Life. The Struggle Within (AuthorHouse, July 2007)

Has there ever been a time when you simply wanted to get off the high-speed train of life and take a much-needed break? Maybe you find yourself running on life’s performance treadmill more than you can possibly bear, yet relief always seems to be an arm’s length away from reality.

Everyone struggles with life, and no matter who you are or where you come from, this book is sure to reveal genuine hope to you regardless of your race, gender, culture, creed or religion. Are you willing to be honest with yourself, even if you can’t be honest with others?

Life often seems to be as much a struggle as it is a gift, while pressure to answer the one question every human soul desires to understand continues to hang over your head-what is the purpose of my life? Do opinions matter when it comes to climbing out of the lonely hole of despair? Are there lessons to be learned from generational mistakes, selfish choices, or a determined mind?

Many people have motivated us for a moment through big smiles and charisma, however genuine hope has not been found in them. Have you found yourself listening to yet another lullaby of pleasantries, good ideas or trendy rhetoric? Life. The Struggle Within chronicles the daily struggles of both men and women alike. Finally, someone said it out loud, and it’s no mistake that you are holding this book right now.

Be encouraged!

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Life lessons from a Westy

Speaker. Mentor. Podcaster

I’ve always felt that some of the most significant lessons to be learned in life often present themselves when you least expect it. Last week I decided to go on an early morning workout by powering through a 3.5 mile speed walk. As I gathered my water bottle in one hand and my iPod in the other, I noticed my furry little family West Highland White Terrier, otherwise known as Yoshi, looking at me as if I invited him to come along.

It wouldn’t take long before I also grabbed the leash and we set off to do business. As a new resident of the Dallas metropolitan area, I had to remind my nervous system that the humidity and heat at 7AM far exceeded temperatures from my former home in Southern California.

Roughly a mile into our speed walk, I noticed the grassy area where we were walking was filled with prickly thorny weeds and I wanted to protect Yoshi from walking on it because I knew he’d likely injury his paws with cuts and scrapes. Westy

I began to transition into the street and speed up the pace when I noticed Yoshi attempt to do the same right alongside me. At just that moment, Yoshi ran out of the street and back into the prickly thorny weeds to maintain pace, so I attempted to pull him back into the street with me, but he refused.

I began to realize that the pavement where we were speed walking was already blazing hot, and Yoshi decided quickly he’d had enough of that, but I didn’t immediately notice due to the comfort of wearing running shoes. At this point, I had an epiphany about life.

My dog enjoyed the experience and process of exercising with me, yet when faced with what I perceived as a painful surface from which to journey through prickly thorny weeds, I wanted to make his journey easier by placing him on the smooth paved street with me where everyone else was walking or running.

In what appeared to be the easier, less resistent, and a more comfortable route, Yoshi determined that the road which appeared most painful and dangerous was in fact a worthy road that he’d rather endure than being on the road where everyone else was running, smiling, moving along swiftly, yet unaware of the fact they were burning.

Listen, there are many ways that seem right, sound right, and feel right in life; but they simply aren’t right. Many of those decisions, relationships, and so-called friends end in the same  misery, disfunction, and pain. Everyone loves it when an ending concludes with “happily ever after”, yet the only true “happily ever after” is in knowing your purpose in life and the one who gave it to you.  Until next time, Be encouraged.


I speak to hundreds of thousands of young adults, men, women, and couples annually on leadership, decision making, and relationships.  Sometimes life has a way of being the antidote to life itself. If you’d like more information on this topic or how to bring me in as a speaker for your next event, please  contact me. In the meantime, I encourage you to subscribe to my Tribe/Newsletter on my homepage. Post your comment below, Share my blogs with your friends on social media, and visit my website often for daily inspiration.


Egypt McKee

Speaker | Mentor | Podcaster | TV Host

©2014-2023 Copyright, Out of Egypt Ministries, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Chivalry is Dead.

Speaker. Mentor. Podcaster

I think we’ve all heard it said, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, yet that’s precisely what’s happening in many relationships.  As far back as many of us can remember, periods of time seem to be somewhat different, but the dynamics of life’s relationships have never really changed.

Parental grandstanding, which often included exagerations of walking 10-miles to school uphill in the snow both ways, and the desire not to talk back to parents, has rarely generated the kind of character and integrity worth repeating.

If the model for life were to seek perfection, then it would seem reasonable to study the mold from which our expectations are cast. It would become immediately evident that our understanding of perfection alone will never satisfy the soul, for it will always be relative to the one who seeks it.Egypt on Route 66

It’s in the mystery of holiness where every living soul finds their true identity, purpose, and character. There’s a thin line between love and hate, yet the width of that line is where we find ourselves seeking to recover the lost art of respect.

