Simple Inspiration For Life

How Social Media Impacts Holiday Spending

2011-12-20T09:13:00.002-05:00

http://cdn.churchm.ag/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/social-media-holiday-purchases.jpg

Impact of Amazon - An Infographic

2011-11-21T22:47:00.003-05:00

I Love Infographics!

Source: Frugaldad.com

What In The World Is An Overseer?

2011-09-09T22:59:00.000-04:00

What in the world is an Overseer?

Is it Biblical?
What is an Overseer in the Bible?

What does "overseer" mean?

Is it the same as a Bishop?

What do you oversee?

Since 2006, when I was appointed General Overseer of the Children & Youth area of Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International, by Bishop Paul S. Morton, I have lost count on how many times I’ve gotten these questions.

While most people asked out of genuine desire to know, some people that have asked were asking with a hint of sarcasm, and further, some others asked because they are just overwhelmed with all of the titles that are floating around the body of Christ (I feel ya’ll!!!).

My normal answer had been to simply respond to everyone, “a big title that only means a lot of work.” And then I realized that many people really didn’t know and wanted to know. So I did a little research and have answered most of the questions I’ve gotten below. Hopefully this will clear it up for everyone.

Let me say before you read also – I ain’t trying to be deep! I just wanted to provide some foundation for the answers to the question. Enjoy!

What Is an Overseer?

According to the Houghton-Mifflin dictionary, an Overseer (NOUN):
1. One who keeps watch over and directs the work of others, especially laborers.
2. A supervisor or superintendent.

Is it biblical?

Old & New Testament church and ministry leaders are continually referenced by various titles in scripture. When you search them, you find Elders, Prophets, Bishops, and also Overseers among other titles. The title Overseer is specifically referenced in Genesis 39: 4; 1 Chronicles 9: 29; 2 Chronicles 2: 18; and 2 Chronicles 34:17. Each title emphasizes a different aspect of the same person’s function ("elder" emphasizes spiritual maturity, "shepherd" emphasizes the feeding and care role of the leader, and "overseer" emphasizes the guardian role of the leader.

What is an "overseer" in the Bible (1Titus 3:1)? From episkope (1984), the basis for the English word "episcopal." Epi in this instance means "over, upon" and skopos means "to look, see, watchman" (basis for "scope, optic"). Thus, one who oversees something.

In Homers Iliad, the episkopos was the guard of the city, the protector of the people. Classical Greek used episkopos in reference to the gods as protectors and guardians of truth. Episkopos was also a title for an administrator in the Greek legal system (Henderson, 1 Timothy).

Thus, the root concept of episkopos is "overseer, guardian"; one who keeps watch over the needs of people. Thayer defines it as "an overseer, one charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done are done rightly."

It refers to a definite function or a fixed office within a group, i.e., that of "superintendent, guardian".

In greater detail, The Greek word translated overseer is episkopos and it means bishop or “the one who has oversight.”

The English word bishop is actually used in the KJV of Philippians 1:1…

“Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.”

Another Greek word translated sometimes as overseer but more often as elder is presbuteros. Elders were to be appointed in every local church…

Acts 14:23 “Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.”

The term elder is used to describe the degree of spiritual maturity that an individual possesses while the term bishop is used to describe the role that an individual plays in the structure of the church. So an elder is not an “office”; it is a descriptive term for an individual who holds the office of bishop or overseer.

Both terms - episkopos (overseer/bishop) and presbuteros (elder) are used in reference to the same individuals in I Peter 5:1-4...

”To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.”

A third word associated with church leadership is the Greek word poimen. It is translated into English as pastor and shepherd. Notice that the passage in I Peter 5:1-4 (above) is addressed to “the elders” (presbuteros) and instructs them to “be shepherds (poimen) of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers (episkopos).”

So the terms overseer, bishop, elder, pastor and shepherd all refer to different aspects of the same individual – the one who oversees (administers, oversight, etc.). They do not refer to different offices within the church leadership structure, but primarily refer to the work.

The overseer, bishop, elder, pastor, shepherd is responsible for…
1. Preaching and teaching in the church.

1 Tim. 5:17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

2. Keeping watch over the church.

Acts 20:28 “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with His own Blood.”

3. Managing the church.

I Timothy 3:1 & 4-5 “If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task…He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?”

4. Leading the church.

Hebrews 13:17 “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

5. Preparing believers to serve the church.

Ephesians 4:11-13 “It was he who gave some to be…pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.“

6. Accounting to God for the church.

Heb. 13:17 “They keep watch over you as men who must give an account.”

The major qualifications for those who serve as overseers are found in

I Tim. 3:1-7…“Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. 2Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap. “

Is wanting to be an overseer actually one of the requirements for being one? Though there is nothing inappropriate about having a desire to be an overseer, such a desire is not a requirement. Paul is here making a statement of fact, not laying down a prerequisite. Many people may be hesitant to take on the responsibility of the office (I was!), but would be willing do so anyway because the church (or an apostolic worker) asked it of them. However, an individual should not have to be pressured into being an elder (1Peter 5:2).

I also want to say that you should not seek ANY office for the title, glamour, name recognition, public perception, or even the thought of being a “celebrity”. I can tell you now having worked in ministry for at least two decades that there are NO celebrities in the Kingdom without a great price. When individuals are anointed to do something, to others what they are doing looks easy. But trust me – the price that they’ve paid is enormous. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER seek a position unless God opens the door!

What adjective does 1Timothy 3:1 use to describe the ministry of overseer? As a noble "task" or "work" (NASV). From ergon (2041), "work, employment, labor." Serving as an overseer is hard work, a labor of love. It also is not an "office’ to be filled. Despite how some English versions render this verse, there is no underlying Greek word for "office."

Is it the same as a Bishop?

Yes and No. The answer is more of a question of organizational structure and job description than Biblical understanding. The bottom line from scripture is that a Bishop or an Overseer is one who administers something. In some organizations, an Overseer has the responsibilities of a Bishop and others they do not. This does not take away from the scriptural definition of the area of Bishop and/or Overseer.

A Bishop is literally consecrated office in the church as one who generally oversees churches, organizations, and the like.

In our fellowship, Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship, our Presiding Bishop and Bishop’s Council has delineated the responsibilities of a Bishop and an Overseer. So in our case, I am not a Bishop.

What do you oversee?

In 2006, I was appointed by Bishop Paul S. Morton as General Overseer of the Children & Youth Division for our fellowship (FGBCF).

I oversee this area. I am responsible for the coordination, administration, and oversight of the children and youth ministries of Full Gospel, as well as the International Conference, special programs, projects, and initiatives. This covers ages 5-11 (children) and ages 12-18 (youth) for our fellowship, as well as, our Children and Youth Pastors, Youth Leaders and, Youth Ministry Workers.

I do serve at the discretion of our Presiding Bishop and Bishop’s Council. It is my mandate to fulfill the vision of the organization through my area – which is “to change a generation”.

Interestingly enough, in 2011, my gift of administration and 'overseeing' also made room for me and I was hired as the Chief of Staff and Director of Church Operations for Fellowship Church of Chicago where Pastor Charles Jenkins is our Pastor. So, I continue to oversee the work of God's kingdom in multiple areas.

I hope that helps...

Prayer Call - Scriptures References

2011-05-02T00:52:00.000-04:00

Tonight, I was led to have a Prayer Call after President Obama announced that bin Laden had been captured, killed, and was in possession.

I'm still waiting on the total number of people. But here are the scriptures I referenced on the call:

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. Philippians 4: 6

Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life], being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving. Colossians 4: 2

I desire therefore that in every place men should pray, without anger or quarreling or resentment or doubt [in their minds], lifting up holy hands. 1 Timothy 2: 8

Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people). Ephesians 6:18

“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”. Matthew 18: 19-20 (NKJV)

Power Of Salvation - Inspirational Thought

2011-03-28T08:31:00.000-04:00

The other day I read a thought about salvation and wanted to share it with you.

"In the Bible, the word salvation has three distinct tenses - past, present, and future. At conversion, we are saved from the penalty of sin. At present, day by day, we are being saved from the power of sin. And one day in the future, we will be saved from the presence of sin."

That's a powerful truth about salvation that should encourage us, strengthen us, and solidify our faith in the power of salvation and what God has enabled us to capture through our submission to His plan for our lives. Thank God for Jesus!

Be Inspired!

Bible Video - Corny, But Good!

2011-03-22T08:52:00.000-04:00

This is video is corny, but I love it! Enjoy.

Should Christians Get Tattoos?

2011-03-12T20:35:00.000-05:00

I recently had an opportunity to review a great explanation to this current and relevant cultural question. Enjoy!

Controlling Random Thoughts - God's Way (Part 2

2011-03-09T12:14:00.001-05:00

I recently wrote a Daily Devotional for StreamingFaith (here).
In response to that devotional, I received a huge number of comments, thoughts, feedback, and even testimonials of how timely the posting was for folks from all over the world (I'm thankful!).

I wanted to take a moment and specifically address two questions in particular. One I already wrote about in Part 1 (here). The other question, I'll respond today.

One respondant asked: Are you supposed to sit there and just do nothing? Is it possible to sit there and think nothing? Or can you sit and meditate on a verse?

This kind of question is pretty straight-forward as well. But I want to preface it by saying that in today’s society of meditating and yoga and other ‘spiritual’ practices of which many don’t align with God’s will or His Word, true Biblical meditation, what we call prayer, involves us allowing God to transform us into what He desires us to be versus trying to transform ourselves into our own image of right and wrong.

To be honest with you, sometimes just sitting and ‘taking a load off’ is exactly what God calls for. It is literally slowing the pace of our lives enough to not only hear ourselves think, but even taking a minute to give God an opportunity to speak to us. It is absolutely overwhelming and disheartening to think about how busy our lives have become. Its literally suffocating. We must slow down to allow space for God.

Then there are times where “being still…” (Ps. 46:10 - here) actually involves activity. This activity may mean literally walking step by step by following Gods instruction, through the Holy Spirit. This is what it means to walk by faith. Sometimes being still means going through a process, but 'waiting' on God to make a move. That sounds almost contradictory. But it's really not.

