Top 7 = The secret of the "mystery box" + more

This week’s Top 7 features a quick trip to HSV, wherein we explain “the mystery box.”

My Top 7 is a weekly look back at some of the highlights— big and small— from the last seven days (I explain how + why at the bottom of this post).

🚌🚌🚌🚌🚌🚌🚌

Fitness = Doubled up, 2x / day

I doubled-up the workout this week, one day. Did a BeachBody workout, in the garage, that morn. Then, later in the day, I went for an easy run— through the neighborhood, across the old golf course, and out the nearby trails. 

No reason for the long-run other than I needed a mid-day break. I started work early, and had been at it late the night before. 

Rather than flipping on the TV or doing something mindless, I decided to go for the easy run… 

This pic of Salter at the coffee shop (free donut day at Krispy Kreme, ca 2014) reminds me of the fitness thing…

I shot that when we went to get the free donuts because I LOVED donuts. Still like them, for sure…

… but it seems that, back then, I surfed from one snack to the next (and, weighed about 50 pounds more!). 

I made the shift… 

… but am still reminded up of with pics like this 😀

🚌🚌🚌🚌🚌🚌🚌

Finance = 3.5 years out of the old Frye shoes ain’t so bad, move in Tecovas

This week I looked down at my shoes. The loafers I wear about twice a week. 

The seam where the leather meets the sole finally gave out. Probably my fault because of the way I flip them off and on— in a way they were designed to take.

42 months of THAT finally took it’s toll.

I was going to just order another pair, but they don’t make them anymore. So, rather than settling for something I just decided to wait until I saw a shoe I wanted. After all, they would last— ideally— for a three year run or so, as well.

👍

I received an email from Tecovas the next day. Perfect timing. 

They released a new leather loafer, similar to the Frye-version I loved. And, they were set to drop this week. 

I decided that on the weekly date night, I’d steer Beth towards the Summit, walk into Tecovas, and check them. 

⭐️

Back in the day— way back in the day— my Dad used to by us good news. He skipped over Walmart and Target and some of the other places. 

“The good ones will last longer,” he said. “So buy the good stuff.”

For sure, there were a LOT of things that we did buy— and do buy— from big box, budget-priced retailers.

 But the better stuff just lasts… so much longer… 

… and in the end, it’s often much, much more economical. 

🚌🚌🚌🚌🚌🚌🚌

Family = Dad’s mystery box + Mom’s birthday lunch 

We (finally) celebrated Father’s Day this week with my Dad— only three weeks late. The “real” Father’s Day brought a bunch of kids to our house, as well as a bought with sickness— so we had to punt the quick run to HSV off for a few weeks. 

It finally happened. 

We drove up, took my parents out for Father’s Day AND my Mom’s birthday (two 🐦 with one 🪨, as they say), and gave Dad his “mystery box.”

Beth “invented” the mystery box idea a few years ago— on my birthday. 

The idea was this:

• you get a box for the person, that’s small and quaint
• you pack it “just so,” like a Tetris puzzle, such that everything fits
• you ONLY put items in the mystery box that remind you of them— so the person receives stuff that let them know that you “see” them, that they matter… 

This was a GREAT tradition she brought to the fam. I’ve received mystery boxes that had leather airpod cases I STILL use— three years later. I’ve received a personalized Yeti. I’ve received bottle opener that’s mounted to the wall in the kitchen… 

… each mystery box is one-of-a-kind and is personal. 

(Some of the kids even ask for them, now that they’ve got the idea. A few months ago, Judah began unpacking his— again, they’re like a Tetris puzzle. He lifted his favorite candy, only to find the iPhone he’d wanted for MONTHS.)

Anyway, here’s Dad’s, labeled “special delivery.”

Inside…

• The LifeLift coffee cup (I re-published and re-branded the material over the past year, but this was all part of his legacy
• His favorite spearmint “rolled mints” (which, according to Beth, were a major hassle to find 😂
• Circus peanuts candy (if you’ve ever been to the gas station with him, you know about this snacking 🍭)
• Gum (the same kind he keeps in his car)

🚌🚌🚌🚌🚌🚌🚌

Field = Stronger, PDF edits + audiobook + free access

This week I finished Stronger. It’s a book about leadership, particularly in the family, for men. 

Oddly enough, I’ve had the notes for this in the pipeline for years, but they’ve never made it out of the vault. 