I love the way Jesus Christ explains the anchor and position of our identity, when He said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Don’t miss this …. hearing is not the same as listening. Far too often, we categorize and file into memory familiar truths, which we are convinced there is nothing more to learn. Saving the best for last has never meant more than it does now.

Many have debated whether leaders are born or made? I’m convinced everyone is born and may choose to practice leadership regardless of their life’s experiences. At the end of the day, everything in life rises and falls on leadership.

From the time of infancy, little boys and girls are nurtured and taught life’s lessons in a hurry. Attendance was always required; however practice over the years was optional. Chivalry is not a commonly used noun or expression today, particularly among our young adult generation between the ages 16-33, yet its absence is desperately needed in social order.

Who, in their right mind, would ever disagree to someone smiling at them, opening a door, or saying “I’m sorry?”, yet an unhealthy desire for fame and acceptance has led many to adopt selfishness as a cheap substitute for morality. Is it possible to respect someone if you don’t really love yourself? The answer may surprise you in that the suggestion is merely one-half of the question.

Random acts of kindness are at best, good behavior, but it is not the kind of love that comes from God. Genuine love for others and ourselves is demonstrated repeatedly as a default of our adandonment of self and deliberate surrender of our will to God.

Be careful, for every original thing in life, there is an attractive and seductive counterfeit. It won’t matter how many doors you open, kind remarks you share, or donations to charity you’ve made; if you aren’t personally connected to the author of love; life itself will be a unimaginable existence lacking a point.

Eventually, someone will shake his or her head in disagreement because I’ve suggested the art of respect is uniquely and directly connected to a relationship with God. Think about it …. if the basis of life is to bring glory to the one who created us, then at the basis of our existence, there really is nothing more important than for us to know Him and make Him known in the world. The same argument applies to the person who denies there is a God or that they are the product of chance, evolution, or randomness.

A better question for you to think about today might be, “Are you building God’s Kingdom or your own?”  When I was a young boy, my uncle was a chess enthusiast. He took time to teach me the rules of the game, and also reinforced valuable life lessons while doing so.

I remember being mesmerized by the unique shapes of the chess pieces. The game represented more than just a game to be mastered; it revealed life lessons of strategy and tactics. Take a moment to think about your own grand entrance and position on the stage of life. Everyone experiences a traumatic struggle upon entry into the world at birth.

Our faces were bruised, bodies stressed, and we were forced to contend with an alien environment from which we would ultimately be vulnerable and defenseless. It was then that we crossed the line from the safety of our mother’s womb into the real world where we would learn life’s rules of engagement in a hurry.

The comfort of darkness was replaced with the familiar sound of a mothers voice and warm embrace. The dividing line in life was easy to acknowledge from a distance, yet the simplicity of the game of chess was more representative of our lives than we were willing to admit.

The king could always be seen standing tall as our most precious treasure, yet surrounded by every willing and able servant on the front lines of battle. Protecting the king of our hearts would prove itself worthy through years of practice, and chivalry would become the effect as a result of the cause.

Common courtesies are no more lacking today than anytime in history. The ability to say “thank you”, “you’re welcome”, or “I’m sorry” isn’t a right of passage, rather a practiced skill of humility and character. The very thing we demand from others in being respected is often the thing we withhold from others through our prejudices, religion, or culture.

Respect in life is not what other people are doing or not doing to be noticed, rather the kind of person you’ll choose to be in spite of your circumstances. Please take a moment and share your thoughts with me now by posting your comment below.

Until next time, Be encouraged.


I speak to thousands of young adults, men, women, and couples every year on leadership, decision making, and healthy relationships.  Sometimes life has a way of being the antidote of life itself. If you’d like more information on this topic or how to bring me as a speaker to your next event, please  contact me.  Excerpts published from the book, “Life. The Struggle Within, by Egypt McKee”


Egypt McKee

Speaker | Author | TV Host | Life Coach

©2010-2019 Copyright, Egypt McKee. All Rights Reserved.

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Don’t Judge Me

Speaker. Mentor. Podcaster

The longer I reflect upon the damage created in the wake of countless mistakes, the more I’m convinced that in order to remain engaged in the good fight in life, I must lean upon an age old lesson in wise counsel–know which fight to engage. Please hear me out before jumping to any conclusions.