Whatever the season you’re in, it must involved obeying the voice of God for your life (Read Romans 8: 14 - here). It must involve consistent reflection on scripture. It must involve consistent self-reflection and reflection based upon God’s Word and what it is revealing about us. It must involve spiritual growth, that is coupled with authentic mature relationships with other mature believers that can hold us accountable for growth. And finally, it must be regularly practiced and pursued. You’re pursuing God Himself, not just the practice of prayer and reflection. There’s a huge difference and requires a different approach. Finally, I'd encourage you to meditate on Psalm 1 (here), Psalm 119 (here), and Romans 12 (here).

Happy Faith Walking! Live Inspired!

Controlling Random Thoughts God's Way! - Part 1

2011-03-08T20:11:00.002-05:00

See my response below:

Here’s the most simple and straightforward answer I can give you – you can’t! God has so wired the brain that we can’t stop thoughts from coming into our heads. What we do have control over is what we do with those thoughts. Let me first be clear that most thoughts are not random. They have a source. This is another point for another time, but I will say this – that based upon what we feed our brains, these thoughts are the residual effects of that food. At the point that we get a ‘random’ thought, our first responsibility is to critically check that thought to consider its source. Where did this thought originate from? All thoughts are like seeds. If they get rooted in your thought processes, they’ll even grow into something. Good seeds reap good fruit. Bad seeds reap bad fruit. In 2 Cor. 10: 5 (here) we read, “…and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” Every thought must be filtered through God’s Word – The Bible. At this point, you decide if that thought stays or get evicted.

If it gets evicted, you must have the authority to evict it. The only thing that gives you that authority is God’s Word. So – when you have a thought that needs to be evicted, you evict it by replacing it with God’s Word. For example, if there’s a thought that comes to you while you’re sitting on the couch that says, “You’re never going to be successful. You’re going to always just be getting by…” The process is:

Question 1) Where did this thought come from?
Answer 1) It couldn’t have come from God because it’s not His character and not consistent with His Word, so it couldn’t come from Him.

Question 2) What do I do with this thought?
Answer 2) I evict it with scriptures that PROVE that this is not true.

Question 3) What are those scriptures?
Answer 3) There are many. But a few may be Deuteronomy 8: 18 (here); Jeremiah 29: 11 (here); Philippians 4: 13 (here); 3 John 1:2 (here).

Question 4) What happens if the thought keeps coming back or won’t leave?
Answer 4) You KEEP meditating, reciting, repeating those scriptures until it leaves. If it comes back, you keep repeating, meditating, repeating, and even, memorizing (Don’t take NO for answer!!!) This instruction is based on Philippians 4: 8 (here).

I hope I’ve made this process simple enough to make sense, be able to be applied to your life, and will cause life transformation for you! Happy Faith Walking! Live Inspired!

Self-Control - The Right Way

2011-02-17T09:32:00.000-05:00

This morning I read a very powerful devotional from Selwyn Hughes that was extremely thought-provoking and enriching. When I read this kind, I really want to share them with others.

I hope you're blessed from it as I was...

"The last of the nine fruits of the Spirit listed in Galations 5 is self-control. It is interesting that Paul puts self-control last. Othe religions would put it first. Confucianism taught that self-control would help produce the 'superior' man. Hinduism thinks self-control will produce the 'realized' man. Stoicism thought self-control produced the 'detached' man. Moderen cults believe self-control produces the 'happy' man. They all go about it the wrong way. We do not gain Christ through self-control, we gain self-control through Christ.

'Self-control' is used here as a by-product of love. When you begin with love, you end up with self-control. If you attempt it the other way around, then you end up with a nervous breakdown. The self-control that comes by the Spirit is not a nervous, anxious self-control; it is a control that is unstrained, therefore beautiful. No wonder a great thinker said, "Love Christ and do what you like," for when you do, then you will like what He likes. that's the kind of self-control the Spirit gives. We delight to control what needs to be controlled because we desire to please Him."

WOW! Enjoy your day!

Examples To Follow

2011-01-15T10:10:00.001-05:00

I have a question for you - who's example are you following?

Its interesting to me that everything that God asks us to do in His Word, He has wisely given real-life examples of how to live that out.

Whatever the standard is, if you look around there are people in your life - whether you know them closely or loosely - that is an example of that standard.

If patience is the standard, then there's someone that's doing it.
If love is the standard, then there's someone that's doing it.
If sacrifice is the standard, then there's someone that's doing it.
If loyalty is the standard, then there's someone that's doing it.
If kindness is the standard, then there's someone that's doing it.

Whatever it is - there are people that are living that out right in front of you.

The challenge for all of us is to make sure that we're following the right examples and learning from the bad examples.

A few years ago, one of my family members was wronged by another person. I immediately wanted to come to their rescue. My family member, on the other hand, had another plan of action. To be honest, their action plan was alot more biblical than mine (See 1 Corinthians 13 here!). In my conversation with them, I asked them, why didn't they just let me get to the person and let them know that they were wrong and needed to apologize. My family member's response was classic and one that I will never forget. They said, "How are you helping me by hurting someone that I'm not going to hurt?" In other words, they were saying to me, follow my example!

WOW! What an example they've set.

An example is, according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a pattern to follow, an instance (as a problem to be solved) serving to illustrate a rule or precept or to act as an exercise in the application of a rule.

It is very important to us as believers and representatives of the Kingdom of God to set a great example. We must look to the right examples and we've got to be willing to teach others - either verbally or non-verbally - how to be an example to others. God has also given us wisdom to learn from bad examples of what not to do.

The Bible speaks about being an example often:

Paul taught his churches to follow His example (as He followed Christ) (1 Cor. 11: 1)
Paul also encouraged young Timothy what to be in example in (in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity). (1 Timothy 4: 12)
Jesus shared with His disciples that He's set an example for them to follow in serving (John 13: 15)
Peter wrote how Christ is a great example of how humility and love for people in our living (1 Peter 2:21)

This is just a quick snapshot of scripture. So, let me end with the question that I asked you at the beginning: Who's example are you following?

Something big is on the way...

2011-01-06T18:03:00.000-05:00

Ok...I've had this feeling before.

I wasn't able to quite put my finger on it, but I knew God was up to something. And it was something big. It's here, it's registering on the Richter scale, and I'm staying tuned to the right station...

Have you ever had a feeling that God was up to something big in your life, the life of those close to you, and the world around us.

Some of you that read this blog may be superstitious. I, on the other hand, am not. I believe in God and in God's Word. As a result, I believe in God's powerful whispers (Bill Hybels wrote about it, click here).

It's not so much of a feeling as much is it is God's prompting, moving upon your heart, preparing you for something. I know I'm not the only one who has is because I've spoken to others.

And what's even more amazing is that this prompting is reserved for people who have walked in integrity and had God's heart surgery over the past few days/months/years...

All of the conditions are right for it! Have you noticed that with weather, all of the conditions must be right for certain things to take place. All of the conditions must be right for it - to snow, for a hurricane to develop, a tornado to form, a flood to happen, an earthquake to shake, and the list goes on and on...

If God set it up for that kind of thing to happen in the physical realm, what in the world do you think He's done in the spiritual? WOW - I'm getting excited just thinking about it!

When I was preparing to preach my first sermon, I had this feeling...
When I was about the get accepted to FSU, I had this feeling...
When I was about to propose to my wife (and she didn't know it), I had this feeling...
When Full Gospel was about to promote me, I had this feeling...

And...I've got it again! Lawd (that's grammatically incorrect, but makes perfect sense in this state of being...), what are you up to?!?!?!?

It's something good, it's something big, it's HUMONGOUS!

I'm not trying to be mysterious or claim to be some amazing prophet. But I've got a God confidence after so many years of seeing God do it...

I hope you're prepared for it. I hope you're bracing for it. Live and walk in integrity and you'll be apart of it. This is the essential key - a heart towards God's Will. Selfishness, self-promotion, short-sightedness, and unconfessed sin will eliminate you from what's about to take place.

I don't quite know what it is, but I'm going to stay tuned...I hope you will too.

When it breaks loose, I hope you'll come back and comment about it here. Be Inspired!

Your Focus on IT!

2011-01-01T11:06:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!

Today is 1.1.11 - that's cool on so many levels! The New Year is always exciting and fun!

Of course, there's no great big difference between New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, other than that in our minds we can begin with a new focus.

The reality is that we can make many plans this year, talk about our hope for new things to take place, and have hope and expectations of what is to come. There's nothing wrong with all of those things. As a matter of fact, its necessary.

But at hopes of not living an inconsistent life, I'm encouraging you (and myself) to not lose sight of the long-term.

What has God called you to long-term?
What purpose has God created you for?
What are the dreams that will not let you rest?

If you really begin to answer these questions, you'll find that you can be able to better deal with the short-term distractions that look to pull you from your long-term purpose.

You really don't want to get to a certain point in your life and have too many regrets. What causes regrets?

1. Delaying in moving towards God's purpose for your life.
2. Putting inconsequential matters as priorities and ignoring the most important things (i.e. like relationship, a relationship with God, etc.).
3. How you treat people (you reap what you sow).
4. Following others' desires for you and not God's and your own.
5. Focus more on holding others back while trying to make yourself look better.
6. Relying on skill, talent, and education while ignoring character and integrity.

There are probably others, but this is a beginning list (feel free to add more...). So, what are you to do with this new year?

It's amazing to me how Jesus Christ never lost sight of the true reason why He came to earth. I think we can learn from that.

Instead of trying to make a long-list of things that you want to accomplish this year, identify the one thing that is a MUST! With a laser intensity and God-given passion, you will pursue this one thing. You won't be deterred and the fire in your heart will not be satisfied if you get to 12.31.11 and you've not made considerable progress to that One Thing. What is it?

I believe that you may be able to accomplish some other things this year, but I also believe that the purest satisfaction that you'll receive will only come when you pursue the one thing. God wants to do something IN us and THROUGH us. Without a doubt. His Word and Work consistently speaks to this. Its up to you and I now to let that happen. God is excited about partnering with you and I for those things to happen. But - the devil - wants to overwhelm us with too many things. He wants to get us sidelined and distracted with too many plans and ideas. Let's put a stop to his shenanigans and not get overwhelmed - let's reduce it all to the One Thing. Let's chase after that one thing.

