The Fear of Flying.

Why don't you stand up for yourself?  I'm afraid.  How far can you push your talent?  I'm afraid.  When are you going to take the next step?  I'm afraid.

Talking with a colleague about a conversation they had with their boss, I realized fear was holding them back.  They had all sorts of great ideas, but were pretty convinced the boss wanted things to stay just as they were.  So the ideas, plans for the future, and potential greatness were all put on hold.  For the sake of status quo.  How very boring.

For you did not receive a spirit 

that makes you a slave again to fear.
Romans 8:15

Let me break it down for you.  Here are things it is NOT acceptable to be afraid of:
Failure.
Being fired.
Ruffling feathers.
Losing your status.

Instead, here are things you should really tremble over:
Just missing greatness.
Ignoring your own voice.
Falling short of God's plan for your life.
Opportunities you can't even begin to imagine.

We've all been gifted in different talents.  I marvel at how God blesses us all in such unique ways.  I grieve at how some talents are buried.  I rejoice in how others are doubled and tripled.

Your gifts.  Take them out for a spin.  Not for your glory, but for God's.  He gave them.  He deserves honor and He so delights when you enjoy what He's given you.  Recognize God's gifts in others.  And when they fly, not fall, let's all rejoice!

Terese Main is a morning co-host at Family Life, a network of nearly 70 Christian radio stations across New York and Pennsylvania (www.fln.org).  She also provides imaging voicework for stations in Florida, California, Minnesota, Virginia and Wisconsin (www.themainvoice.com).

Test Penguins.

There's a theory that before entering a body of water to fish, a flock of penguins will push one of their own into the water.  If a predator doesn't attack, the others safely enter. 

Radio stations are a lot like penguins.  We travel in packs, doing the same sort of things, following the same music charts and watching each other intently.  Only, instead of being pushed, some jump into the water on their own, deep into the pool of risk.

Risk can bring great rewards with some things.  If you are truly an innovator, there's great success in developing a great idea.  But truly successful stations don't take careless risks; they formulate their moves based upon past success and a prediction of the future.

If you're an adult-oriented station, chances are, the majority of your audience does not place great value on new music.  Instead, they prefer music they know, and like.  If you're watching the other "penguin" stations, you might be tempted to jump into the water.  Before you do, examine your motives.

 Are you diving in because
it's what's right for your audience,
or because you want to beat
the other penguins into the pool?

If you're not sure on new music, don't dive.  Be confident in your strategy, and observe.  There's nothing wrong with watching the "test penguins" in your market to see what works. And when a competitor gets swallowed up by a leopard seal, you might not even notice.  Because you, wise one, are intently focused on your listener, instead of what everyone else is doing.

Terese Main is a morning co-host at Family Life, a network of nearly 70 Christian radio stations across New York and Pennsylvania (www.fln.org).  She also provides imaging voicework for stations in Florida, California, Minnesota, Virginia and Wisconsin (www.themainvoice.com).

The Why Behind the Want.

Woman.  Wife.  Stay-at-home-mom.  Working woman.  Homeschooler.

What name tag are you wearing today?  Likely more than one.  Maybe even all of them.  I once rode in an elevator with Gloria Steinhem.  I wish I had the courage to ask her the "why" behind her grand feminist movement.  She helped persuade a generation of women into wanting it all.  I fear we would have ridden that tower a hundred times and still not gotten to the core.

What is the "why" behind the want?

Have you ever had a burning desire?  Something that you knew would complete you.  Where do those desires come from?  For Christians walking in the will of God, they come from the Holy spirit.  We're told:  Delight yourself also in the Lord; and he shall give you the desires of your heart.

But what about when you're not walking in God's will?  Suddenly we're craving more, faster and getting fuller.  But on what?  Where are the desires rooted?  Greed?  Competition?  Jealousy? 

Christian women who desire to work often feel guilty.  It's partly self-imposed.  And partly cultural.  In order to be a help-meet for our husbands, and to train our children, there's a misnomer that we need to stay home.  And for some women, that is the case.  But what if God is put us in the missions field of our workplace?  What if our desire to work comes from what God has planned for us there?

What is the "why" behind the want?

