Celebration

February 1st, 2012

Last night we Celebrated our 10th Anniversary at Bank2. We had a party and invited friends, customers and vendor’s of the bank. The Celebration was wonderful. We had so many people in the building that we may have broken the fire code! It was a blessing to see so many friends all at once. I mean, it was GREAT!

An interesting thing happened as I prepared my remarks for the event. I wanted to publicly Praise God for the blessings we had experienced over the past 10 years. I carefully wrote a short story that I could share with the audience. My last sentence was that “God had given us way more than we had prayed for or imagined.”

As with any public speech I make, I write it out and then re-work it several times.  I then practice it out loud and usually end up re-writing it once or twice more. However, as I went through the process I continued to leave the sentence in my talk, “God had given us way more than we had prayed for or imagined.”

I wondered how that would play out. Was it the right thing to say? Was it over the top?. What would my audience think? As I was thinking it through I went up to the second floor of our building to talk to one of my friends about their son who had just had a heart transplant. I wanted to let them know I was praying for him and I wanted to see how he was doing. As Pat and I talked she told me “God had given them way more than they had prayed for or imagined.”

They were celebrating the successful heart transplant, we were celebrating the birth and growth of a business. In both situations, “God had given way more than had been prayed for or imagined.”  As I walked back down the stairs and return to my office I knew the sentence was just right. It was meant to be in my speech. Why? Because, that is the very essence of God’s nature. That is who God is…He is the giver of every good and perfect gift. He gives us way more than we pray for or imagine.  He worthy to be praised, worthy of a  Celebration! 

Ross

Prayers Never Die

January 31st, 2012

The first time I ever read these words were just a few months ago as I read The Circle Maker. After I read the words, I started thinking about what these words mean. Being a totally new concept to me I started thinking about the significance of the idea that PRAYERS NEVER DIE.

For one, it made me realize that while I might forget, God never forgets. It means that I may have stopped praying about someone or for something but the prayers that I prayed are still alive and well. It means that the prayers my grandmother offered  for me are still being answered long after her death. I realized that I need to be praying in more grandiose ways. It means the prayers that I have prayed for my children and grandchildren will still be in affect long after I die. So pray the “right prayers.” The concept that PRAYERS NEVER DIE gave me great hope. It gives me power. It made me realize even more that I need a system to categorize and date my prayers. Why? So I can look back and see how God has been active in my life. This in turn will help build my faith and assure me of His love and concern for me. It proves over and over again, He is GOD.

These 3-simple words…PRAYERS NEVER DIE, helped me to realize that my prayers are important to God and that too often I waste His time on things of little consequences. So, I need to be more focused, more thoughtful and more intentional with my prayers. These three simple words are all inspiring.

So, tell me, what do these words mean to you? PRAYERS NEVER DIE.

Ross

Core Values

January 27th, 2012

Do you know your what your CORE VALUES are? Can you list them? CORE VALUES are your guiding light, the principles you live by. They determine how you respond to life situations.

About 2-years ago I printed personal business cards. I put my Web site on the front, on the back my CORE VALUES in the form of a Wordle. To my amazement, people were really intrigued by my business cards, especially the back where I listed my CORE VALUES. I get asked about them all of the time.

Not so long ago, I sat down and wrote out a definition for each of my CORE VALUES. In addition I wanted to record a story about each one and a life application for each CORE VALUE. It has been an interesting and enlightening exercise. I would highly recommend that you do it too. It really helped me to define my values in writing not just have them in my mind. It strengthened my resolve. It helped me to know myself even better.

Want to have some fun and produce your own Wordle?  Follow these steps…it is FUN!

First, write down your CORE VALUES in one word descriptions such as Faith or Honesty. Just brain storm your own list and don’t rush. Take a day or two to think it through.

Second, rank them from what is most important in your mind to the least important. Again, take some time to reflect on these items to get it right. A long list is not what you are looking for but rather what your true values are regardless of the number of values.

Third, count up how many values you have. Assign a number to your CORE VALUES.  In a descending order. As an example. Let’s say you listed 11-CORE VALUES, and Faith was your most important value. Place an 11-next to the word Faith. Continue this process through the least important CORE VALUE and assign it the number-1.