Identify IT. Strategize for IT. Pray about IT. Give IT to God. Let God give IT back to you. Meditate on IT. Ask questions about IT. Do research on IT. Get others to help you with IT. Create a visual of IT. Pray about IT. Build other goals around IT. Write IT. Work IT. Share IT. Believe IT. Pray about IT. Walk in integrity towards IT. Have fun with IT. Whatever you do - do IT!

Enjoy 2011 - It's a New Year!

Worst Verse in the Bible

2010-12-28T16:11:00.000-05:00

Have you ever read something and after you finished reading it, you were like..."Wow, I wasn't prepared for that?"

If not, its both healthy and challenging for you. You should try it.

That happened to me recently. Pastor Steven Furtick had a blog back in the middle of 2010 that got me. I wanted to share it here with you.

Particularly, as we prepare for the end of one year and the arrival of a new one, we'll hear alot of people start making new year's declarations, confessions, and professions. Without a doubt, I believe in the power of confession. I also believe in God's Word. God has a tremendous track record. Take a look at this block post and let me know what you think.

http://www.stevenfurtick.com/spirtual-growth/one-of-the-worst-verses-in-the-bible/

A Mature Scripture

2010-12-26T12:51:00.000-05:00

I believe that most of scripture is written for believers - those that are already committed to Jesus Christ.

As a result, many scriptures that you'll read God, I believe, challenges us to always mature beyond where we are. I read a scripture the other day in the Message translation of the Bible. I realize that its a loose translation (and a little watered down), but it is dynamic in its application and common-day language.

(Side Note-SN: I believe that its very important for all serious believers to have a Bible translation that you can study and understand...)

Nonetheless, without me trying to preach a message on this blog, I'm simply going to post the text and allow you to be ministered to as you read it.

Enjoy!

Matthew 5: 38 - 48 (Message)
Mat 5:38 "Here's another old saying that deserves a second look: 'Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.'

Mat 5:39 Is that going to get us anywhere? Here's what I propose: 'Don't hit back at all.' If someone strikes you, stand there and take it.
Mat 5:40 If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it.
Mat 5:41 And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life.
Mat 5:42 No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.
Mat 5:43 "You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.'
Mat 5:44 I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer,
Mat 5:45 for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best--the sun to warm and the rain to nourish--to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty.
Mat 5:46 If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that.
Mat 5:47 If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.
Mat 5:48 "In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.

Two Kinds Of People In The World

2010-12-16T18:01:00.000-05:00

I recently had a chance to take a peak at Daniel Pink's blog. He had a great post there that I wanted to post here. Enjoy!

There are two kinds of people in the world . . .

Those who make your life easier — and those who make it harder.

Those whose presence helps you perform better — and those whose presence makes you do worse.

Those concerned about doing the work — and those concerned about getting the credit.

Those who leave you feeling up — and those who leave you feeling down.

Those who simplify — and those who complicate.

Those who listen when others are talking — and those who wait when others are talking.

Those who give — and those who take.

Those who last — and those who fade.
Which are you?

Source: http://www.danpink.com/archives/2010/12/there-are-two-kinds-of-people-in-the-world

The Right Focus

2010-12-14T09:52:00.000-05:00

It's so easy. That is, its so easy to study about God, be interested in godliness, and even be interested in God-things and totally miss God. The blurb below from Selwyn Hughes further expands this thought. Enjoy!

A danger that we must acquaint ourselves with as we discuss the need to contemplate God more deeply is that of becoming more interested in godliness than in God Himself. Theologian Jim Packer puts the point effectively when he says that 'moving in evangelical circles as I do, I am often troubled by what I find. While my fellow believers are constantly seeking to advance in godliness, they show little direct interest in God himself. When they study Scripture, only the principles of personal godliness get their attention; their heavenly Father does not. It is as if they should concentrate on the ethics of marriage and fail to spend time with their spouse!' He goes on to say: 'There is something narcissistic, and, to tell the truth, nutty in being more concerned with godliness than about God.'

Let's be watchful that we don't care more for the principles of godliness than the God we are called to praise and please every day of our lives. Chase God!

A Tale Of Two Leaders - From Michael Hyatt

2010-12-08T10:35:00.000-05:00

As a young leader, with a passion for wisdom and those with wisdom - I can easily detect (and discern) when a person has wisdom and is willing to share that with others.

For a few years now I have consistently followed Michael Hyatt's blog. Up to this point, I have NEVER been disappointed with his postings! You should follow Him!

He's the CEO of a major book publishing company. Compared to him, I'm a blogging slacker! (Smile...)

Nonetheless, there are times that he shares a blog that is a Selah moment for me and one that you don't want to ever forget. Today is one. I've included it below because I want you to read it, enjoy it, learn from it, let it sink into your life, and then live by it! Be inspired by it!

And...for the record...I'm striving to be the kind of leader that he actually names in his posting (it'll make sense after you read it!)

A Tale Of Two Leaders - Which Are You? By Michael Hyatt
(Source: http://michaelhyatt.com/a-tale-of-two-leaders-which-are-you.html)

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this posting as well...

That's Quotable

2010-12-06T08:46:00.000-05:00

I recently read a quote that was absolutely powerful, thought-provoking, raw, and inspiring.

I pray it inspires you as well!

"If we refuse to move towards someone in the spirit of love for fear that they may disappoint us, then we are more interested in protecting ourselves from pain than we are in loving - and that is sin." (Selwyn Hughes)(1 John 3:23)

10 Things Your Teenager Won't Tell You

2010-12-01T16:40:00.000-05:00

A friend of mine sent me this article a few days ago and I figured I'd pass along. It's really interesting reading. Enjoy!

10 Things Your Teenager Won't Tell You

By Kimberly Fusaro

Wonder what’s bugging your teen? It’s hard to be certain when all your son does is grunt and your daughter won’t stop rolling her eyes. So rather than pressing our own kids to talk—not going to happen!—we asked teenagers from around the country what messages they wish they could share with their moms and dads. Sure, every child is different, but it may do you and your teen some good if you took these truthful kids’ concerns to heart.

1. She needs privacy.

“I hate that my parents don’t give me any personal space,” says Eleanor, 14. “And I hate that they don’t think I need it.” Even if your children share a room, give each child an area that’s off-limits to everyone else in the family (including you), such as a desk or a spare closet. To show that you respect your teen’s privacy, don’t rummage through her personal space unless you have a concrete reason to believe that she’s lying to you or hiding something serious. And remember: “All kids today are doing drugs” isn’t a concrete reason.

2. Sometimes he just needs you to listen.

“I want to tell my mom and dad everything,” says Keegan, 13, “but I don’t want to listen to them nag.” Understand that sometimes your kids just want a sounding board—they’re not looking for you to solve all their problems. When your son complains that his science teacher is being unfair or his soccer coach has been extra-hard on him, encourage him to talk by asking open-ended questions. (“Well, how does that make you feel?”) Don’t jump in with advice or threaten to intervene.

Learn how to listen in order to gain your kid's trust.

3. She may be dating—even if you’ve explicitly said she can’t.

“I didn’t tell my parents about a guy I dated for a year, because they didn’t allow me to have boyfriends,” says Marla, 15. “They knew we hung out, but I’d say, ‘Oh, we’re just friends.’” Try to be relaxed when it comes to dating—even if it’s killing you. Instead of forcing your daughter to sneak around, let her start with group dates, where at least four other kids are with her and her date at all times.

4. He may not be getting great grades on every assignment.

“I don’t tell my parents when I get a bad grade because I don’t want to listen to them tell me how I’ve let them down,” says Sam, 16, who says he occasionally fails a quiz but usually makes up for it with better exam scores. “There are nights I just don’t feel like studying!” Sometimes one bad grade is just that: one bad grade. If your son feels like he can vent to you about bombing a quiz or a book report, you won’t have to wait until the end of a semester to find out he’s struggling in school.

5. She doesn’t want to talk to you about sex.

“My mom knows I’ve kissed a boy,” says Sonia, 15, “but I don’t want to tell her anything else. It’s my life, not hers.” The good news is, in a 2005 government survey, less than half of high school students (47 percent) said they’d had sex. Still, it’s safest to assume your teen is in that 47 percent and educate her about birth control or preventing STDs. Don’t press her for personal details, but do offer advice; use third-person examples if it helps.

6. He hates when you don’t hold his siblings accountable.

“I hate that my parents don’t care how my youngest brother acts,” says Henry, 13. “When he swears or picks a fight with me or my older brother, they say, ‘He’s 7. He doesn’t know any better.’ But when I was his age I would have been in big trouble for swearing.” While it’s natural to become more lax as you have more children, it’s important to consider each unique situation, not just your children's ages. Remember, all of your kids will respect you more if they think you’re a fair and reasonable parent.

7. She wishes you’d cut her some slack.

“It makes me sad when my mom screams at me when I’m already down,” says Erin, 17. Even if your daughter seems to screw up every time you turn around, it’s important that she doesn’t feel like you’re constantly coming down on her. When you’re upset, take some deep breaths; a few minutes might give you perspective (is it really worth it to lose your cool over dirty laundry?) and a chance to evaluate your daughter’s mood. Perhaps she’s ignored the laundry because she’s stressed about school or antsy about a boy who hasn’t called her back.

8. He lies to stay out of trouble.

“Sometimes I don’t come home because I’m too drunk to drive,” says Aaron, 19. “If I told my parents that, they’d flip out, so I lie.” While it would be irresponsible to give underage drinking the green light, you don’t want your child to be in an unsafe situation because he’s rushing to be home on time. If your son calls just before curfew and says he needs a ride, save your questions (and lectures) for the morning.

9. She gets frustrated when you use her age to your advantage.

“I can’t stand it when my parents say, ‘You’re 17. Act like a grownup,’ one day, and then turn around and say, ‘You’re not old enough to do that. You’re only 17,’ the next,” says Izzy. “Which is it? Make up your mind!” Since “age-appropriate” is subjective, try to give your child hard-and-fast rules that aren’t dependent on a number. (“Every member of this family attends church on Sunday,” or “Visiting friends at college isn’t allowed until you’re in college yourself.”)

