Daniel Skognes

Liar, liar, pants on fire! Have you ever said that to someone? I have. It is usually said in jest, but the problem is that there are people who will lie when the truth would suffice. Why would anyone do that? Why would someone lie about something that does not matter in the big picture of life?

Here are a few things I have observed about people who perpetually lie:

• Some people have exchanged a lie for the truth. It has become THEIR truth.
• Lying is a habit…a bad one.
• Liars have deceived themselves into believing that there will be no repercussions from their lies. Lies always have consequences, and none of them are good.
• People who perpetually lie are in a form of bondage. The problem is, they don’t know when to quit digging and so they just keep getting deeper and deeper in the hole.

If you have someone in your life that does this, here are a few suggestions:

• You can try to reason with them, but don’t argue. If they won’t accept the truth, chances are that nothing you say or do is going to sway them.
• Liars only seem to learn when they are busted. They will have to face the consequences. Even then, they may not change their behavior. Only time will tell.
• Some people just tell lies, lies, and more lies….and THAT is the TRUTH.

Mark Twain said, “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.” Now THAT is worth remembering.

Friedrich Nietzsche said, “I am not upset that you lied to me. I’m upset that from now on I can’t believe you.” That about says it all, doesn’t it?

Fyodor Dostoyevsky said, “Above all, don’t lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect…he ceases to love.”

Shalom!

Dan Skognes

I never cease to be amazed at the things that people can do when they are pushed to their limits. Everyone has their breaking point, but it is at that point that we find out who we really are. It is said that who you are when nobody is looking reveals your true character. There is some truth to that, but I think you have to include being stressed to the breaking point as well. That reveals your strengths and weaknesses in ways that are unique.

When you are stressed to the max, what happens? Do you explode on people? Do you withdraw silently and sulk? Do you plot revenge? Do you hold a grudge? There are obviously a thousand responses to stress, but the one that we need to remember is to breath.

The other day I broke up a fight before it could really get started. Two boys were highly charged and ready to unleash on each other. I sent one to the back of the line and pulled the other one aside to talk to him. I just told him this, “Breath! You are worked up over something that does not really matter. Breath, and let it go.” He took a breath and visibly calmed down in front of me. Wow. The power of oxygen to the brain!

When you are stressed to the breaking point, wonderful things can happen if you are full of faith, hope, and love. Tragic things happen when you are filled with hatred, bitterness, and revenge. The difference in how you respond could literally be in breathing! You have to be able to think unemotionally to make a good decision.

As you look at the news on a daily basis it seems to be filled with people with flawed character: looters, murderers, and people who seem to lack a soul. They do what they want, when they want, to whom they want…with no thought of consequences. Here is what I believe: sooner or later everyone will be held accountable for their words and actions. My hope and prayer is that people of character will stand up and do what is right in the face of evil because evil never backs down if unopposed. We each have to do our part when we are stressed by doing the right thing, and that begins with simply taking a breath.

Shalom!

Dan Skognes

If you watched the Super Bowl this year you witnessed the greatest comeback in the history of pro football. What a game! I had no vested interest in the game since I am a diehard Cowboy fan and they did not make it past Green Bay.

Since both the Cowboys and Texans had failed to make the Super Bowl, I decided to pull for Atlanta…primarily because they were the underdogs, I have a brother that lives in Atlanta, and I can’t stand the Patriots…all valid reasons. LOL.

I had heard on the news that someone had sent Vegas bookies in a frenzy when he bet over $1 million that Atlanta would win. I am sure he was on cloud nine at half time. The Falcons were giving the Patriots more than they expected, and Brady seemed to be vulnerable to the Atlanta rush. All the indicators pointed to a blow out in Atlanta’s favor…which would have been fine by me.

Well, the Patriots are a great team and they made adjustments at halftime and came back to deliver one of the most inspiring wins I have witnessed in football. Brady was on fire. The receivers were making crazy catches, and the team was functioning on all cylinders.

As the 2^nd half progressed, you could sense the momentum shift from the Falcons to the Patriots. As the Patriots tied the game to send it in to overtime, it was like President Trump looking at the election results. Nobody could believe it!

Here are some lessons to learn from that game:

• If life is not going the way you want, don’t give up! Make adjustments, rally your team (organization or family) and resources and get back in the game.
• It does not matter what the odds are against you. Miracles still happen in the game of life. Don’t give up! Faith moves mountains.
• You have to believe in yourself and in your team despite what you see and how you feel. I can guarantee you that the talk in the Patriot locker room at half time was NOT one of throwing in the towel and going home. It was one of making history…and they DID!
• As long as you have breath, the game is not over. Dig deep and find that passion you once had and re-ignite that flame. If you have a mountain to climb, you have to be conditioned, protected, prepared, and determined. If any of those are missing, you will not succeed.

The game of life is getting ready for the second half. Are you ready?

Shalom!

Dan Skognes

I was trying to get a little girl to move up closer to a couple of little boys in the lunch line. When I asked her if she would, she said, “No. They are nasty!” I told her, “Unfortunately, it will be a while before they outgrow that. Be patient with them.” She got this far away look in her eyes and said, “Some of them will never outgrow it.” Wow, out of the mouths of babes. She did not realize the truth of what she spoke.