There are probably a few reasons for this— 

💛 you go through a divorce, you feel (and to some extent, for a season are) unqualified to teach anything remotely about the family 

💛 it takes time to write this kind of stuff

💛 I’ve been busy doing other projects

A few weeks ago, though, a church from North Carolina called. The pastor was pretty specific as to what he wanted to me speak about this August: 

👉 help people find their purpose 

👉 show the men how to lead

Now, I recently released the Purpose book— an abbreviate digest of the LifeLift framework that I feel is 🔥🔥🔥. It includes free video access, free assessments, and even has an audiobook. It’s designed to help people, as the subtitle says, find and fulfill God’s plan for their life.

Furthermore, he wanted me to leave that info BEHIND after the talk(s), so they could work through the material (workbook, videos, etc.) on their own.

But what about the men? 

I looked through my old notes and decided it was time to resurrect some ideas I’d kicked around for awhile- and give them life. I already had A LOT written, so it wasn’t a “book from scratch thing” at all. 

Rather, I needed to just pull the ideas together tighter, as well as connect the chapters in a more fluid way. 

So, I did…

… built a webpage…

… and recorded the audiobook. 

I know. The question…

“What qualifies you to write about this?”

In two words, failure and grace. 

Think about it— 

✅ if you want to learn about freedom from the rules and freedom over legalism, you read the words of Paul— the self-proclaimed Pharisee-above-Pharisees.

✅ if you want to learn about intimacy between a man and a woman, you read the words of Solomon— the man who infamously had 1,000 women in this palace.

✅ if you want to learn about forgiveness and restoration, you read the words of David— the man who committed sexual ABUSE, got the woman pregnant, then murdered her husband to cover it all… 

Many times, I’ve found, the enemy attacks us in the areas where we’ll make some of the greatest impact— as if he sees the threat. And, in our failures, supernatural grace kicks in and does the unthinkable… 

You can purchase the book on my website— 

… or, go here, and access the audiobook completely free— www.Jenkins.tv/stronger -- just use the coupon code STRONGER at checkout for the audiobook and it will make it totally free!

🚌🚌🚌🚌🚌🚌🚌

Faith = Church last Sunday, lunch

Just a quick entry here. 

Two times the church has done this, lunch after the main service. 

Looking back at the church I grew up in (great memories, BTW), I realize that MOST of what I remember is NOT what happened in the worship services. For sure, I have specific memories where I was impacted in unique ways during some of those Sunday gatherings, but most of the memories come from the other times…

… conversations in the parking lot.

… relationships forged in small group Bible studies.

… events that were unique or different because of something that happened in them.

It’s probably the same for MOST people. 

And if you asked 100 pastors if the church service was the most important, life-changing “thing” of the church, they’d probably say it wasn’t— that relationships matter more. 

But then all of the time is spent to run— and all of the money and effort and practice and every other thing goes towards— the worship service. 

🤔

I don’t think we should cancel them, those church services. They breathe life and hope and inspiration and so much more. 

And we can learn— when a gifted teacher speaks the Word of Truth in a fresh way, showing us old ideas from a unique perspective. 

But it needs to be coupled with more, with intentional outlets for people to build relationships— and to be in the same “circle” as people who aren’t like them.

🍔

Kudos to A2 Church for hosting multiple “after church” lunch times this summer… 

🚌🚌🚌🚌🚌🚌🚌

Friends = nada 

Yeah… this one has been low on the list this summer, it seems… 

🚌🚌🚌🚌🚌🚌🚌

Fun = Friday, date night 

Beth and I shot up to the Summit. I already told you— new shoes. 

I’m reminded in moments with her “how easy” it is to be with her, and just be at rest, at east… and just step out of time and into an oasis. 

That’s important. 

We’ve got so many kids. And, as she says, “lots of moving parts.”

When that’s the case, everyone needs “a safe place to land” (another one of her phrases). That is, a place where you don’t have to give. You can give, as you can, or receive. Or just be…

She. Is. That. Safe. Place.

🚌🚌🚌🚌🚌🚌🚌

That’s the highlight reel for the week. As you know by now— if you’ve been here before— I try to crank these out once a week. 

I sit down at some point each weekend, ideally on a Sunday afternoon, while planning the week ahead and doing my weekly review of the week behind, and make a few notes. The planner I use— which I designed for the Advance workshops I led for a season— contains journaling prompts for each day where I, generally, jot down 3 things I’m grateful for (as well as some things I could have done better, etc.). 

You can download the planner free at www.Jenkins.tv/FreePlannerPDF.

Or, purchase it in our online store at https://www.thehilltop.shop/product-page/advance-planner