10. He wishes you would trust him.

“My parents don’t trust that I don’t do drugs,” says Steven, 15. “And I really hate that they believe what other people tell them instead of what I tell them.” Constantly accusing your kids of this or that—especially if your accusations are unfounded—breeds mistrust. Eventually they’ll do something dishonest just because they’re sick of being wrongly accused. Trust your kids until they give you a real reason not to.

Original article appeared on WomansDay.com.

Secret to Healthy Adult Functioning: Close Family Relationships as a Teen, Study Finds

2010-12-01T14:02:00.000-05:00

This article only confirms from a research standpoint that FAMILY MATTERS!

Secret to Healthy Adult Functioning: Close Family Relationships as a Teen, Study Finds

The Character of Leadership

2010-11-30T23:07:00.000-05:00

I recently read an article on a preaching website and wanted to share it. Enjoy!

In his excellent little book The Character of Leadership (B&H Books), Jeff Iorg talks about the danger of defining ourselves by our work. He writes: "Leaders struggle to keep work in perspective because of their insecurities.

"Ministry leaders who compare themselves to the work accomplishments of men in their community are prone to this. Those men are producing products, increasing their bottom line, growing their revenue, improving their earnings and otherwise achieving measurable success. Christian leaders want the same respect, appreciation and ego-salving satisfaction others seem to receive.

"This symptom manifests itself in the subtle temptation to find security in material possessions. Many Christian leaders, particularly in the United States, are able to work vocationally in ministry and be compensated adequately. Some are even compensated generously. One pastor said, 'I don't know where the top is in ministry, but I'm headed toward it as fast as I can go.' He believed hard work would produce promotions and financial reward. He's right. They often do in a capitalistic system.
"But Christian leaders cannot be motivated by financial success. It leads to false security and disillusionment with ministry. We must model a better understanding of work, productivity, personal gain and security. Ambition for the right purposes and under the Lord's authority is admirable. Unbridled lust for monetary fain to give you a sense of security and personal worth is not."

Source: http://www.preaching.com/resources/articles/11641984/

What I learned from my fraternity (and how it applies to ministry)

2010-11-17T13:59:00.000-05:00

I recently read a blog post from Ron Edmondson (http://www.ronedmondson.com/).

It caught my attention because it spoke about something that I've thought about a few times. I frequently try to take a step back and evaluate what effect various life experiences have had on me. This one was a great read and I was able to clearly identify with it.

Read it here (click here).

Enjoy!

What can churches learn from Myspace?

2010-11-06T16:37:00.000-04:00

I was a bit surprised to learn that Myspace is on the ropes (http://content.usatoday.com/communities/technologylive/post/2010/11/myspace-has-quartersnot-years-to-rebound-news-corp-exec-says/1) - but then I wasn't.

I was a bit surprised because in my mind I'd assumed that Myspace was a huge company and was successful doing what it was doing. I'd assumed that Myspace really focused on Millennials and Generation Xers that were primarily interested in having space and place to share music, videos, etc. Since I'm not a musician or artists, I wouldn't expect Myspace to market to me.

On the other hand, although I have a Myspace account, my use of it has become less and less as Facebook has come on the scene. I'm a pretty regular on my Facebok account and after thinking of why I am not as active any more on my Myspace - I developed a list (see below). As I looked at the list, I wondered what some churches could learn from this reality. I'm sure like Myspace, some churches are just doing all that they can to hold on...What are your thoughts?

I don't use my Myspace as much because:
1. It's HIGH MAINTENANCE!

For starters, you have to go through so much HTML code and other stuff just to get your page to look decent.

2. It's CUMBERSOME

Just to keep track of all of my friends, I've got to scroll through many, many pages, back click, and the list goes on and on. It's take sooo much work to make it work.

3. It's SLOW

Because of all the code, videos, music, images, and the like, myspace is really, really slow.

4. My friends are ELSEWHERE

If I'm going to interact on social networks, it's going to be with Twitter and Facebook. My "friends" are there more often and its less work for me to find them there than on Myspace.

5. It's NOT INTUITIVE

Facebook is so much more intuitive to me as a user versus Myspace which makes me work harder at looking at other friends pages, see who else we have in common, look at profiles, etc.

6. It's LESS EASIER ON THE EYES

When you look at a Myspace profile and a Facebook or Twitter profile, there is a HUGE difference on the eyes. You can almost become cross-eyed when you look at various Myspace pages.

These all may be trivial to some and a little redundant in some ways, but they are real enough to me to cause my activity on myspace to lessen. What can the church learn from this? My numbers below will correspond with the issue above.

1. (High Maintenance) Don't make worshipping God so High Maintenance. If people have to go through too much just to have a good time in church, they are less likely to have a good time.

2. (Cumbersome) If there's a To-Do List for everything and too many steps to make anything happen in church - too many hidden and unknown rules for outsiders, more than likely that'll be the only time that they visit the church. As a Youth Pastor, I hear this all of the time. Young people will tell me things like, they wanted to go to the restroom, but had to walk a certain way at a certain time. I hear stories that people have gone to church and been asked to move because they sat in a 'designated' persons' seat. Shouldn't the seat be marked reserved if its for a VIP?

3. (SLOW) If it takes a process for EVERYTHING...and the services (or events and programs) don't justs flow with ease, it'll kill momentum and the energy of the service. This is a BIG DEAL for people that aren't convinced yet whether church is worth it. Especially if they are comparing church services to their local concerts or sporting events or whatever else they may want to compare.

4. (FRIENDS ELSEWHERE). Well, honestly, if people come to church and their friends are elsewhere, initially there's nothing we can do about it. BUT - we can do a few other things. We can become their NEW friends by welcoming them without judging people AND we can treat people so grandly that they want to bring their friends too.

5. (INTUITIVE). Does it make sense? In the grocery stores, although the tissues are in the paper products isle, they put cough drops and sanitizer near them because it just makes sense. On the condiments isle that includes bar-b-que sauce and the like, you'll find grilling utensils...although the isle is not a silverware isle. BUT - it makes sense. Do things in your church make sense? Do people get up and walk around more than one time in the service? Why not combine those times? Are there central paths in which people can come in, fellowship, drop their kids off, etc. instead of one entrance for one thing, another entrance for another thing, etc. Is there a central information center where this one stop place has all of the information available for events and the like? Does the flow of your church culture make sense?

6. (EASY ON THE EYES) Is your church facility easy on the eyes? Disney, Chuck E. Cheese, and other places prove to us the importance of environment and imagination. Although both of these places primarily target younger audience, adults have to admit that they are pulled into the atmosphere as well. I think if we read the Old Testament as God gives clear and specific instructions on how to build the temple, we find that God values atmosphere as well. It needs to be easy on the eyes. Paint, lighting, walls, chairs, signage - all of it - is it easy on the eyes?

I believe this is a great lesson for churches and us on how to remain relevant so that we don't end up like Myspace - against the ropes, struggling to survive.

As always - Be inspired.

Smoozing And Networking

2010-11-01T21:37:00.000-04:00

I firmly believe that networking is a very important reality in our society.

Many businesses, services, relationships, and much progress in our world has taken place because people were networking. That's real.

Sometimes - I don't like it. Don't get me wrong, I love people. But in many cases and environments its been dealing with the 'fakeness' of networking that has turned me off.

As a leader, particularly in a place where we don't just represent our organizations and other people, but also represent the King of Kings himself (2 Cor. 5:20) - it is VERY important for us to be aware of how we approach the issue of networking.

This article helped me tremendously. I hope it helps you too!

http://www.bnet.com/blog/ceo/how-to-schmooze-your-way-to-business-success/5879

Christian Symbols - Part 2

2010-11-01T21:35:00.001-04:00

Hey Family!

I posted a blog last month about Christian Symbols (Click Here for Part 1).

At anyrate, this is the second part of the series on Christian Symbols.

I just thought it would be neat to make sure that we knew what we are looking at when we're sitting in sanctuaries or are visiting any Christian bookstores.

INRI

In John 19.19 we read that Pontius Pilate placed a sign above Jesus on the cross which read "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." It was written in Hebrew, Greek and Latin. The letters "I,N,R,I" are the first letters of the Latin words, "Jesus, Nazareth, King, Jews."

Trinity Symbol
The Triquetra was an early symbol of the Trinity (the three persons of the Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). The three equal arcs express eternity in their continuous form, and their center is a triangle, ancient Trinity symbol.

The Alpha & Omega
The Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Jesus calls Himself the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, four times in the Book of Revelation.

The Dove
The Dove expresses innocence and purity. It signifies the Holy Spirit and the presence of God as hovering over the water at Creation, and above Jesus at His baptism. The symbol will often include the three-rayed nimbus indicating divinity.

I am appreciative of this website for providing the information:

http://christianity.about.com/b/2008/08/01/christian-symbols-illustrated-glossary.htm
http://www.goodshepherdcollinsville.org/Biblestudy/christian_church_year.htm

Unchecked Information

2010-10-27T23:07:00.001-04:00

Without a debate, all of us agree that we are constantly overloaded with information, images, products, services, statistics, opinions, and on and on.

If you really want to get keen on how much information is floating around in our world and how many messages we process in an average day, become a parent.

Whew! Before I became a parent, there were many things that I simply was not "aware" of (read here, simply overlooked because I was old enough to decipher). BUT - now as a parent - I realize with much clarity that I am responsible for both: a) protecting my child from certain messages and information (until they are old enough to process it themselves...); and b) training them on how to detach a message and its meaning.

The more I've thought about all of this, the more I realize how much information we accept without checking whether its really 'true' or not or even how does it line up with God's Word.

Many teenagers will see something on television or something on Wikipedia and simply believe, "It must be true..." (I've been told this too many times to count.)

The list of examples is too long. What I'll do is simply give you this scripture and then simply encourage you to process EVERYTHING!

1 John 4: 1 (NIV) - "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."

It is our responsibility to discern. Discern literally means to be able to tell right from wrong or truths from lies.

I told some folks the other day, even your favorite preacher should have what they say checked. It's not an ungodly thing to check what the preacher says or what's in church. Actually, it's more unbiblical not to check the information you here. When you start checking everything, it'll make you wiser if you're using it to draw you closer to God (see Acts 17:11)

I hope you don't have any unchecked information stored in the files of your mind. That unfiltered and uninspected seed may give you a harvest you don't want in the future.