It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve practiced the art of biting my tongue on more than one occasion over the past few months, particularly as it relates to the opinions of others, social media, and personal responsibility. It wasn’t long ago in human history when getting from place to place meant walking, or returning home before the street lights came on.

These days, it appears the idea of brutal honesty has been traded in for brutal stupidity. The things people post publicly on their social media accounts would likely never be said in person, yet for whatever reason, it seems empowering to sit behind a computer screen and curse the very existence of anyone who disagrees with an unchallenged worldview.

Don't Judge Me.

Today, I ran into a young woman in her early 20’s that enjoys the “party” lifestyle more than life itself. Her perspective orbited around young men and their perceived affections for her. All hell broke loose when I asked a simple question, “Do your guy friends respect you?” …. I received her undeniable response loud and clear, “Don’t Judge Me!”

This trite response was merely code for, “Don’t influence me to acknowledge and own my stupid choices.” After calming her down and appealing to the core of her pain, it was evident to me that the pain of her absentee father had left a scar so deep that she was willing to sell her soul to be affirmed by a replacement “daddy” with washboard abdominals and a golden boy smile.

Listen, respect doesn’t begin AFTER your clothes come off. Far too often, we think our perspective is the only relevant and valid viewpoint, so we feel a sense of duty to judge others harshly. I wonder how effective we would be in life if we were slower to speak and quick to listen? Make no mistake, meek is not weak.

Until next time, Be encouraged.


I speak to thousands of young adults, men, women, and couples annually on leadership, decision making, and relationships.  Sometimes life has a way of being the antidote to life itself. If you’d like more information on this topic or how to bring me in as a speaker for your next event, please  contact me.

In the meantime, I encourage you to subscribe to my Tribe/Newsletter on my homepage. Post your comment below, Share my blogs with your friends on social media, and visit my website often for daily inspiration. Until next time, Be encouraged.


Egypt McKee

Speaker | Mentor | Podcaster | TV Host

©2014-2023 Copyright, Out of Egypt Ministries, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

www.EgyptSpeaks.com | www.Facebook.com/EgyptSpeaks

Life Book_READ IT

I Got This.

Speaker. Mentor. Podcaster

Life is short. I’ve heard this phrase repeated numerous times throughout my life by those who are often times several years my senior. More often than not, I find myself nodding with affirmation or defaulting to express an acceptable smile, yet sooner or later, I’d find myself in a position of teaching this short yet profound statement to someone else.

Recently, I met a young man in his late 20’s, and we began to discuss a series of business principles, which would significantly impact his professional career. His perspective on life and problem solving was radically different than mine. The longer he spoke, the more I was convinced that he was situationally unaware of the basics of decision-making principles—cause and effect. Soon afterwards, I offered wise counsel in opposition to his actions. Nevertheless, his response was undeniably pompous as he exclaimed, “I got this.”

Defiant Young Man

By this point, I began to imagine where many disagreements go wrong. My mind began to explore all the unimaginable angles of communicating with others, particularly those in whom we simply do not agree. Perceptions become reality. Without question or reason, we subscribe to an untested  “perceived truth” that our age and/or talent gives us a unique qualification to untapped wisdom, influence, and insight—this is a lie.

Additionally, we fall into the trap that convincing others to think like us or be like us is the primary purpose of our existence, and we base this untested “perceived reality” on the age old idea that “he who yells the LOUDest, must be the RIGHTest.” This too is a lie.

Ultimately, we fail to effectively communicate with others because we want to be heard far more than we desire to listen. What then shall we say about the character and motives of our hearts? If we believe ourselves to be teachable, how then do we give instruction to others—Listen.

Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” NIV

Listening doesn’t mean agreement, nor does it mean endorsement. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Sadly, there is a prevailing wisdom among many throughout the United States who believe that anything old is useless and therefore worthless. This idea is not only short sighted but rooted in selfishness, arrogance, and immaturity.

Life truly is short. My grandfather modeled this life lesson to me many years ago, and instilled in me a desire to inspire this generation with truth. The right question is, “how far are you willing to go to know truth?”

Listen, leadership without humility is just plain arrogant and stupid. No one wants to follow someone who believes he or she is so intelligent that everyone else merely exists to agree with their ideas and concepts. The true measure of leadership is influence—nothing more, nothing less.

Until next time, Be encouraged.


I speak to thousands of young adults, men, women, and couples annually on leadership, relationships, and integrity.  Sometimes thinking “you’ve got this” is the very thing that’s gotten you into trouble in the first place, and you need help from someone honorable with a right perspective to help guide your steps. If you’d like more information on this topic or how to bring me in as a speaker for your next event, please  contact me.

