Welcome my new online home!!

Greetings Folks!

I have finally given in and made my blog that was at ZACKHENSLEY.COM for the last 3 years, and brought it to wordpress. Mainly cause it’s more simple. My site www.zackhensley.com will still be operational. In fact if you have ever looked for an on-line resource check out my site. i have literally hundreds of books posted as PDF files.

The Onthing conference blew me away I was working backstage most of the time, so I got to see everything real well. Never in my life did i think I would live to see the day when 12,000 young adults, would be declaring in unison “I don’t want to be offended” when he returns. It was truly beautiful!

short for today but see you tomorrow,

leave a comment!!! cause I want to know who you are!

p.s. since this is a new year, new blog…here is something old…this was my first blog post back in 2004…enjoy!

One Marshmellow or Two?

Reflections:

It was a sunny June afternoon in Kansas City. I was sitting on my porch drinking tea, as I often do. My mind continually racing, thoughts on life, money, God, what to eat for dinner later that night, when the thought came to me, nothing profound but none the less I thought, “I’ve never been to Boston!” Quickly I remembered my Wonderful friend Chrissie who lives just outside Boston. In the process of one sitting I decided, “I should take I trip out to Boston!” I pulled out my ever-faithful Franklin-Covey planner, searching to find a date for my excursion. I settled on August giving me two months to save up for the trip. Content that my “porch contemplation time” had ended in success, I retired inside.

The next thing I did was make the inevitable call home, asking for money. Sitting down, hoping my new found adventure would be greeted with excitement…and hopefully…generosity…I dialed. My mom answered the phone, delighted to hear from her long lost son, I was greeted with joy. I proceeded to tell her about my trip. I tried to convince her that it had been my dream to visit Boston, “I love Boston!” I said, “ they have Fenway Park, baked beans, that whole tea party thing…” Running out of good selling points, the convincing wasn’t going all that well. Admittedly my argument had as many holes in it as a tennis racket, still I felt confident. Her response was not the one that I had expected. My beautiful mother in her ever growing wisdom, did not answer my request for monetary aide. Instead I received an Aesop like fable. “Zack” she said, “ a couple of years ago, these scientists did a study on child behavior. They gathered together a group of kids from all different ages and backgrounds. They gave each child a marshmallow, and told them that they could eat the marshmallow if they wanted. But if they waited till after recess they would get two marshmallows instead of just one. Some kids couldn’t wait and ate their caramelized sugar treat right away, others waited and their treat doubled. So my question Zack, is do you want one marshmallow or two?” Tempted to voice neither, frankly I don’t really care for marshmallows and if I did, I could go and buy a whole bag if I wanted to. I chimed in, “ I don’t know” still trying to grasp the relation of the story to my request. She said, “ well you can take your little meaningless trip to Boston, or wait some more time, save up some money, and plan a trip to Europe, and get more out of the deal.” Needless to say I understood the wisdom she was conveying. “I guess I want two marshmallows “ I said coming down from my “Boston high”.

I was remembering this story earlier this week when I was contemplating the importance of living with an eternal mindset. How they relate you ask? Well life is a funny thing, most of us including my self look at life as a span of 80 years, then whatever happens after life, feels more like a myth than a reality. The truth of the matter, is that eternity is very real. We live forever! Think about that…weather it’s in heaven in the presence of the creator of heaven and earth, or in a lake of fire. When I think of life I think you have two choices; love God with your Whole heart, Mind, and Strength and make that the number one desire of your heart. The second choice is make anything else but God the FIRST desire of your heart. That could be anything from success, position, love, family, friends, money, happiness, joy, satisfaction…the list goes on. Philosophers for centuries have struggled with all their might and brilliance, to come up with the meaning of life. Confucius to Nietzche (Well Nietzche concluded that there was no meaning and died insane because of it.) the ancient Greeks, all races, all civilizations throughout human history, have suffered to concoct a meaning for life. In the end their efforts turned out to be futile. God is the overlooked factor, in his son we Live, Move, and have Our being. So Zack what is your point? My point is you can have success and even momentary happiness here on earth and make that your primary goal (one marshmallow) or you can make God the priority in your life…have happiness, and joy now, and for all of eternity ( two marshmallows). My point is not to convey any wisdom or a thought to add to the knowledge of God catalogue in your mind. Merely something to contemplate. How do you see life? Is finding meaning more important to you? Or is marrying your heart to THE meaning your priority?

I have no answers but I’m in pursuit of the man who does. are you?