Author: Jeff Hendricks

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The Importance Of Accountability

Years ago, when I was a young adult, “accountability partners” were a popular thing. Our church leaders would encourage us to find someone we could share our struggles with, and use that relationship to hold each other to higher standards- in a way that was private, but effective.

If you asked someone today who their accountability partner is, you might get a blank stare, a puzzled look, or even a scowl. It seems like people, especially church leaders, have forgotten what accountability is for.

Accountability is defined as “Explainable, answerable, an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one’s actions.”

Throughout history, we see the effects of leaders who didn’t have accountability, and the disastrous effects it led to. But most people won’t accept a rebuke from just anyone; there needs to be a level of trust there that most people just don’t want to commit to. Continue reading “The Importance Of Accountability”

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Success And Failure

Have you ever felt like a failure?

I know I have. More than I’d like to admit, honestly.

And if you feel like you’re not successful in life, it’s easy to blame circumstances and try to absolve yourself of any responsibility. But you know who’s really responsible for your failures?

That’s right… you know who it is. Look in the mirror.

For years, I told myself I wasn’t a success because I hadn’t succeeded. I blamed plenty of things, including stuff that wasn’t true and didn’t exist. I just assumed the world had it in for me, and that no matter how smart or creative I was, I couldn’t succeed. Because if I could succeed, why wasn’t I?

So what’s changed? I didn’t just wake up and become an advice guru. Didn’t dive into self-help books and “your best life now.” I had to define what the word “success” meant. Plenty of people want to “succeed.” But what does that mean? Continue reading “Success And Failure”

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Reclaiming Your Technology

One of the biggest changes in technology in the last ten years is a shift from software being bought by end users to being leased by corporations. Almost everything has gone from “buying a copy” to a subscription-based model. Companies that have replaced licenses with subscriptions include:

  • Adobe
  • Microsoft
  • Apple
  • Autodesk (Fusion 360)
  • Avid Audio (ProTools)
  • etc.

Of course, there are many others. But simply put: the reason these companies have switched from purchase-based to subscription-based models is because they make more money that way.

And if companies are making more money with subscriptions, that means customers are spending more money. Continue reading “Reclaiming Your Technology”

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How I Joined The Fraternity Of Excellence

Years ago, back in 2010, I wrote a brief article about how much I desperately wanted to live a life of significance, but couldn’t, because I didn’t know how.

I said things like this-

“I can see myself in the near future breaking out of the corporate mold that has held me in prison for so long. It has provided a living for my family, yes, but has stripped me of the ability to do anything but work 8 to 5.”
-Me, 2010

I realize now just how long I’ve been wanting to break free from that mold, and how long I’ve struggled with it. When I say “I’ve been in a rut for over ten years,” I’m not kidding. The proof is right here.

Looking back on this now, in January of 2021, I realize this was really the origin of the journey to where I am now. Even back then, I knew I had to do something. But I was unprepared, and uneducated on how to get where I wanted to go. And nobody was urging me onward to do it.

Right then, I decided I was going to do something about it. I started bike commuting to work, lost a bunch of weight, and was (physically, at least) making a lot of progress. I wrote about how I wanted to start working on blogging and writing professionally, and started taking steps towards that. I was logging over 100 miles a week on the bike, and was in the best shape of my life.

All good things, right? I was on the way to making it happen. I was moving forward. I was “crushing it.”

Then, in July of 2011, I was severely injured in a cycling accident. Everything in my life came to a screeching halt. I was bedridden for weeks, and on crutches for 3 months. The doctors said I might never walk without a limp. I was absolutely, utterly devastated. Continue reading “How I Joined The Fraternity Of Excellence”

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The Deplatforming Has Begun In Earnest

Sometimes, I wish I wasn’t right about so many things. When I thought about the internet being controlled by people that hate conservative values, I wasn’t alone- there were many voices in the wilderness, calling for repentance.

Now, we’re seeing companies banning the active sitting President of the United States from every online platform they can.