In the meantime, I encourage you to subscribe to my Tribe/Newsletter on my homepage. Post your comment below, Share my blogs with your friends on social media, and visit my website often for daily inspiration. Until next time, Be encouraged.


Egypt McKee

Speaker | Mentor | Podcaster

©2014-2023 Copyright, Out of Egypt Ministries, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

www.EgyptSpeaks.com | www.Facebook.com/EgyptSpeaks

Love Handles.

Speaker. Mentor. Podcaster

Don’t look down. You may realize there is either more or less of you to love than you last remember. When were the last time you walked through a shopping mall or department store? It’s interesting what happens when you find yourself in familiar territory, yet the sting of reality always finds a way to remind you of flaws you worked so hard to forget.

Life has an interesting way of treating everyone like a transactional shopping experience. If you’re anything like me, you’ll go into battle focused with a clear-cut exit strategy. On the other hand, many others experience ups and downs of relationships, broken promises, and false perceptions much like designer jeans, sale items and the lie that one size fits all.

By now, you might be wondering what this is all about, and it’s precisely that question that has awakened the restlessness of your soul. Just when you thought everything was getting better, and starting to look up—BAM, the Jaws of Life grip down on your personal space in unimaginable ways of discomfort.

What would it be like if you entrusted your secrets to someone, yet that person felt at liberty to share that information with anyone who would listen? Maybe you ran off and got married because you were convinced that would stop your manipulating partner from repeatedly disrespecting you in front of others, yet it didn’t. Maybe you’ve struggled in secret with your weight and there was nothing more important to you than to be accepted by others—literally anyone.Catch Me

The love you once remembered experiencing through frequent smiles has left your cheeks hurting from sheer joy, and has now vanished as quickly as vapor. Somewhere in the process of shopping for a replacement boyfriend, girlfriend, or spouse, you began to stuff your pain deep within the floorboards of your heart. At this point, you swore allegiance to self, and that no one would ever discover your true pain. Having consulted with self, this strategy appeared flawless because your reputation was paramount, your popularity was vital (yet temporary at best), and your perceived appearance was as convincingly delusional as Miley Cyrus inability to accept wise counsel.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (NIV)

Now it’s time to ask the question you’ve been dying to know, and it’s not, “What is love?”, rather, “Who is love?” Truth is not relative, nor does it mask itself behind persuasive arguments or professionals with highly skilled vocabularies. Will the thing you’ve come to understand as love, ultimately stand up to the test of eternity? Have you ever taken time to think about the depth of your version of love? Is your love proud, arrogant, manipulative, self-seeking of attention, or rude in anyway? Does the person you’re in love with share a transparent commitment to genuine love as previously described, or are you both merely focused on satisfying your fantasies in bed, or even perhaps the idea of playing house as a pretend spouse?

Listen—life is short; there is neither discussion nor debating that fact. Everyone has a story, which is at best, unfinished. Let’s get the story straight once and for all: love is not merely a feeling. I’m just one man making a difference in the lives of those who will give me the time of day. I may not know your personal story, but I would like to. In all you do, please don’t miss my point—true love handles all your pain and struggles, and gives you something your best attempts never could—Peace.

Until next time, Be encouraged.

 


I speak to hundreds of thousands of young adults, men, women, and couples annually on leadership, decision making, and relationships.  Sometimes life has a way of being the antidote to life itself. If you’d like more information on this topic or how to bring me in as a speaker for your next event, please  contact me.

In the meantime, I encourage you to subscribe to my Tribe/Newsletter on my homepage. Post your comment below, Share my blogs with your friends on social media, and visit my website often for daily inspiration.


 

Egypt McKee

Speaker | Author | TV Host | Life Coach

©2009-2015 Copyright, Egypt McKee. All Rights Reserved.

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Chocolate.

Speaker. Mentor. Podcaster

There simply aren’t many things in life that seem to carry the prestige of indulgence that is fantasized more frequently than Heaven itself. The power to motivate some through sensual appeal, yet condemn others through compulsive appetite is an incredible phenomena. The mere thought of it can buckle the knees of the strongest mind or cause the dedicated to abandon their purpose; yet stand as a succulent reward for those who dare reach out to grasp its fame.

Speaking of weaknesses, have you considered where your battle is fought? The heat of battle is often fought without understanding the objective, yet we march on to fight another day for a purpose we neither understand nor believe. In the midst of all the chaos, arguments and failures, lays a subtle reminder of our vulnerability wrapped in an attractive package containing the sweet temptation of the finest chocolate.