Topics Preachers Shouldn't Cover

2010-10-27T18:23:00.000-04:00

The other day I got into a conversation with someone about random topics and points of discussion.

The conversation took a quick turn on one particular topic and their response to me was, "There's some things preachers shouldn't talk about..."

This got me to thinking - are there topics that preachers shouldn't cover?

I'm really curious about this...what's your take?

That's Quotable!

2010-10-22T12:04:00.002-04:00

Saw a posting on Twitter this morning from Bishop Andre Jackson. I loved it and wanted to pass it on...

"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity. We have a moral obligation to be intelligent." MLK

WOW! - That's quotable.

P.S. - If you have others, please feel free to pass on to me or post in comment section.

Helping A Friend In Mississippi

2010-10-22T11:54:00.000-04:00

Hey Family -

A friend of mine in Mississippi is working on a major project that you can help with. It's Free and would take about 2 1/2 minutes of your time. Help him out...see below. (Thanks in advance!)

___________________________________________

This coming Saturday, the 23rd of October is Homecoming for Mississippi State University. My company has been granted permission to advertise my song and video of “Bulldawg Nation” that I wrote, created and produced on the Jumbotron in front of 60,000 plus fans during the game. The two main goals for advertising on the Jumbotron is to: (1) Sell my ringtone versions of the songs to avid MSU Bulldawg fans. (2) Measure the volume of customer’s texting the coded number to purchase the ringtones.

I am asking for individuals to participate in helping to increase the volume of responses by texting tone66856 from their cellphone. There is no cost or occurred charges for participating in this test measurement for my company. The test measurements will strengthen my company opportunities for future contracts with major Universities and Professional Sports franchises.

I am asking every pereson who is willing to participate to please do so by 12:00 Midnight, Sunday, October 24, 2010.

My Election Time Routine

2010-10-19T12:43:00.000-04:00

My Election Time Routine
Hey Family –

As you’re aware, election time is rolling around. I want to strongly encourage you to do research on the candidates, pray about your choices, and then go VOTE!
I have NEVER voted along party lines. Never! I don’t think I ever will. Many of my friends call me a nerd because I literally take the time to consider each candidate – their experiences, platform, website, etc. I think its important. I think its biblical. I think its vital to our present realities and future conditions.
So – quite simply – Go vote!
P.S. – If you live in Guilford County (NC), here’s a link to the sample ballot. Go check out the candidates’ websites, facebook pages, twitter accounts, the whole nine!

http://www.co.guilford.nc.us/elections_cms/docs/Misc%20Documents/CompositeBallot10.pdf

Getting the Truth in Feedback - Almost

2010-10-19T12:36:00.000-04:00

I just read a great post for leaders from Aspire Leadership Solutions about how to consistently get great feeback from those you're serving.

Sometimes honest feedback stings and it hurts. But I believe and have learned not only is it needed, it is essential!

http://www.aspire-cs.com/feedback-the-whole-truth-almost

Suffering In Silence

2010-10-17T17:01:00.001-04:00

I have been amazed this week at the folks that I have had an opportunity to come across. What’s been interesting is that these folks were facing pretty tough stuff. Not anything that was beyond repair or even at the end of their rope type stuff. Just life. Tough stuff! Job loss, money issues, long-term career issues, health warning signs, and the like. Tough stuff. Not beyond repair. But tough.

Not to minimize what they were facing – I’m sure emotionally and financially – it probably felt like they were at the end of their rope. But the reality is – God is still at work. The devil wanted them to see their situation as worse than it was. Don’t let the devil do that to you. It’s not as bad as you think. There’s always something that you can find to be thankful for. You may have to look at the situation from the roof to see it – but find it! When you find those things to be grateful for, it’ll help you keep fighting. It’ll help you not give up!

One of the people I talked with was unemployed and wasn’t going to start work for another few weeks. They got depressed that they weren’t going to start work immediately. But guess what? They’ve got enough to be thankful for now. “God I thank you that I’ve got something to look forward to! And God even though I’m not starting immediately, I know you’re going to take care of me until I get that first check! God – I thank you!” There’s always something to say thank you for.

I’m not saying that to sound too spiritual or deep – but sometimes we have to take a step back and look at the reality of our situation. Being realistic helps us develop a strategy to move forward. Yes – I said it – move forward! That is – get your bottom up and keep moving forward. You can’t die here – you’re too close!
Obviously, if our predicament was established over a period of time, its going to take a period of time to get everything back on track.
But in these situations – the other most glaring reality was that satan tried to make these folks suffer in silence. They faced unemployment, accumulating bills, employment rejections, denials, creditors calling. But guess what? They weren’t alone.

In all of these cases, they have family and friends that didn’t know what they were really facing. In some cases, their pride kept them from being honest with close loved ones. In other cases, they minimized the reality because they didn’t want the loved ones to worry. They didn’t reach out until they felt backed into a corner.
I believe God blesses us with people (family, friends, and even strangers) to help us navigate certain seasons of my life. (Side Note: Thank you to that lady who was at the gas station back in 1998 that gave me gas money on my way to a job interview and my card declined!) What’s my point? Keep ya head up! It’s going to get better!!! Don’t suffer in silence. Ask God to show you who are your advocates, bridge builders, sponsors, support(ers), and believers. You’ve got plenty of them. You just need to connect with them. Keep fighting. Stay strong.

I’m not preaching – just inspiring! Keep ya head up.

18 Myths Singles Believe…

2010-10-16T17:46:00.001-04:00

The other day I read a blog from Perry Noble that I was saying Amen to the whole time I was reading it. I couldn't pass up posting it here.

18 Myths Singles Believe…

#1 – Being miserable is the result of being single…getting married will solve all my problems.

#2 – I’ve messed up in my past and do not deserve anyone good. (See I Corinthians 6:9-11, especially focus on verse 11! Read whole thing!!!) (read here)

#3 – Ephesians 3:20 isn’t true for me and my future spouse…I need to settle. (read Eph. 3: 20 here)

#4 – This relationship that I am in isn’t what I would like my marriage to be like..but when we get married I can change this person.

#5 – Having sex will simplify things and cause the person I am dating and myself to have so much more in common. (See I Corinthians 6:18-20 here )

#6 – This person is not God’s best for me…but if I rush through the process of dating and getting married then I have God backed into a corner and He has to bless me because He loves me, right? (See Deuteronomy 6:16 here )

#7 – Marriage isn’t that big of a deal…if my first one does not work out then I can drop them and start over. (See Malachi 2:13-16 here)

#8 – Getting married isn’t going to alter my lifestyle…I am still going to be able to live like I did when I was single, the only difference is I’m going to get to have more sex.

#9 – I am going to get to have sex anytime I want.

#10 – We are going to cuddle all of the time.

#11 – The things that really get all over my nerves about this person won’t bother me as much when we get married.

#12 – The fact that we do not agree on what we believe when it comes to Jesus and the church will not impact the way we raise our kids. (See II Corinthians 6:14 here and Amos 3:3 here )

#13 – We should live together before we get married to give it a “trial run,” after all, you would not buy a car without test driving it first. (See Hebrews 13:4 here )

#14 – I need to keep as many secrets about my past from this person as possible; after all, my past issues won’t impact this relationship at all.

#15 – All of my friends are married…I am not…something is obviously wrong with me.

#16 – The way I handle my money now will not impact my future marriage.

#17 – When I get married my spouse will meet all of my needs.

#18 – Dating is tough…marriage is easy!

Source: http://www.perrynoble.com/2010/10/14/18-myths-singles-believe-and-a-quick-note-about-sunday/

Scriptures On Social Media

2010-10-07T18:52:00.000-04:00

Recently Tom Challies posted a blog about what the Bible says about social media.

I thought it was cute, so I figured I'd share. Enjoy!

There are many who doubt or downplay the relevance of the Old Testament to our times. Those people have probably never taken the time to read the book of Proverbs. I read from Proverbs almost every day and I am continually amazed at just how relevant this book is. It seems that wisdom is timeless. The lessons David taught Solomon speak to myself and my children as much as they did to the men and women of ancient Israel. The wisdom of God given to Solomon continues to ring loud and clear in my heart.

If Solomon were alive today and we were to ask him how we are to relate to one another in this digital world, if we were to ask him how we can honor God in our use of all these social media available to us today, here is how he might respond.

Count to ten before posting, sharing, sending, submitting. “Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him (29:20).” How many arguments could be avoided and how many relationships saved if people were only a little less hasty with their words? Before posting an article or before replying to a Facebook status, it is always (always!) a good idea to re-read what you have written and consider if your words accurately express your feelings and if expressing such feelings is necessary and edifying. And while I’m on the topic, a spell-check doesn’t hurt either.

Leave the fool to his folly. “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself (26:4).” There are times when it is best to leave a foolish person to his own devices rather than to try to change him. Sometimes it is best just to leave him alone rather than providing him more ammunition to work with. This means that it may be best to ignore the troll, to leave a rebuke unanswered, than to bait him and to suffer his wrath.

Expose folly. “Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes (26:5).” Here it is—undeniable proof that the Bible contradicts itself! Are we to answer a fool according to his folly or not? Evidently this “contradiction” is deliberate and is in the Bible to show that there is no absolute law in this situation. There are times when folly must be exposed, either if the fool is one you believe is honestly seeking after wisdom, or if his folly will damage others. If a fool is impacting others, drawing them into his foolishness, he must be exposed for the sake of the church’s health.

Know when to walk away. “If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet (29:9).” There are times when you need to walk away instead of carrying on an argument. Foolish people have no real desire to learn or to be wise. Instead, they only seek opportunities to loudly proclaim the folly. Walk away so you can have peace. Shut down, log off, erase—do what you need to.

Be careful what you read. “Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool (26:8).” Be careful whose words you read and whose wisdom you trust. Foolish men may seem wise, but they will still lead others astray. If you give honor to a foolish man by reading and soaking in his words, you are as foolish as a person who binds his stone in a sling, rendering the sling useless and leaving himself defenseless.

Avoid the gossiper. “The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body (29:22).” There are many web sites, blogs and Twitter accounts dedicated almost entirely to gossip, to sharing what is dishonorable rather than what is noble. Avoid these people and their gossip!

