Here is a brief executive summary of our presidential canidates:

Untested.  Inexperienced. Unworthy.

I remember sitting on the lawn outside the girl's dorm my sophomore year in college.  We were having a fall revival and one of the professors was speaking, John Castelein.  Over the course of my life, I can probably recall about 6 sermons I've heard.  Nothing against sermons, but many of them begin to blend together, while a few of them create an incredible impact engaging the heart, mind, imagination, emotions, intellect, and physical.  That is what happened that night.

I remember him saying that God can handle our doubts, our questions, our anger, but what God cannot handle is our apathy.

Since then, I have come to realize that apathy is one of the greatest killers in life.  When you just don't give a damn anymore, that is when you cease to live life.

I have sensed that creeping into my life over the last couple of years, much like gray storm clouds of gloom and apathy slowly moving in, covering the blue sky, sun, and dimming the light. 

I have a choice… to either wake up and seek a life of passion again, or continue down the same path believe the lie that things will change and renew on their own.  The opposite of apathy has got to be passion.

So, I began to ask myself, what am I passionate about?  What have I been passionate about?  I have also begun to pray that God would push back the clouds of apathy and restore my passion (read Psalm 51). 

Two things:

1. Mission
2. Freedom

I've begun to realize I have been living day to day without a mission in my life.  Dangerous.  I am praying about this now, but I believe God is restoring a vision and a mission in my life… not completely unrelated to my previous post.

I also believe God has led me to explore freedom in a new home business.  I have been working from home full-time for 4 years now, and I am moving in a direction now with a growing passion for freedom that involves a home business that I truly believe in.  You can find out more by going here:  www.MHHF.com

I don't know if you've felt the same, but there is an excitement that awakens your heart when you begin to take steps away from the routine, mundane, and move toward mission, freedom, and passion.

I was at the bookstore not long ago and bought a book, "Hope in the Dark" by Jena Lee.  It is a POWERFUL book because the huge number of photos tell a story of the tragedy of AIDS in Africa, the lack of clean water, and yet the hope and healing that is coming by building wells and having blood that is free of parasites and HIV infections is helping children live past the age of 5.

Members from the band Jars of Clay were captured by a vision for what was, what is, and what could be in Africa.  Blood:Water Mission is a result of that trip and have since partnered to begin the building of 1,000 wells to provide clean water across much of sub-Saharan Africa.  Already, they are one-third of the way there, having built 334 wells!  I believe we can take this even further. 

Here's the deal - a $1 donation will provide clean water for 1 African for 1 year.

Go check out the website, buy the book, buy a t-shirt, freely give. 

Over the next several months, I am going to continue to provide updates and how we can all get involved.  I am going to use what I have in business to help in building more wells.   There are other things running through my head about what I would like to do.  It's been 12 years since I've been in Afria, and I would love to spend time with my family next summer in Africa, helping with the work of B:WM.

A purposeless life is one spent toiling and spinning aimlessly through routines and meaningless chatter and activity.  A life on purpose or on mission is one that is focused, able to find joy on a consistent basis, one of passion, deep sorrow, love, hate, and able to work from the heart, mind, and spirit.

I've lived both.  The former is depressing.  The latter is awakening. 

If you want to know more about Blood Water Mission, go to their site.  You can get the book on Amazon.  Let it capture your heart, imagination, and mind.  I believe this is a very worthy, honorable, and Christ-filled mission!

I've been driving a piece of junk for the last several years… a 1997 Hyundai Elantra.  Why?  Because it was paid for and I didn't want to take on a car payment.  So, I thought I would drive it until it was a few miles short of dying… well that day came, and I knew I had to put my red Hyundai to pasture and move on to something better. 

But, it wasn't going to be just my decision.  If it was me, I'd go get a loaded Toyota truck, a nice Land Rover, a 65 Mustang, or even a BMW Z4.  My daughter has her driver's permit and I needed to get a car that she would be comfortable with driving, that would be safe, and wouldn't be a such a huge tragedy if something happened.