Now click on this link //www.wordle.net/create  and enter each of your CORE VALUES one at a time starting with Faith (in this example). In this  this example you would enter the word Faith 11-times. The next highest core value would be entered 10-times and continue this until the last word is entered one time.

Then hit the Submit button and the program will produce a Wordle for you. It is really cool and you can change the colors, format, save it, print it and frame it, or whatever you like. As I said, I put mine on the back of my business card.

Ross

 

 

Who Is Building Your House

January 26th, 2012

Have you ever stopped to think through the question, WHO IS BUILDING YOUR HOUSE?

This question encompasses far more than my physical home. The question is an all inclusive one. WHO IS BUILDING YOUR; House, Life, Business, Relationships?

We need to ask the question in a serious manner, in a thoughtful manner. Why is this important question?

Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late.  – Psalm 127: 1&2

The only correct answer to the question must be, the Lord. As for me, I say, “I want the Lord involved in my entire life.” I want Him to build it. But I am in a constant battle. I say, “I want Him to do it” but often I refuse to let Him. I constantly find myself wanting to control things and not letting God have control. I have to fight the inner man to give all aspects of my life totally over to Him. Talk about tough. It is the hardest thing I have to deal with in my life, walking minute by minute in fellowship with God. Why do I want to hang on to things, like I could ever do it better than the one that created me?  WHO IS BUILDING YOUR HOUSE?

Ross

Bored At Church

January 24th, 2012

Do you every get BORED AT CHURCH? I DO. Not often, but I would be lying to say it never happens. Sometimes I get so bored I start thinking about how to escape. I go through the entire process. I think, if I just get up and walk out like I am going to the restroom no one will know that I am leaving. Then I think, what about my coat? What about my wife? I sit back realizing, I am stuck, there is no escape. We can not get up and walk out in the middle of the sermon no matter how boring it is. So, I just sit there and endure the pain.

Being a problem solver, I been trying to come up with a solution. (Maybe I should sit on the back row!) What is the proper response to being BORED IN CHURCH? Is the problem mine or the minister’s? Does it really matter? Why am I at church anyhow? Am I there to be entertained? Am I that shallow? Is my heart right? I could go on an on with questions. I won’t because I don’t want to bore you!

The truth is that I don’t know the proper response except to say that nothing in life is perfect. I should be going to church to praise God and worship Him. There is nothing boring about that, in fact just the opposite. Church should be uplifting. But even when it is not, I think I can and should show respect to the Lord and His servants.

Looking forward to next Sunday,

Ross

 

YOP – Part-3

January 20th, 2012

The other day one our managers sent a memo to our employees explaining that January 14th was Bank2′s 10th anniversary. The memo said, “we have grown beyond anyone’s wildest dreams.”

In response, another employee wrote me and asked a simple but profound question. She wrote, “I have one question. Is it beyond what you prayed for?” 

The question took me back. Honestly, I was so busy, I had not taken the time to think about her question. It made me stop and think. The answer to her question was a resounding YES! I went to my files and looked things over and discovered God had given us way more than we had hoped for. It really is incredible what we have accomplished, the lives we have touch, changed and made better. Let me share some things with you to illustrate what God has done.

NO ONE ever thought a little bank in OKC. OK. could have a nationwide impact-We have accounts and loans in 49 of the 50 states. Maybe 4 or 5 states not 49 states. NO ONE every thought we would have a worldwide impact-We have touched the lives of people in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Japan, Colombia, Indonesia, Uganda, Indian and China. We would never have thought outside of the U.S. and certainly not 8 countries around the world.  NO ONE ever thought we would loan over a BILLION dollars in 10 years. Maybe $500 million not a Billion. NO ONE ever thought we would be the Number-1 bank in the country in 2009 and the Number-3 bank in 2010 as determined by the prestigious American Banking Journal. Only one other time in my 35 year banking career have I work at a bank rated in the top 25. NO ONE ever thought we would have the Number-7 mortgage operation in the nation in 2011. We never knew mortgage operations were even rated. NO ONE ever thought we would make 89% of our loans to Native Americans last year. We thought maybe 25% of our loans would be to Native Americans. NO ONE ever thought we would have ZERO past due loans as 12-31-10. For the same period of time most banks past due % was closer to 5%. NO ONE would have thought we would accomplish these things, much less accomplish them in the middle of worst recession in the history of our nation.