Be humble. “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger and not your own lips (27:2).” “One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor (29:23).” Let others praise you. If you never receive praise from anyone, especially from those who are wise, it may be a good time to examine your heart and examine if you are walking in the ways of wisdom. Those who are humble and lowly in spirit will receive honor while the arrogant will be brought low.

Mind your own business. “Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears (26:17).” If you have ever grabbed a dog by the ears you know it will inevitably bring trouble. Grabbing a strange dog by the ears will bring even more trouble. Stay out of other people’s fights rather than wading into them as if they are your own. There may be times to wade into a theological dispute or to try to mediate a disagreement in the blogosphere, but wisdom would usually tell you to mind your own business.

Don’t be a troublemaker. “Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling (26:27).” Those who exist only to bring trouble to others will pay a price. And unfortunately, on the Internet there are many of these people. Don’t be one!

Examine why you write. “A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are alike (27:14).” The proverb speaks of a quarrelsome wife, but it could as easily apply to anyone. If you are writing merely to be quarrelsome or because you enjoy an argument, perhaps it is best to find something else to do. “As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.” Do not be the kind of person who kindles strife for his own enjoyment.

Be careful what you teach. “Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way will fall into his own pit, and the blameless will have a godly inheritance (28:10).” Those who choose to teach others accept a grave responsibility; if they mislead others, they must expect that there will be consequences. Be careful what you teach, what you share, what beliefs you express. Remember that your words are public and that they may remain available forever.

Walk with the Lord. “Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered (28:26).” And here is the key to everything else. Trust in the Lord rather than in yourself. Walk with the Lord and in the ways of wisdom taught in the pages of the Bible. Be a wise man or woman of the Word, rather than a fool who trusts in his own wisdom (or lack thereof). Arm yourself with spiritual maturity, with true wisdom, before venturing into the world of social media.

Source: http://www.challies.com/christian-living/solomon-on-social-media?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+challies%2FXhEt+%28Challies+Dot+Com%29

Sometimes You've Got to Reboot

2010-09-28T09:52:00.001-04:00

The other morning I got ready to get into my "rhythm" for the day. I opened my laptop, plugged my phone into the charger, got my music going, got my notepads, books of choice, and a cup of hot chocolate (I don't do the hot chocolate often, just had a taste for it that day...).

Nonetheless, my computer froze, my phone powered off, my music started skipping, I had 1 sheet left on my notepad, I left my book(s) in another location, and my hot chocolate wasn't so hot.

Hmph! At that moment - I was like wow...how in the world can all of this happen at one time simultaneously within moments. Humorously, I had one of those moments where I thought about doing a rewind and going back, get in the bed, and starting all over again.

I didn't go back and get into the bed, but I did reboot my day and I started all over again. Literally!

I turned everything off and started talking to God as though I'd just opened my eyes. I cleared my head and I started all over again.

Sometimes you have to do that. Does your life, day, relationship, mind need a reboot? Sometimes you need to do a soft reboot and sometimes you need a hart reboot. It won't hurt you. It'll help more than you think! Enjoy your day!

Christian Symbols - Part 1

2010-09-27T11:18:00.000-04:00

Hey All -

I've always been a bit inquisitive. Have you ever noticed certain symbols that the church, church members, and other spiritual groups use regularly? Most of them stand out in my mind.

As a matter of fact, I can't really recall having an explanation of what these things mean. So I figured it would be fun to do some (minor) research just to see what some of these symbols meant.

I'll start with that funny fish symbol on some many Bibles, Christian bookstores, jewelry pieces, and many other places.

I found an explanation on line that after further research confirmed that it was a great explanation. The link is below from Mike Wendland.
Enjoy!

http://mikewendland.com/2010/02/05/whats-with-the-christian-fish-symbol/

Took Notice Of 24 Hour Preaching Event

2010-09-24T12:32:00.000-04:00

Hey Family -

Yesterday I had an opportunity to view a few moments of Pastor Steve Furtick's 24 Hours of preaching event (as he launched his new book, Sun Stand Still).(Click here for his website)

Among other things, I was particularly interested because I too have stretched myself by having 24 Hour consecrations/prayer events.

No doubt - it stretches you. I had no clue about how much it stretches you until I did it. It literally takes every ounce of spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical strength that you can muster of. Particularly the time slots after what I call the convenient hours when people are with you. When the crowd thins out and you're half-way there, you simply want to throw in the towel and say, "God would understand..." But nonetheless, I'm glad I did.

I commend Pastor Furtick for his willingness to be publicly daring in attempting this. For the portions that I saw, he was very forthright as well in sharing how much he was being stretched.

I also commend him for simly - doing something different. Most people send a few emails and press releases to announce their book and then after the initial launch are forced to create a new strategy because of poor results from the initial launch. Not this Pastor. Based on his blog, he said he didn't want to just sit all day watching the results come in, he wanted to do something different. Good for him.

Although I didn't get to hear every message, the portions that I caught were solid messages that would inspire any believer at any spiritual level.

I was able to get the notes from his staff from their blog. I wanted to share with them you.

Of course - I haven't read the book yet, but if you're in the business of trying to trying to support new authors, it may not hurt to check him out.

Hours 1-4
- Revelation brings isolation. Sometimes no one is going to fully understand what God is doing inside of you.

- Too many times we ask God “why me” instead of asking him to teach us from our situation.

- Sometimes when God makes a miracle, He makes a mess.

- Stop trying to have all the answers before launching out in faith.

- Quit asking for guidance and start asking for God to be your Guide.

- Serving God is not a playground, but a battleground.

- God has to do something in you before he can do something through you.

- When God cuts something out of your life, it’s because he wants to bring in something better.
- Answer all of the devil’s “what ifs” with a “so what.”
- Pleasing religious people isn’t something God is going to hold me to at the end of my life.
- Perry Noble: “If your not doing what God called you to do right now, your wasting your life.”
- What do you do when you have limited input, but big dreams? You have audacious faith in your limited area of responsibility.
- Stop waiting for what you want. Work what you’ve got.
- Mentors can become a warp zone that can take you more quickly to whole new level with God.

Hours 5-8
- If you’re going to walk in audacious faith, go ahead and get used to the feeling of “I don’t have enough.”
- A lot of our prayers revolve around trying to get the problem to go away rather than having God come into it and perform a miracle.
- God will always position you before he pours out his provision on you.
- God says that, “Until I’m all that you have, you’ll never know that I’m all that you need.”
- God sometimes lets us come to the end of ourselves so that we can come to the beginning of God’s provision in our lives.
- There is such a thing as unanswered prayers. But there’s no such thing as wasted faith.
- Prayer is your highest appeal, not your last resort.

Hours 9-12
- Most Christians die like Moses on the wrong side of the promise God has given them.
- Dreams die in three places: the beginning, middle, and end.
- Most dreams die in the womb of small beginnings.
- Wanna see a dream die? Send it to a church committee.
- A lot of people choose to stay miserable simply because it’s familiar.
- The resistance is often fiercest on the borderline of the breakthrough.
- Actually, every word of “Where Dreams Die” was a highlight.
- Jesus did not come to fix systems. He came to subvert them with the gospel.
- Too many people confuse supernatural miracles with magic tricks.
- The impossible prayer God wants you to pray will always come with a specific instruction he wants you to obey.
- Nothing you’ve ever done is so repulsive that God can’t redeem your potential & love you through it.
- Fasting isn’t so much deprivation as it is dependence.
- You know God’s will by doing God’s will.
- Any step towards self-sufficiency is a step away from the Savior.
- Audacious faith isn’t the absence of fear and ambiguity. It eclipses it one small step at a time.
- Sometimes when you’re the closest to Jesus, you feel the greatest fear.
- God only asks you to have faith for the first step.
- We’re not interested in looking good, we only want Jesus seen & glorified through our lives.

Hours 13-16
- What is the brokenness in the world that produces a brokenness inside of me?
- Maybe the reason no one else is doing something is that God has reserved it for you to do.
- I believe God puts you exactly where you need to be to do exactly what he wants you to do.
- Make your profession your pulpit.
- Faith is not a drug to sedate us through a life that we hate. It’s a force that transports us to another realm of reality.
- Faith is governed by laws and principles. But it can’t be condensed into a magical formula.
- Faith not only prays, it pursues.
- A lot of times we confuse disappointed hopes with broken faith.
- I was going to say tomorrow morning, but it’s this morning, since we’re already in the future.
- All God needs is all you’ve got.
- There will never be a shortage in God’s supply. There will only be a shortage in your capacity to believe Him.
- Dress up for the place you’re going instead of dressing down for where you are.
- What we see as a setback is usually just a setup for God to show his glory in our lives.

Hours 17-18
- God does not define our lives by our feelings in any given moment. He is so gracious that he understands that there are going to be times where we don’t believe Him.
- You don’t have to believe God perfect faith; just childlike faith.
- God did not define Abraham by his lowest moment. He defined him by his high calling.
- God does not define your life by what you just did, but who Jesus is in you.

Conference Planning Food For Thought

2010-09-21T10:00:00.000-04:00

Hey Family -

I read this survey this morning and wanted to pass along to you. This gives us something to think about...a little food for thought...

Source: Event Industry Thoughts

10 Things Conference Attendees Hate

1. Waiting In Line
2. Jam-packed schedules
3. Powerpoint
4. Being talked at by speakers
5. Bad food
6. Misspelled name badges
7. Bad signage
8. Poor email marketing
9. Websites with no contact information
10. Having to pay for Wi-Fi

Free College Application Fee Waivers - North Carolinians

2010-09-20T23:35:00.001-04:00

College Application Week 2010
___________________________

Application Fees and Fee Waivers

Waiver of Application Fee

During North Carolina College Application Week from November 15-19, 2010, the following North Carolina colleges and universities will waive the application fee for students applying online through CFNC.org (go here):

All 58 NC Community Colleges

Application Fee Waivers Based on Financial Need

Waivers of admission application fees for students with a demonstrated financial need and for whom an application fee would create an undue burden are provided at all of the 36 private colleges and universities as well as all of the 16 University of North Carolina system campuses. Please note that NC A&T State University and Elizabeth City State University will accept these fee waivers only during College Application Week.