So, I went to Carmax and bought a Jeep Liberty.  I actually went there to buy a Toyota Rav4 (just like the one Clive used to drive us through Tanzania… Jane Goodall's son's partner… but that's another story).  But, the Jeep acually caught my eye, and I liked it better with 30,000 less miles and 2 years newer.

I hate going through the car buying experience.  It is such a whip!  But, I didn't things differently this time.  I secured my financing BEFORE I went to the dealer.  The worst question in the world is "What kind of payment are you looking for?"  So, I did my own financing and just told the salesman I would write a check for the Jeep.

Carmax also has better pricing with no haggling.  So, that was not a factor.  You don't play the games between salesman, sales manager, and you.  I hate it.  But, this was much better, very low key.  I test drove it, signed the papers, wrote the check, and drove away.

I'd go back and do it again.  If you're in the DFW area, check out Carmax by Texas Stadium… as for Malik.  He's a good guy and doesn't throw all that salesman lingo at you.

Anyway, old Red it gone… and it's time for a fishing trip in the new Jeep.

If there has ever been a time for an Independent to make a strong run for president this is the year. I would rather see George W. Bush in office for a 3rd term than to see Obama or McCain win the election.

I was glad to see Hilary out of the race… couldn't even fathom what would happen with her in office!

I can't stand the thought of Obama as president. He is worse than a liberal. There are so many unknowns with this guy, and the only thing that we seem to know about him is that he talks about "Change" (Change to what… no one knows… but "change" is the hot button topic) and that he stands for nothing. He says what ever he needs to say to appeal to the crowd at hand. If he is speaking to a group of Democrats, he bashes Bush and McCain. If he is speaking to a religious group, he talks as if he spent 30 years in a monistary. James Dobson has already called him out on this. I have little, if any, respect for Obama. And, how low is Obama for playing the black race card? Check out this video!

"Did I mention he's black?"

McCain… I like McCain a lot… as a senator. I respect him for being a veteran. As the leader of my country… no thank you. I just don't believe he is what we need. He stands on his principles (which is more than Obama can say because he stands for nothing), but I can't see McCain rescuing our country from the economic crisis that it is in, namely the gas problem and housing market. I can't see much good happening with the war. I can't see anything happening except putting off making decisions and blaming the democratic Senate for dragging their feet.

Obama - a fraud and an unknown

McCain - nothing new and nothing getting done

So, this brings me to my point - We are now in a place for a strong Independent to rise up and sweep this election away. Who might that be? I don't know. I know I don't want the same ole same ole. I am tired of the same old faces stepping up and saying the same old crap, blaming others, but never having a real solution.

Democrats have nothing to offer except Tax and Spend

Republicans have nothing to offer but Borrow and Spend and go in Debt

Social Security and Medicare are a joke that the Democrats like to bring up. The reality is it is worthless and needs to die.

So, who might that Independent be? I don't know. One of the people I really like, but he won't run, is Newt Gingrich. I like him a lot. One of the reasons I like him is that isn't out to please people and he doesn't have an agenda that is dictated by the lobbyists. But, what I really believe we need is a new person to rise up and take control.

The reality of that happening… in our U.S. Democracy… not a chance.

Anyway, I'm highly pesimistic and hopeless about the next 4 years.

My previous post is about what I've been doing on Squidoo. If you missed, it you can check it out here –> Squidoo Post

There is another site you need to go to that is equally, if not better than, excellent at presenting yourself and your business. This social networking site (which you have probably heard of by now) is Hubpages. Hubpages and Squidoo are similar in many ways, but also quite different.

Similarities:

• Both allow you to build a free site (hub) on any topic
• Both have modules that help you build - no need to know any code
• Both allow you to interact with other sites, and have others interact with yours
• Both have rating systems that allow your site to be graded by visitors

Differences:

• Squidoo was founded by Seth Godin, one of the best marketers of our time. This makes Squidoo a little more "marketing" friendly. Therefore, while not wanting to sound like some lame commercial, you can be a bit more forward at explaining what you do.
• Hubpages allows you to put up information about your business, but if you over do it, other hub masters will vote you down and can make life miserable for you.
• Keep your hubpage free of hype. Be personal. Tell your story. Stay away from sounding like a commercial. You know… all the stuff that tends to turn people off.
• It is highly recommended that you only have one or two links (maximum) to your own sites. While it is okay to have more than 2 links, make sure those links are pointing to other sources so it doesn't look like you are trying to push your agenda.