If you're in God's will; if you're in the Word, in prayer and obedient to your husband, there is no guilt or shame in work.  Sometimes it will be hard.  Many times that's the case in obedience.  If you know this is your calling, there is no reason to feel anything but joy.  You might check your motives often.  And that's ok.  May knowing you're walking the path God has chosen for you bring you peace to your home, and your heart.

Terese Main is a morning co-host at Family Life, a network of nearly 70 Christian radio stations across New York and Pennsylvania (www.fln.org).  She also provides imaging voicework for stations in Florida, California, Minnesota, Virginia and Wisconsin (www.themainvoice.com). 

Goal:  Perfection.

Have you been watching the Olympics?

I'm always so amazed.  Beyond the performances.  Beyond the amazing moments.  There is a lifetime of hard work.  You are viewing athletes who have given up everything in order to get as close as possible to perfection.

Then, there are the commentators.  As I recall, in my childhood, they were more empathetic.  "That's too bad," they would sigh, when someone stumbled.  Now, it's "They should have worked harder."  Is it my imagination?  Have they become more critical?

Have we all become more critical?

We live in a society where the goal is perfection.  Don't like your nose?  Get it done.  Got a rip in your clothes?  Get new ones.  We are all quick to point out what is wrong with ourselves, and everyone else.

So, why then aren't more people drawn to Jesus?

Talk about perfection.  As God in flesh, He had it all.  No sin.  Charisma that drew flocks.  And a kind answer for every disagreement.  In our perfection-starved society, He is the answer.

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2Corinthians 5:21

Terese Main is a morning co-host at Family Life, a network of nearly 70 Christian radio stations across New York and Pennsylvania (www.fln.org).  She also provides imaging voicework for stations in Florida, California, Minnesota, Virginia and Wisconsin (www.themainvoice.com). 

Just Me.

Sunday morning.
Time to put on your best clothes.
Style your hair.  Get all made up.
Let's go to church and get real with God.

Rewind 10 hours.  After a productive Saturday at home, I found myself in track pants and a hoodie.  Hair in a pony tail and {gasp} no makeup on.  We needed a few things from Wegmans, so I headed out.  You know what happened next...I saw everyone I know.

"Boy are they all gonna be surprised when they see me at church tomorrow," I thought.

Sometimes I approach my radio show like a Sunday morning.  I prep my content, I plan my breaks.  And everything is just perfect.  Other days, I can't pull it together and out comes the real me, pony tail and all.  When I get emails or calls from listeners, though, it's always the "track pants and hoodie" shows they comment on.

In those moments of being real, we connect one human soul to another.  We let a struggling mom know she doesn't have to have it all together.  We give a fallen saint encouragement to crawl to the cross...again.  And we say to every listener "I'm here, with you.  Just you.  Just me."

Wonder how many heads would turn if I wore my hoodie to church today.

Terese Main is a morning co-host at Family Life, a network of nearly 70 Christian radio stations across New York and Pennsylvania (www.fln.org).  She also provides imaging voicework for stations in Florida, California, Minnesota, Virginia and Wisconsin (www.themainvoice.com). 

In The Middle of the Floor.  

My dog, Lovie likes to be near me.  She's on the floor beneath my feet right now.  This morning I was doing some cooking in the kitchen, turned from the sink to go to the fridge and nearly tripped over her.  She was laying right in the middle of the kitchen floor.

"That's one way to get noticed," I thought.

How many times have you wanted to lay on the kitchen floor.  There have been times when I have felt practically invisible in life.  When I've wondered if anyone sees me or even knows I exist.  In reality, I've wanted to be heard or have my thoughts validated.  But the idea of having someone trip over me and then say "Oh, you see me now?" is tempting!

Who do you see laying on the floor?

People aren't like dogs.  They won't plop down next to you and sprawl out and they (likely) won't put their head on your lap, looking for attention.  They will do things like post cryptic facebook messages, or get unusually quiet in the middle of a meeting.

In those moments, seize the opportunity.

Be the person who reaches out.  Send a message that says "I'm thinking about you," or ask "Is everything ok?"  Any dog lover would stop, stoop down and scratch the dog behind the ears.  Let's make sure we're loving people just as much.

Terese Main is a morning co-host at Family Life, a network of nearly 70 Christian radio stations across New York and Pennsylvania (www.fln.org).  She also provides imaging voicework for stations in Florida, California, Minnesota, Virginia and Wisconsin (www.themainvoice.com).