Long before you knew you were in battle, the scars of repeated failure reminded you of the intense warfare, yet an understanding of “why” would not be answered. Rhetorical questions swirled around in your mind and lay uneasy on your heart like a dormant land-mine awaiting discharge. One failed relationship after another led you to blame others, yourself and finally God, yet your chocolate was always there to sooth your pain through another mistake.IMG_3286

Targeted campaigns of sensuality, lust and sex have risen faster than the stock market in times of plenty! The two-sided coin features the women who starve for genuine affirmation & attention through men and others who attempt to meet those needs from character birthed in the tail end. Navigation never meant as much as it does now as you bend, tuck and roll to avoid the moving targets of life that reinforce social acceptance for acting out illicit fantasies and behaviors.

2 Corinthians 12:9, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (NIV)

What do you see in yourself? How do others see you? Is there a difference? The rocky road you’ve traveled thus far is merely getting started. Do you remember the boy or girl you first dated? Emotions were difficult to gauge because everything was new, exciting yet somewhat uncomfortable. Small talk of anything quickly became the focus of life, yet your relationships today are dying for lack of oxygen.

What else is there to do when your alone again, or worse–married for a significant period of time and feeling alone. The person who once was your source of chocolate has now become a lemon. This tragic transformation didn’t happen over night, yet picking your fights has ultimately been rewarded with a cold relationship, a broken heart and a perceived unattainable chocolate: the joy of being happy again.

The delusion of proving your strength by returning to the scene of the crime is as pathetic as the alcoholic who thinks they are strong enough to hang around a bar or someone with a sexual addiction who spends hot summer afternoons at the beach studying the inhabitants of the land. Weaknesses are found in everyone, yet there is only one source for overcoming them and I am convinced that is through a deliberate relationship with Jesus Christ.

Many of you have heard that before and are sick of it, yet whatever it is that you’ve been trying so far isn’t working out; at least not as you’d hoped. Rest assured, life offers more varieties of chocolate than you will ever know. I know there is hope for you today, but the question is, Do you want it?

Until next time, Be encouraged.

 


I speak to hundreds of thousands of young adults, men, women, and couples annually on leadership, decision making, and relationships.  Sometimes life has a way of being the antidote to life itself. If you’d like more information on this topic or how to bring me in as a speaker for your next event, please  contact me.

In the meantime, I encourage you to subscribe to my Tribe/Newsletter on my homepage. Post your comment below, Share my blogs with your friends on social media, and visit my website often for daily inspiration. Until next time, Be encouraged.


 

Egypt McKee

Speaker | Author | TV Host | Life Coach

©2014-2015 Copyright, Egypt McKee. All Rights Reserved.

Life Book_READ IT

 

It’s All Good.

Speaker. Mentor. Podcaster

 

You don’t have to go very far to find words that express absolutely nothing. If there’s ever been a time in human history where words are joined together to cover up our unwillingness to appropriately face the truth of our choices, circumstances, and emotions: it’s now. In the end, it would be wise to consider that everything really isn’t all good.


I speak to hundreds of thousands of young adults, men, women, and couples annually on leadership, decision making, and relationships.  Sometimes life has a way of being the antidote to life itself. If you’d like more information on this topic or how to bring me in as a speaker for your next event, please  contact me.

In the meantime, I encourage you to subscribe to my Tribe/Newsletter on my homepage. Post your comment below, Share my blogs with your friends on social media, and visit my website often for daily inspiration.


 

Egypt McKee

Speaker | Author | TV Host | Life Coach

©2014-2015 Copyright, Egypt McKee. All Rights Reserved.

Life Book_READ IT

 

 

Participation Awards.

Speaker. Mentor. Podcaster

 

Since when did we make the great leap from personal responsibility to entitlement? I’d like to share a few words on this new phenomina sweeping our culture in an effort to marginalize and dillute personal responsibility, hard work, and sacrifice. Let’s go.

 


I speak to hundreds of thousands of young adults, men, women, and couples annually on leadership, decision making, and relationships.  Sometimes life has a way of being the antidote to life itself. If you’d like more information on this topic or how to bring me in as a speaker for your next event, please  contact me.

In the meantime, I encourage you to subscribe to my Tribe/Newsletter on my homepage. Post your comment below, Share my blogs with your friends on social media, and visit my website often for daily inspiration.


 

Egypt McKee

Speaker | Author | TV Host | Life Coach

©2014-2015 Copyright, Egypt McKee. All Rights Reserved.

Life Book_READ IT