Later that same morning in the lunchroom one of the custodians came over to me and asked me if I had kids. I shook my head yes. He said, “I can’t believe I was ever this brain dead!”  LOL. He had asked some kid why he had thrown food and the kid got this deer in the headlight look and just sat there. He had no good excuse.  Busted!

Here are a few things I have observed. They are broken down by age groups. See if you can identify any of these behaviors in adults you know:

• Kindergarten kids. They are in your face all the time and very needy. They have few social skills, are very possessive, and expect you to do everything for them. They are learning the art of tattling.
• 1^st and 2^nd graders. Slightly more skilled socially, but boys and girls do not respect the other gender. They have mastered the art of tattling and still want to be in your face and talk over you when you are talking.
• 3^rd and 4^th graders. At this age they are starting to find their friends and become aware that they either fit in or don’t. They tend to listen better than the younger kids, but they are more opinionated and still easily offended. They are learning the art of blaming others or blaming their circumstances for their bad choices.
• 5^th and 6^th graders. Wow. Not sure what happened to their judgment, but there is very little common sense at this age. If someone dares you, you do it. If someone pushes you or offends you in any way, you push back and at the very least give them your smack talk. Girls and boys are starting to be attracted to the other gender and there is constant giggling and whispering about each other. Neither gender understands the other one, but there is something that attracts them like the moth to the flame.

Unfortunately, you can probably think of adults that are still stuck in some of these behaviors. I think this explains why some kids can’t seem to adjust their own behaviors. Look at their role models.

I was laughing with one of my fellow 3^rd grade teachers. I asked her, “Wouldn’t you love to have had ME as one of your students?” She rolled her eyes and said, “I would have had to be correcting YOU a lot!” I actually was a pretty good kid and seldom got in trouble. The times I did get in trouble were when I talked too much or was laughing about something. I found out in 4^th grade math class that I could make people laugh just by burping.  LOL. That was funny for the moment, but I caught it when I got home with Dad.

There is a proverb that says: When I was a child, I spoke as a child, understood as a child, I thought as a child. When I became a man, I put away childish things. If you are a grown up, it is time to grow up.

Shalom!

Dan Skognes

Have a little faith.

Shalom!

Dan Skognes

Have you ever found yourself trying to argue with a fool? I bet you all the money in the world you did not get anywhere with your logic. Why? Because a fool has no common sense. A fool does not think logically. A fool is convinced that they are right and the world is wrong.

How should you respond to a fool?

• First of all, don’t argue. It will only get you frustrated and angry.
• Don’t get sucked in to their drama. Often a fool is very dramatic and can convince you that the sky is indeed falling…if you let them.
• Pray for them. Until they see the folly of their ways they will continue down a path of destruction.

The world seems to have a lot of people in this category. The good news is, there are still a lot of people who understand that black is black, white is white…and truth will always be truth.

Shalom!

Dan Skognes

If you are stuck in reverse and continue to live in the past, try changing how you look at things. Be grateful for the good that happens and the blessings you have experienced. Expect good things in the future and give thanks for them now. Your attitude will dictate whether you get yourself in gear, but your faith will give you the gas to move forward and a compass to guide you. A great attitude and faith will take you to a place of peace, prosperity, and purpose. Let the past be in the past and fix your eyes on where you want to be. Appreciate what you have, and stay the course. Great things await you. Enjoy the journey.

Shalom!

Dan Skognes

Why So Many People Are In Denial

The impact of not admitting your faults is devastating, inhibiting, deceitful, cruel, and complicates your life in ways that you never imagined. Come to terms with who you are. Change those things that are rude, crude, selfish, and mean. You will be a better person and you will be a lot easier to be with. Admitting your faults does not make you weak, it makes you human.

Shalom!

Dan Skognes

One of the things that a teacher in elementary school has to constantly do is tell kids to lace up their shoes. The little guys need help, but the older ones for some reason are just lazy about it.

I had to laugh the other day at one girl who continually leaves at least one shoe lace undone. I asked her kindly to lace up her shoes for her own safety as well as the safety of other kids. This particular day she ignored my request and would you believe it? She tripped on them!

As I was thinking about this problem, the analogy of prayer came to mind. Most people know that prayer is a good thing, but they simply get too busy or are too lazy to lace up their lives each day in prayer. I am going to encourage you just like I do my kids at school. Lace up!  Hopefully you have your shoes tied if you are reading this, but I want to encourage you to lace up in prayer.

Lacing up will provide you with:

• Peace
• Power
• Protection

Who doesn’t need that, right? It is a continual process when it comes to prayer, so you need to check your laces throughout the day and lace up. Just like kid shoes can come undone throughout the day, so can your life. You will find that when you stay laced up it is a blessing to you and all those that you encounter.

I can hear someone out there saying they wear slip-ons just to throw me a curve. Well, you slipper folks need to slip into prayer as well. You are not off the hook! Another word for slip-ons is “loafers.” Hmmmm. I wonder what THAT implies?  LOL. Wrapping your life in prayer is critical to facing the daily battles we all face. Why would anyone go into battle without one of their primary weapons?

Shalom!

Dan Skognes