Application fee waivers due to financial hardship are provided to ensure that no student is deprived of the opportunity to pursue admission to the institution(s) of their choice. Application fee waivers must be authorized by high school counselors through the College Board fee waiver program, if available, or otherwise by high school certification on school letterhead stationery.

Students who are eligible for fee waivers for the standard college entrance tests are usually eligible for application fee waivers as well. Encourage students to talk with their school counselor well in advance of College Application Week to discuss need and availability. The school counselor will complete the fee waiver form which should be mailed in with the college application (if hard copy) or confirmation page (if application was submitted online). Only high school counselors can request fee waivers directly from the College Board, students cannot request these.

College Board Fee Waivers

Counselors should have received “Request for Waiver of College Application Fee" forms as part of the SAT Program fee-waiver materials shipped to you in the summer, and you can distribute these to your students as necessary. If you need to request additional forms, call the Counselor Helpline at (888) SAT-HELP (888-728-4357). For more information on the College Board Fee Waiver program, please visit:

http://professionals.collegeboard.com/guidance/applications/fee-waivers.

I Trust God and My Mouth Does Too

2010-09-20T12:37:00.000-04:00

This morning I was reading a scripture that I’ve read many times before. But many of you know how it is when a scripture you’ve read before actually graps you this time. It gives you one of those Selah moments.

Nonetheless, God had my attention as I read Job 42: 1-3 (NIV), “1 Then Job replied to the LORD: 2 "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. 3 [You asked,] 'Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?' Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.”

I guess the part that really got me was in Verse 3, “Surely I spoke of things I did not understand…”
You know, there’s a lot that we don’t know and if you’re like me, sometimes you’d like to know. I started thinking about how many people are looking for a “word” today. They’re hungry for something that’s missing, something that they didn’t know before. People are hungry to go to the next level (and all of those other phrases that we commonly hear…). But you know what? There are some things we just don’t need to know.

As a father, I appreciate that I’m old enough to know some things that my children don’t know. It keeps them innocent. It keeps them a little dependent on me. It keeps them from growing up too fast.

I’m resolving to approach some things differently today. I realize that many times in my quest to know more, sometimes I’m asking for things that may be “too wonderful for me to know…” If I knew it all – I’d be God. Clearly, I don’t want to be God. I don’t want the stuff that comes with that either!!! Neither should you.
When something happens that we don’t understand, maybe that’s ok sometimes. When our timeline gets interrupted, maybe that’s okay. When something happens that we can’t explain in a sequential way or in a logical pattern, that doesn’t explain God away – for me it explains that I’m not God and that He is God. I’m ok with that. As a matter of fact, when I spot check the word, not knowing it all gives me a level of rejoicing because it means that He’s in control and I’m not. Wow – that’s good news!!!!

One last thing, Job had gotten a mindset that maybe I’ve even spoken about things that I don’t even have a clue about. (I may not have used the right theological presuppositions here, but you get my point…) So – not only am I going to resolve that some things I don’t need to be able to explain, I’m also going to watch how quickly I start speaking about things.
Have you ever noticed how quickly we talk when someone dies? (Like they know the real reasons God has allowed a person to die…) Have you ever noticed how quickly we talk when a couple divorces? (like they lived with them…) Have you ever noticed how quickly we talk when someone gets fired, or when people get sick, or when something ‘negative’ happens? Like we’re God and we have the answers to it all. I’m ok with God knowing and me not knowing. How about you? I Trust God…and am going to make my mouth trust God.

Why Leaders (Don't/Won't) Apologize

2010-09-13T20:43:00.001-04:00

This past weekend I had regular set of conference calls with many of my leadership teams throughout Full Gospel. I look forward to these regular calls because it really gives us an opportunity to connect with one another. Of the dozens of leaders on these calls, very few are in the same state. We are literally from one coast to the next.

But, to me, particularly, this call was great. I had an opportunity to do something that I really didn’t have to do. I believe that I made a mistake during our International Conference this past July that I needed to apologize for. Not necessarily for doing the wrong thing, but not at least doing the MOST wisest thing.

I’ve learned (and still learning) that many times leadership is not always about doing what’s right, but doing what’s wise.
Nonetheless, I wanted to challenge you. If you’re a leader of any group of any size, never be afraid to be clear and honest about a leadership mistake and then use it to create conversation about the reality of your organization, the environment of the organization, and the future direction of it. Your ability to apologize will greatly influence your momentum moving forward.

I don’t know the thoughts of all of my leaders from the past weekend’s call, but I do know this. They have a leader that’s not afraid to apologize for missing it sometimes.

I enjoyed reading Perry Noble’s post on why leaders are afraid to apologize (Here). Enjoy!

Temptations That Singles Face

2010-09-12T22:46:00.001-04:00

I recently read a post by Perry Noble about the Temptations that Singles Face.

I wholeheartedly concur with his comments. I'd like to add a few of my own.

Read his here (Original Article)

The ones that I would add include:
1. Never stopping to consider their own uniqueness. If a person is really not clear on who they are, it will definitely be confusing when there are two people trying to figure each other out.

2. Having a passe' relationship with God. I've seen many singles get close enough to God just to get a date that is a "Christian". If either person is not a serious believer, it'll cause major issues in the long run.

3. Getting the wrong opinions. Its amazing to me how quickly singles are to get the opinions of their other single friends to get an opinion and never stop to first consider God's opinion.

Which one's would you add?

After The Sermon Blues

2010-09-05T21:04:00.001-04:00

If you're a preacher and you've preached more than 2 sermons - you've at some point experienced that 'lull' and emotional valley that sometimes happens after your preach a sermon. A few days ago a few preacher friends of mine had conversation about this. I was further inspired to write about it.

While most people are ready to eat after a church service, there are many preachers across the country that immediately begin to mentally evaluate 'how was the message?'. This mental sparring match that goes on sometimes is quick and painless. And yet other times, it can last for days and be physically and emotionally (and spiritually) draining!

I haven't met a preacher yet, including myself, that at some point after you've preached a message - you're faced with all kinds of emotions, thoughts, and physical 'reactions' to what can happen to people that live in a physical body that wage war in the spirit.

That last point gives us a clue about one aspect of this. Preaching done right, is without a doubt, spiritual warfare. Preaching ought to be - in whatever delivery style- solid teaching of God's Word. When God's Word is taught, people that receive it are able to be empowered, encouraged, and life transformation genuinely happens.

If this is the result of good preaching (teaching) - you better believe that satan does not enjoy it one bit.

I know that every preacher has their own rhymthm and "mojo" when it comes to preaching and what they do after preaching, but I've spoken to enough people in the past few weeks that I wanted to offer some real simple and practical things that I do many times after I preach.

Much of what I do, I've learned by observing some keys things in 1 Kings 17, 18, and 19 after Elijah accomplished some great things for God.

1. I rest! - Simply put, your body needs some time and space to recharge. I made an observation a few years ago that I sometimes have to repeatedly remind myself of. I've even had some to disagree with me, but up until this point...I've found it to be true that: "You can never be spiritual strong when you're physically weak!" This rest may not only include sleep, but sometimes it includes having my attention diverted to non-ministry things. Sometimes this includes settling in to a good movie that has nothing to do with church, sometimes it means playing with my kids, sometimes its picking up a good book. Whatever it is, it should recharge your batteries. (I thank God for a wife that on many Sunday afternoons gives me space to do this!)

2. I eat! - I believe this is a part of the recharging process. I'm no scientists, but I've read scores of research and I know that its been documented on the physical 'workout' that ensues when one preaches. I don't want to quote anything specific, but I can only imagine the calories that are burned in a 30-40 minute sermon. A good healthy, balanced meal helps replenish the energy thats released (Notice I said a good, balanced healthy meal).

3. I reflect! - Normally, we preachers can be our own worst critics. There ARE times that we BOMB a message. No doubt! I'm not sugar-coating it or trying to make it sound good. Sometimes we drop the ball. But there are many times that its not as bad as we imagined. The key here is to be honest and forthright. Sometimes, you've got to simply say to yourself - you'll have another opportunity. Not only that (I'm not trying to be too spiritual here), you've got to remember that you're only human, and yet preaching is a spiritual act of worship that must be submitted to God. Which means, there are some results from your message that only God can bring.

4. I Listen! It never, ever hurts you to have people around you that will tell you the truth! I know many preachers who have surrounded themselves with "Yes" people who only rubber stamp anything that they do. This isn't healthy in the least bit. I think its more healthy for you to have a few people around you who won't disrespect you, but be willing to tell you the truth. Most of this process requires you to empower people to do that. Sometimes this can be family, sometimes it can be friends, and sometimes it can be parishioners. Whoever it is - make sure they are mature enough - to handle giving positive feedback without having a critical spirit (there's a difference).

I believe if you employ these aspects for your sermon delivery. It will enable you to further develop your ministry gift and empower you to be further submitted to God. After all, its His gift anyway.

P.S. - If you're not a preacher and you're reading this, instead of running so fast on Sundays to get to the chicken, sometimes take a minute and encourage your preacher. Many times, a honest moment of feedback, will go a long with to you getting a better message in the future. (Honest feedback isn't always a one-liner. Tell them how you've applied the Word to your life!)

What Millennials Want in Leaders

2010-09-02T13:50:00.001-04:00

Thom Rainer (President/CEO of Lifeway Christian Resources), recently wrote a blog discussing some research that they've conducted about Millenials. That is those born between 1980 - 2000.

This is the age group that includes those that will be (if not already) the CEOs, Senior Pastors, Entreprenuers, and other major decisions makers within the next 5-10 years. They have already begun starting families, completed (or in the final stages) of getting terminal and advanced degrees, have some years of practical experience under their belt, have created (and still currently) strategic relationships and the like.

I believe that whether or not you agree with Thom's research, it ought to at least create conversation about how you're formulating strategy to have them involved in your businesses, ministries, organizations, groups, neighborhoods, etc. Without a doubt, they are here now! Wait a minute...I'm here now! Smile...

Enjoy the article here (http://www.thomrainer.com/2010/08/what-millennials-want-in-leaders.php).

