This week's Pep Talk: "Dare to Dream"

Whenever blessed to present a Pep Talk to others we always discuss the importance of putting fear aside and allowing wonderment to win in trying like heck to play like a champion - home, work and elsewhere.

It’s just my belief that ability - wonderment prevailing against fear - is a critical foundational element to success in life. Our journey rarely goes as planned; we get knocked down; the path takes a detour of a mental, physical or financial aspect and we’re challenged to keep moving forward limited only by imagination, not fear, in creating productive choices to the challenges we face.

Perhaps, in short, what I’m trying to say is this: we gotta, despite life’s challenges, always dare to dream. For many years I have had a dream. With one particular buddy its been prayed about endlessly. With great joy I inform you, God answers prayers.

First, some background. Ever since beginning to speak professionally about turning life’s lemons - heck with lemonade - into sweet and savory margaritas, upon concluding the message, often someone would approach me and suggest, “Mac, you outta be a preacher!” I must admit to being inspired by the wonderful men and women who have made that suggestion but usually quickly dismissed the thought for two reasons: I can’t afford to go back to school at my age with two deserved children needing my emotional, physical and financial support and honestly, the idea of having to constantly work weekends was not appealing.

So the dream had been kept alive mainly by prayer until another buddy recently suggested, “Mac, it’s time for some faith-based sports talk in this town.” Well, that thought - thanks to many but especially LeRoy, Scotty and Beth - began a domino-type reaction leading to this: Pep Talk with Mark McIntosh: A Daily Dose of Faith, Life and Sports.”

Each weekday afternoon at 4:30PM MST, for 15 minutes on KLTT Radio, www.670kltt.com, I will be blessed to host a show encouraging listeners to play like champions in ways that honor a higher power of goodwill - for me that’s God - nurture those dependent upon us and add value to the communities we serve.

There will be interviews with remarkable athletes, coaches and other sports personalities. They will share their faith, life and sports. We hope the conversations inspire you and others. Listeners will also be encouraged to unite with others, talk about faith and then put that faith into healthy and productive action.

A non-profit organization, The FLS (Faith, Life & Sports) Foundation will be the cornerstone of this ministry. Information on how to support our mission will be announced shortly.

There you have it. God answers prayers. Dreams do come true. Don’t give up on yours because, when you least expect, they just might manifest into reality - dare to dream.

This week's Pep Talk: "Exalt A Man"

Billy Joel is on the piano, and Ipod, as I settle in for this Pep Talk about the journey we call life. Ironically, the idea, exalt a man, crashes into my cranium on Mother’s Day. But that seems to make sense considering who appeared.

My thoughts are interrupted. 21-year-old son, aspiring television producer, informs: “Dad, hey, gonna have to bag the food idea. I’ll eat at the airport.” We agree that’s cool and then off the strapping young man went, back to work reading scripts. He had been in Denver for a quick and fun visit that included darling girlfriend’s special birthday bash and time with neighbors who are like family. Good stuff.

He seemed happy as he bounded back up the stairs. For that I am grateful. Life ain’t always that way – happy - and to reside on that side of the tracks ain’t bad. I’m just a simple dude from Missouri but it sure makes sense to me. I think most people would choose happy, right? Well, my son looked happy as he went back to his business and me to mine – you and Billy. By the way, She’s Got A Way just finished. My son. I love him dearly and dang, as a parent, can you ask for anything more in life than realizing, in healthy and productive ways, your kids are happy? Wow, sign me up for a lifetime membership.

Timothy Barton deserves a lot of credit for the young man my son is becoming. My brother from another mother is my first former wife’s third husband. For those scoring at home, I am the leadoff hitter. When Kyle headed west from Denver to California, my “love at first sight” buddy stepped up big time. I felt like I had a brother taking a lead role in teaching my son to be a man. He’s one of those “fox-hole” kinda guys mentor Bill McCartney and I love to talk about each week – rock solid in all areas.

All kidding aside, my son now lives on his own while chasing dreams in Los Angeles, but Timothy and I stay in touch. He was the man on the ground during my son’s successful journey through middle and high school. We talked a lot back in those days. I love him like a brother.

It’s time to shut this down. Billy is really getting after it in The Ballad of Billy the Kid and tears are strolling down my cheek. On, Mother’s Day 2011, my cranium wanders to a Malibu motor-head, bull-in-china-closet basketball dude, Timothy. Man, when the mother of my son – okay, here’s the Mother’s Day connection – ends up married to a dude who is a fox-hole kinda guy? – yeah me.

So really this becomes, thanks Jean, for finding Timothy. My son is better because of him. I am too. I have just exalted a man. Try it this week. Home, work or elsewhere, exalt someone deserved of praise. I know it will encourage them and, trust me, make your marrow warm too.

This week's Pep Talk: "Commencement Exercises"

This time of year parents, grandparents or those closely connected with high school or college students attend graduation ceremonies and parties. It’s a festive moment in life designed to celebrate the student’s achievement of a worthy goal.

I have always found it somewhat interesting that even before accepting the well-earned diploma, deserved students and their guests experience “commencement exercises.” The studies are complete, the hard work rewarded, yet before receiving the “sheep skin” - are diplomas really made of sheep skin? - there is commencement, defined as “a beginning.”

Commencement speakers encourage the gathered to courageously venture beyond present boundaries limited only by imagination, not fear, in leaving a healthy and productive mark on our world – home, work and elsewhere.

The ink isn’t even dry on the diploma and students are being called to commence, to begin, another. It’s what life is all about, right? Aren’t we all, constantly called to “commence” a new journey? Quite often, unlike the joy and optimism abounding from a person’s graduation from high school or college, we are called to commence despite dark and foreboding moments: death of a loved one, divorce, illness, job loss, to name just a few. Whether we like it or not, life, and its unexpected and unwanted twists and turns, is constantly calling us to journey toward a new frontier.

It makes me think of Thelissa Zollinger. For the second straight year, I had the joy of hosting her creation, The Gift of Life and Breath 5K. A record crowd of more than 1,000 gathered on the University of Colorado/Anschutz Medical Campus grounds for the run/walk dedicated to raising money to fund research for a reliable early-detection test for lung cancer. As we stood on a raised platform preparing to start the race, the mother of six and grandmother of even more, looked down on this adoring crowd and proclaimed, “It’s because of great folks like you that we have hope!”

Four years ago, Thelissa was challenged to commence a new journey after husband Gary lost a battle with lung cancer. She has made it a life mission to discover a reliable early detection test for lung cancer. We’re getting close! This amazing woman is transforming her pain into promise for others. What about us? We too are frequently demanded to begin a new chapter, we are called despite the injustices life tosses our way, to begin anew. The question becomes, what will our commencement exercises look like?

Let’s encourage one another to be students, not victims of experiences; to realize we’re not alone in our struggles; to understand the importance of connecting with others who share similar challenges and finally, to encourage one another to move forward in ways honoring, nurturing and adding value to the communities we serve.

Those commencement exercises, at any time of life, give us a chance to graduate at the top of our class.