So, how did it happen?

We prayed. God answered our prayers and gave us way more than we asked for or imagined. God, is so good to us and we overlook his blessing so often. Truly this is His character, to give us more than we ask for or imagine.

As the Psalmist said, “that they may know that this is Your hand-that You, Lord, have done it.” and “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to Your name give glory,”  

When I stopped and reflected over the past 10 years three things came to mind. 1. How ungrateful I have been. I have not thanked God enough for what He has done. 2. What an amazing story, I need to share the story giving God the glory. 3. I have to pray more. This story motivates me to me to make this my Year of Prayer-YOP. I pray it does the same for you.

Ross

Year-3 – Part-2

January 18th, 2012

I thought I would take a moment to share a few stat’s about my blog. I think it is fun to see what God has done with it. Believe me when I say, I could never imagined people reading this around the world. What God has done with this blog simply amazes me.

TOP TEN STATES

Oklahoma, Texas, Ohio, California, Virginia, Illinois, New York, Washington, Maryland and Florida in that order.  The blog is being read in all 50 states.

TOP TEN COUNTRIES

Dominican Republic, China, Germany, Canada, Uganda, India, Philippines, Great Britain, Australia, Russian Federation in that order.  The blog is being read in 52 countries world wide.

Thanks so much,

Ross

Year 3

January 17th, 2012

January 17, 2010

I wrote my first true blog 2-years ago. Here it is; Keep reading to my signature because today’s thoughts come after the post from two years ago. 

Making a Difference

Most of my life I have wanted to make a difference in the world. I want my life to count, Author Mark Batterson said in his book
“In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day” that “a dream becomes a reality one opportunity at a time.”  This blog is an opportunity for me to make a difference in many lives. I hope to share insights from my life and my 30 year banking career that will be meaningful to you. I want this blog to help you build a better life.

 

 This entry was posted on Sunday, January 17th, 2010 at 5:53 pm.

So, spend forward now to To January 17, 2011. This past Sunday, I celebrated my 59th birthday. I still want my life to count. I want to do things that matter, that make a difference. I was created to help people and I love doing it. I enjoy helping others succeed. It is how God made me. I am a coach, a mentor, an encourager, a connector, a change agent all rolled into one. Sure, I have other skills and abilities but most of my life I have just wanted to help someone else. So, I bare my soul most days by writing this article. I feel a lot like what Erwin McManus once said,

“We are all haunted with the fear of living lives of insignificance and we all hear the voice telling us we can live the dream. Somehow we all know that to play it safe is to lose the game.”

— Erwin McManus

Thanks for reading my articles,

Ross

Prayer Journal

January 12th, 2012

Do you keep a prayer journal?

I have been keeping a prayer journal for sometime now. What a blessing it it. Each year, I take some time to go back and re-read my prayer journal. It takes a lot of time but what a blessing! As I read my prayers I take a different colored pen and I write in the margin every time I see God in motion answering my prayers. It is simply amazing for me to see the work God has done in my life. Being able to see God actively moving in my life is a blessing that is beyond words to describe. The pray journal allows me to see God’s blessings like nothing else I know. It excites me about my prayer life, about my relationship with God.

If you don’t have a prayer journal go buy one tonight. You can buy a jouranl at just about any office supply or bookstore. Start using it daily. I promise it will bless you.

Ross

The Law of the Ask Part 7

January 11th, 2012

Hearing God’s Voice

Do you ever have trouble hearing God? I pray but honestly, I have trouble hearing God’s voice. Sometimes more than other times but way too often. So, I started praying that I could hear God’s voice and that it would be a clear to me as my mother voice or RJ’s voice. To me, it only makes sense. I should be able to know it is God speaking to me. If an idea pop’s into my brain, I should know if it is from GOD. As clearly as I know it is my mom or wife on the phone…no introduction needed. Mom doesn’t call and start by saying, “Hi, this is your mother speaking.” Of course not, I instantly know her voice. I should know when God is speaking to me too. So, I am praying that God’s voice becomes just as clear.

“Ask, and it shall be given”

Ross 

 

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