Anyway, you get the idea.

Hubpages is worth every minute it takes to create a hub. That's about 15 minutes or so. Although, if you want to get your rating high, participate in the community. Rate other sites. Leave comments on other hubs. Be good, and as they say… "what comes around goes around."

Why don't you check out my hub: Tips For Buying MLM Leads

I am getting ready to start a 2nd hub page based upon the information that is in my 3rd tip on that page.

Here's a bonus. If you create a Hubpage, you can make your hub more popular by rating other hubs, adding others as fans, leaving comments, etc. Well, let's help each other out. After you create your hub, let me know, and I will rate your hub, become your fan, etc. And, you can do the same for me as well help each other out.

I've been doing Squidoo for a while now.  It is great for many things:

• Building an interactive website for free, called a lens
• Getting great link love for my primary websites.  - Since Squidoo does very well in the search engines, and I can put links to my sites on the lens, I get a nice boost from that
• My Squidoo lens ranks well in the search engines
• Many ways to rank well.
• You can build multiple lenses… all for free.  I only have two right now, but will be adding more soon.

Anyway, if you haven't checked out Squidoo, you ought to go check it out.  Sign up and create you first lens in about 15 minutes.  Go check out one of my lenses on Squidoo, and then click on the blue button to Start Your Own Squidoo page!

1. http://www.squidoo.com/imrich
2. http://www.squidoo.com/bulkemailleads

Here's one other bonus.  If you create a Squidoo lens, you can make your lens more popular by rating lenses, adding them to your Squidoo favorites, Lens Rolling, leaving comments, etc.  Well, let's help each other out.  After you create your lens, let me know, and I will rate your lens, favorite, etc.  And, you can do the same for me as well help each other out.

So, become a lens master.  And, if you are interested in getting things rolling (completely optional) to a higher level, you can also check out Tiffany's ebook.  I used it, but it is only up to you if you want to begin creating several lenses. 

I don't know how many of you saw the Warren Buffett interviews this last weekend.  I didn't watch all of them, but I was able to see enough to impress me with the wisdom this man has.  While I am not all about worshipping the wealthy, there are a few people that are worth your attention when they speak because, generally, their wisdom goes beyond just making a buck… it goes into every area of life.

One of the things he responded to was as his company, Berkshire Hathway, grows, investing in small companies just isn't wise business for him, even if there is tremendous upside.  Due to his business' focus, he must invest in larger businesses.

I thought about that for a while, and then saw that in my own life.  About 5 - 7 years ago, I would jump at just about anything that had the potential for making an extra $300 - $500 per month.  I would just work 8 of these businesses and try and make a few thousand.  I see many, many people doing that today.  While that is not necessarily bad, there is something that transforms inside of you when you've focused on a business, and you have been successful with it.  Here's what I mean… two examples.

First is one of top associates with PrePaid Legal who lives in Arizona.  I don't know exactly how long Tony has been with PPL, but one of the things I know, is that he is not easily distracted by small "opportunities."  While it may look huge in your eyes, Tony is very successful in many different aspects of his life and one of the character traits that is common among all who are successful is they are content (meaning they are not always looking for the next deal), and they are consistent (meaning they are not hot one day, and then cold on the idea the next).  If you are constantly looking, you will not only burn yourself out, but everyone around you.

Second is my own story.  I am surrounded by hundreds of people buying leads for their business.  I am sure many of them, as they have stated to me, think I am crazy for not being involved in their business and just doing leads.  But, it is not that I don't believe their opportunity isn't good, it is simply I have found success in what I am doing and when you find that, you find joy in working and doing the small details that all you to succeed.   It is not so much that I think everyone else's opportunity is small, but the number of things that are in my focus simply diminishes everything else.

I see this in many many people.  You can see it among almost every top income earner in network marketing companies.  You see it among the top internet marketers.  But, unfortunately, I don't see it among most people.