Sabbath School | CURTIS HALL BLOG

It’s Enough To Make You Cry

Yes, I admit it. I actually teared up (don’t tell anybody!). I bet you did too though. Remember one of those stories the news ran about that famous individual with phenomenal success going back to their hometown to thank that special person who invested in them and sent their life on a trajectory to excellence? Do you remember how you were moved when you heard the tear-felt words of appreciation spoken about someone who never suspected the results of their actions? Pass me a hankie.

Wow, what a difference a life can make…when that life is committed to investing in others with no dreams of reward. The selfless act of valuing not only the brightest people in our spheres but the seemingly unpromising as well is powerful beyond words. There is nothing like this and it crosses all genders and ages and races.

I have personally had that same experience in my life. I can think back to that one particular teacher

Jul 15, 2009 | 11 comments | View Post

It’s Showtime!

Ok, it’s time. You have adequately prepared and done your homework. You have imagined this moment with a measure of anxiety and it’s finally arrived. It’s now or never. It’s time to swing for the fences. It’s Showtime!

What is Showtime? It’s the moment you leave any reservations about your abilities behind and you step out and perform in an extraordinary way. Your mindset is “I can do this!” and your attitude is one of success, not failure.

What is Showtime? It’s the moment that you embrace the truth that you must be, want to be, can be and will be extraordinary. You are committed to do what it takes to make the impact the opportunity deserves. That’s Showtime!

Showtime is not limited to when you are making public presentations. It applies to any area of life that can be enhanced with doing more than the average. It’s the time when you step out in faith expecting success in spite of fears that you are inadequate. You’re swinging for the fences expecting to hit a home run and a home run you shall hit.

Jul 01, 2009 | 9 comments | View Post

Tone Deaf

Did you hear that?

There is so much chatter going around today. There is chatter about world events and the tangled webs of economic and social crisis. There is chatter about celebrities with the constant focus on what they gained or lost (as if it affects our gains or losses ). There is chatter about the local crime and the collapse of our moral fiber on all sides. We are inundated with chatter from all sides with each making their case that the information is vital to our well being.

The experts say that the effect of all of this information is to make us desensitized and numb to things that ordinarily should give us a sense of shock and concern. It now takes more and more shocking information to hold our attention. This can’t be healthy, can it?

Jun 03, 2009 | 5 comments | View Post

Dreaming or Sleep Walking?

We hear a lot about dreams these days. Many of us have envisioned ourselves in a future time and place doing something that feels organic to who we really are. Some of our dreams are entrepreneurial. Some of our dreams are vocational. Some of our dreams are locational. Whatever category we may classify our dreams in; they all find their common denominator in the future.

Sleep walking, on the other hand, is going through the motions of counsciousness while in an uncounscious state. A sleep walker is unaware of their actions because they are asleep while walking. They might appear to be awake, but they are oblivious to their actions or surroundings.

May 22, 2009 | 3 comments | View Post

Time to Reboot?

Just turn it off, and then back on. How many times have you heard this advice? If you’ve ever worked with computers or other complicated electronic gadgets, there comes a time when the only suggestion to correct a problem is to reboot. Just turn it off, and then back on.

Rebooting gives equipment the opportunity to reset itself to the ideal settings to carry out the ideal functions it was designed for. What happens internally is a mystery to me…but I know it works.

It seems to correspond with us in our carrying out the ideal functions we were designed for. Sometimes to move forward in our purpose we have to reboot; turn everything off and then back on. Sometimes when it’s obvious that we are not functioning at the highest level, we may need to reboot.

May 06, 2009 | 1 comment | View Post

Sharp Shooters

By now we have all heard the details of the fascinating rescue of the captain kidnapped from his ship off the coast of Somalia. We heard about his self-less act in going along with the pirates. We heard about his resilience and the courage of the entire crew in resisting the pirated attempt.

Also widely discussed was the amazing ability of the Navy Seals who brought about his freedom. Without glorifying the details of this rescue, it demonstrates a principle that would serve us all well; preparation.

Apr 28, 2009 | 7 comments | View Post

Happy Anniversary!

Congratulations on reaching another milestone! Your anniversary is a special day to stop and reflect on the starting point of a significant event in your life. What sets anniversary days apart from others is that they remind you of major life-changing events that set a new course for your future.

Some anniversaries are easier to remember than others; such as, the beginning of your employment anniversaries, the launching of a new endeavor, relocation dates, a wedding anniversary (don’t ever forget this one! ), and even the one year anniversary of this blog.

Some anniversary start dates are hard to pinpoint. That does not make them less significant. It just might mean that the starting point had its origin in what might have appeared to be an insignificant moment in time.

Apr 11, 2009 | 2 comments | View Post

You Can Do This!

Self-limitations are just that; limitations we place on ourselves. The idea of being excellent in our service, revolutionary in our approach and far-reaching in our aims, can sometimes seem unattainable. Many times we relegate ourselves to staying within our zones of comfort because of quiet fears that we do not have what it takes to do more.

As teachers and leaders, the evidence is conclusive that to be most effective we must be able to grab and hold the attention of others and have a vision of taking them to places they have never been before.

Mar 09, 2009 | 4 comments | View Post

Memories and Regrets

There are 2 things pretty certain in this life:
1) You’re going to be remembered for something
2) You’ll probably have some regrets

All of us are making silent, lasting impressions upon the many people we interact with from day to day. When people reflect back upon us will they do it with a sense of gratitude for knowing us or a sense of relief that we are not in their lives?

If the members in our classes had a discussion about us 5 or 10 years from now, what would they say? Would they have fond memories from being in our class? Will they rehearse positive, helpful lessons they heard from us. Will they recall a godly example and a character worth emulating? Only we can determine that.

Jan 30, 2009 | 5 comments | View Post

Time for Heavy Lifting

As I stood in that massive throng of people I couldn’t help but sense the feeling of hope pervading the atmosphere. People from all walks of life and from all over the world had come to share in this unique experience of being eyewitnesses to the swearing in of our nation’s 44th president.

Displaying confidence and thoughtfulness, our newly elected President stated his case for our country’s future and why change was needed. Tempering optimism with realism we heard that the road ahead would be difficult but doable. Our problems are humongous but fixable. Our status in the world is tarnished but repairable. It’s time for heavy lifting.

This frank assessment of the status of our country was refreshing in its honesty and surely a catalyst to engage bright minds in finding solutions to perplexing issues. There’s a relevant, spiritual lesson in that for us.

Jan 22, 2009 | 10 comments | View Post