This isn’t new, by any means. But what surprised me was how, immediately afterwards, all the same big tech companies started banning everyone who had posted about the 2020 Presidential election not being fair. We’re talking hundreds of thousands of people. Continue reading “The Deplatforming Has Begun In Earnest”

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The Nine Laws: Part Nine

In this (very lengthy) discussion of Ivan Throne’s The Nine Laws, we’ve covered a lot of ground. You can read my review of the book here, and the rest of the parts are here:

Today we’re going to discuss the Ninth Law: No Laws.

I already know what you’re thinking. “What the heck! No Laws? What kind of trick is this?”

No tricks. “There are no laws” refers to the fact that the Dark World doesn’t care what the laws are. It just does what it does. Man-made laws mean nothing to the Dark World, or those who live by it. Man’s Law is a simple mental construct, with nothing of binding value unless you can back it up with force. The law itself is simply an idea, a concept, a deterrent, and has no power in and of itself, unless someone acts on it.

  • Narcissism: Infinite prerogative of power.
  • Machiavellianism: Infinite freedom of posture.
  • Psychopathy: The Mind and Eyes of God.

We chose our paths, we decide to pursue something, and we pay for it, one way or the other. Sometimes God intervenes, and we just don’t recognize it. If we don’t recognize it, it’s not that God wasn’t there… we just weren’t paying attention.

When we finally put ego to death and can exercise the Dark Triad in its fullness, then we achieve the fullness of who God made us to be. Not ignoring God’s laws- but only listening to God’s laws. In reality, when we follow God’s purpose 100%, we will come in direct conflict with the Dark World’s laws. The Dark World, by nature, is opposed to things of God. Continue reading “The Nine Laws: Part Nine”

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Idolatry in Worship

As I wrote about recently, I have come to the conclusion that the modern church has turned their worship service production into an idol.

Strong words, I know. But I can, and will, back them up. Strap in, kids: it’s Unpopular Opinion time.

First, some background. What we see in “modern worship” today largely came out of a small handful of churches, most notably Hillsong Church in Australia. I remember when Hillsong was new on the scene: the sounds were fresh, hip, and not stuffy like the old hymns we were used to singing. The words were mostly fluffy and filled with metaphorical imagery, but wow! They had passion and fire, and they loved Jesus! Before long, mega-church Bethel, in California, had joined in.

Fast forward 30 years: Hillsong and Bethel have both repeatedly touted false doctrine, been embroiled in scandals, and left the Assemblies of God association under questionable circumstances. And they’re raking in money by the tens of millions of dollars.

“So what does that have to do with church production?” Continue reading “Idolatry in Worship”

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Tired Of The Grind

For the last few years, I’ve been comfortably working in a regular, ordinary, desk job. It has allowed me to focus on family time and not worry too much about paying bills and hustling.

But sadly, it doesn’t afford me the ability to do what I want or what I love. You know the old saying- “you work to make your employer rich.” You won’t find financial independence working for someone else. But I don’t really want to start a business, either.

So I have to make a decision: do I start a business again, or plug along with barely enough? Continue reading “Tired Of The Grind”

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To Do, Or Not To Do?

For more than ten years, this blog has been a place of introspection and thought. (Probably some randomness too.) But when I posted recently about wanting to get officially diagnosed with ADHD, it made me realize: if I’ve been feeling alone all these years, and have been struggling my whole life, would it be possible that some of my readers could be too? I mean, I originally chose the name “Living Outside The Box” because that’s just how my brain works. I knew it even back then.

I wouldn’t be called an “expert” on ADHD, unless you consider the fact that I’ve lived with it and developed coping mechanisms for it for the last 40+ years. I see ADHD “coaches” on Youtube, which is awesome, and I think about how much I’ve already learned on my own. Most of these coaches aren’t doctors and don’t have degrees in psychology- they’re just really experienced in dealing with it. I’ve learned to live with ADHD without even realizing it. Maybe some of those skills and observations could help someone else!

The first problem that comes to my mind is: How do I reach people with this? Obviously, just blogging here isn’t doing much for exposure (I get almost no traffic). But what else can I do?Maybe Youtube? LBRY.tv? Vimeo? GabTV? Bitchute? Continue reading “To Do, Or Not To Do?”