienced a little, what is your first reaction? What do you tell yourself about your circumstances?

When you think 4:8, you look for the good, the gift, and the opportunity even in and especially in situations that frustrate the average 8:4 person. When you practice 4:8 thinking, you’re not claiming there is no issue. What you’re claiming is a solution, a solution that blesses you and others.

Think 4:8 in 2008!

Living Consistently with The 4:8 Principle is Far Easier When…

Tommy — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 14:53:35 +0000

In my experience, as a coach at The 1% Club for the last 17 years, living consistently with The 4:8 Principle is far easier when you practice daily solitude with God. Go into the silence. Be still and remind yourself that God is in control. Take time every single day to re-surrender and open every inch of your life to God. Take ample time to experience the cleansing, renewing, and invigorating power that is always available to you.

I believe that the inner peace that spreads throughout your entire life begins with daily quiet time with God. If you’re going to “seek first the kingdom of God, ” as we’re taught in the sixth chapter of Matthew, then it only makes good sense to schedule this appointment with your Creator first thing in the morning. After all, could there be a more important appointment all day long? If you’re ever tempted to say that you just don’t have time for this solitude with God, just ask yourself bluntly, “What could I possibly do with that time that would bring me any greater benefit?”

Put first things first and your whole day will be securely built upon the rock of God’s promises and you’ll find it much more natural to think about what is lovely, pure, true, gracious, awesome and worthy of praise.
It’s 2008…Think 4:8!

Set Huge Goals and Think 4:8 in 2008!

Tommy — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 22:32:12 +0000

Without clear, compelling goals for your life, it is nearly impossible to practice The 4:8 Principle and experience the joy God intends for you. Noah’s goal was to build a boat. Moses’ goal was the exodus of his people. David’s goal was to kill the giant Goliath. Jesus’ goal was to give His life as a ransom so that others may have the opportunity to live more abundantly. Paul’s goal was to carry God’s Word to the un-saved. An entire theme from Genesis to Revelation is that God has goals for His people and that He accomplishes goals through the lives of His people. Even the physical Bible itself is dynamic evidence of a written goal. God Himself put His goals down in writing. He didn’t just leave it up to the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us. He put it on paper.
If you haven’t already done so, establish goals for your life. A goal is a written commitment to create an outcome that is definite, measurable, time-bound and compatible with God’s word. A godly goal is a destination, like a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden. When you have written goals, it simplifies decision making and helps you delay gratification. Becoming goal directed builds your character and disciplines you to say “yes” to the right things and “no way” to wrong things.

Without a precise target to shoot for, your thought life will bounce unpredictably back and forth like a racket ball, making it almost impossible to live to the standards of The 4:8 Principle. With clear goals you make important decisions in advance - avoiding the natural human tendency to drift onto the world’s agenda.
Set huge goals and Think 4:8 in 2008!

Goals tell your brain what to…

Tommy — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 19:11:39 +0000

Goals tell your brain what to notice and pay attention to. You can discern a lot about your goals by reflecting upon the things you tend to notice most often. If you are noticing (and discussing) exciting opportunities, solutions, and possibilities for growth, contribution, advancement, and the achievement of worthwhile goals then your goals are in harmony with The 4:8 Principle. If you are giving attention to (and discussing) drudgery, irritation, faults, disappointment, and gridlock, then your goals are likely not in sync with 4:8. It is no mystery at all why goal setters “bump into” and “find” more success and satisfaction in life than those who simply wing it. This happens because they are actively looking for these things with the dynamic of faith on their side. Of course, most people want positive circumstances, but they spend more time thinking about (and talking about) what they are trying to avoid instead of dwelling upon and working toward what they intend to create. Over the next few days, practice praying, thinking, speaking, and behaving in alignment with what is lovely, pure, true, noble, excellent, and worthy of praise. Think 4:8 in 2008!

What do your most recent observations about life reveal about your quality of focus?