Here's another interesting article about Millenials (it defines the year of birth a little diferently than Rainer's research). http://likeiknowit.wordpress.com/2008/06/30/millennials/

The Success (or failure) of Faith-based Movies

2010-09-01T18:32:00.001-04:00

I read this article by World Magazine's Megan Basham as she reviews the movie, Letters from God.

Although I didn't see the movie yet, I really was jolted to serious thinking by her comments.

Look at them here (http://www.worldmag.com/articles/16618).

What do you think?

How To Get Along With Your Enemy

2010-09-01T13:38:00.005-04:00

Hey Family!

Today has been a great day of reading. I read another awesome post today. It was titled, "How To Get Along With Your Enemy" (see link below)

Interestingly, I am always intriqued in watching people who have turned their lives over to Christ respond to various realities of their work environment. Without a doubt, how we respond to situations in our workplace speaks volumes about our character, integrity, and most of all, MATURITY!

When I listen to people vent about their bosses (and yes, there are some nasty bosses out there), complain about their co-workers and colleagues, express frustration at policies and the direction of the organization - it really reveals how much of the Word Of God is active in their lives.

Many of the challenges that we experience on our jobs I believe are God's way of not testing us, but revealing our true character to Him - and to us! If indeed we are living to become transformed into His Image and reflect His glory, our character must match that. Yes, it is a process! Without a doubt, but in the meantime, we've got to be intentional about that fact that there are some areas of our lives that don't reflect Him properly.

As you grow in your relationship with God, you may find out that people you've classified as an enemy is not really an enemy. You may find out that people that you have deemed a 'hater' may in fact be someone that you don't fully understand yet. You may find out you really have a lot more to learn...about yourself AND them.

Nonetheless, I hope this article will be encouraging to you. There's some HARD questions at the end of this blog as well.

http://www.northforkcsl.org/?p=1148

VERY Hard Questions:
How do you respond to your enemies?
How do you respond to things at work?
Would people be surprised by your behavior at work to see you active in your church?
Does your 9-5 behavior closely align with the principles of Jesus' teaching?
What areas of your private life has God revealed to you need work so that you can reflect His Image?
What areas of your life do you really need to mature in?

Elephants In The Church

2010-09-01T10:40:00.001-04:00

Hey Family -

I wanted to simply share with you a post that I read recently that was really good by Milan Ford, who works with Streaming Faith.

It will challenge you to sit and think for a moment.

After you read the article, there are a few questions I want you to consider:

http://thepewview.com/wordpress/elephant-in-the-church/

Questions To Consider:
Why do we choose to ignore the elephants in the room?
Why is it so hard to face them?
By ignoring them, what usually happens?

I want to encourage you to make a list of your elephants and then create a plan for how you're going to deal with them. It'll be better...in the long-run!

Be Inspired!

Your Doctor's Faith

2010-08-29T18:59:00.000-04:00

The other day I had an appointment in this office. As usual, many people were waiting. Some were on their cell phones, others were reading, doing Soduko, and other things. I generally have something to read with me while I'm waiting, but I also try to take a look at the magazines on the table (if they're current - smile!). This keeps me abreast of what's going on in the world of magazines (without having to purchase every subscription that exists). But it also allows me to read some magazines that I may otherwise never read.

Nonetheless, after reading a series of random articles (without me trying to help you connect all of the dots that connected my thoughts together), I arrived at the question of whether or not while searching for a doctor of any sort - "If I'd ever asked what their faith was."

Now that's interesting because we've been trained to check out their credentials, their practice history length, check references, look at their certifications and board memberships...but I'm honestly wondering if I'd ever really asked what their faith beliefs were.

Does it matter? I believe it does.

What happens if you get a doctor who is an atheists and has to make a recommendation about my care that will affect the quality of life for me?
What happens if I get a doctor who believes in reincarnation and they've got to make a recommendation about a prescription that could offer me a new lease on life?
What happens if a doctor, who doesn't believe in prayer or its effects, wants me to make a decision that I share with them that I've got to pray about it first?

There are so many questions that are opened up here. Like, does the medical code of ethics even deal with the faith of the physician? Hmmmm....

Needless to say, I'm going now to do some research on the faith beliefs/history of my physicians. I'm not saying that I'm about to switch every physician (general practice, family, pediatrician, dental, eye, etc.) that I have - but I at least need to know.

What are your thoughts?

Holy Discontent!

2010-08-23T12:58:00.001-04:00

Hey Family –

I just recently finished reading an awesome book by Bill Hybels. Holy Discontent (click here for book) is a quick read yet offers a very powerful and simple way to focus your life and your passions. I don’t want to give away the whole book, but I wanted to provide you with a few points that stood out as I read through it. Although most of the points are pretty clear, some of the points may be vague without reading the book. I’d have to almost copy the entire chapter for you to understand it. Sorry! I’d highly recommend you get this book (click here).

• There must be ‘something’ that connects your priorities to the priorities of God
• What wrecks the heart of someone who loves God is often the very thing God wants to use to fire them up to do something that, under normal circumstances, they would never attempt to do
• We can join God in making what is wrong in the world right!
• God is consumed 24-7 with restoration
• What can’t you stand?
• Are you mad enough about something to get into solution mode?
• There is no faster track to your soul finding satisfaction than on the path of servanthood
• I got new insight on Ephesians 2:10
• Cultivate your souls’ soil
• Loosen the grip of self-centeredness
• Never insulate yourself from what wrecks you
• Enlarge your world regularly
• When was the last time you look at the world and said, “this isn’t acceptable” (Eleanor Josaitis)
• Anything worth pursuing is going to require great risk
• There’s a difference between normal state and fundamental state
• We can finish differently than we started

If you want to find out more books that I recommend, click here (More Books). Happy Reading!

What I Learned This Year - Part 2

2010-08-19T08:07:00.001-04:00

What have I learned this year - Part 2? (See Part 1 here)

Well – today – God has given me the grace to experience another year of life and living. I am grateful beyond description.

For the past few years, I’ve made it a point to challenge those in our ministry and those I have contact with to discover what they’ve really learned in the past year. So I figured since I’ve challenged them in that area, I should follow suit with my own question. So last year on August 19th, I started a running list of things that would stand out as Selah moments in my year. The list is not in any particular order, nor is it a priority format. Some of the things on the list were confirmations of what I knew already, some of them are things that I hadn’t thought of before and some of them are literally God inspired.

My list is not some deep list and some of them you may wonder why they are on my list. I don’t really have an answer to that, other than, it’s my list and these things stood out to me. I’m very honest on this list, so I hope it doesn’t challenge your theology. Lastly, I didn’t start the year with any number in mind, I just documented those Ah Ha moments. So if it’s too long, I don’t apologize. I wrote them down in hopes that they would be a blessing to someone at some point. I hope they are to you.

Because of the length of the list, I’ll break this post into two parts. You can see Part 1 here. I hope that helps in your reading. Finally – enjoy!

You can see Part 1 here.

Here's Part 2 of the list:

31. Relationships where people need you is dangerous. Its better when they simply want you. If they need you, they may rape (figuratively or literally) you.
32. Preaching all over the country is a privilege and opportunity, not an entitlement.
33. My wife really loves me, is amazed and grateful for my anointing, and yet is realistic about my human-ness.
34. I’ve been blessed with some great friends.
35. There’s something innately wrong with people that are busy ALL THE TIME!
36. The people that God has entrusted in your care value your opinion when you’ve honored them appropriately.
37. Death of saints should really be celebrated not tolerated.
38. (Unfortunately I found this out…) Very important people/leaders pass gas at very inopportune times.
39. Most people are under-Pastored
40. Most people want to do better and be better
41. Many people in the church world are clueless about who God really is (heck, I’m still learning more myself…).
42. Marriage is hard work that is totally fulfilling and worth it!
43. A good leader shouldn’t have to make every decision in an organization. If they do, they are a weak leader.
44. It is totally fun to sit in the airport and watch people. Wow --- I’m laughing now.
45. Racism is a real issue in our world
46. Blessing someone with something and being anonymous gives me an adrenaline rush!
47. Managing money and wealth requires regular attention.
48. My kids are really fun to be around.
49. Its okay to say “I Don’t Know” or “No”.
50. There is a common thread in your life that God is pushing you to fulfill your purpose.
51. Technology can be a burden and distraction if it doesn’t have perspective and a purpose.
52. Sodas and Sweet Tea (gotta be from the Southern part of the US to appreciate this!) is good, but nothing beats cold water
53. There are some really talented people in the world, but I’d rather not know them because of their character.
54. A preacher burbing in the middle of a sermon is not a good thing…for all involved.
55. There are some really nice people in the world who haven’t figured out how amazingly talented they are.
56. The BK XT sandwich is good, but the Whopper is still better.
57. The McDs Angus Burger is really good!
58. God will put some really nice people in your path to keep you open to the beauty of God’s best creation – His people
59. A good barbershop will keep you on your toes – emotionally, spiritually, physically, and relationally.
60. The church is Gods most precious and powerful institution, but has some real challenges.
61. It doesn’t take a lot of money to keep children happy when you spend time with them regularly.
62. There are some people that are born that are assigned to help bring your life assignment to pass.
63. There are some really amazing hotels in the US, but there’s nothing like home.
64. The pureness of children is unmatched.
65. Many people are empty.
66. God’s Word is absolutely fulfilling.
67. Psalms 84: 11 (see verse) and Hebrews 11: 6 (see verse) is real!
68. I have a holy discontent!

I pray that you’ve been encouraged, challenged, inspired. I hope the list has made you smile, maybe even laugh, and go hmmm…whatever it is, I hope you’ve been blessed by it.

Before you leave (log off), leave a comment or thought and let me know your thoughts. Was there a favorite one here for you? Which one stood out to you?

Thanks for visiting. I’ve on my way now to developing next year’s list…

What I Learned This Year - Part 1

2010-08-19T07:59:00.001-04:00

What have I learned this year?

Well – today – God has given me the grace to experience another year of life and living. I am grateful beyond description.

For the past few years, I’ve made it a point to challenge those in our ministry and those I have contact with to discover what they’ve really learned in the past year. So I figured since I’ve challenged them in that area, I should follow suit with my own question. So last year on August 19th, I started a running list of things that would stand out as Selah moments in my year. The list is not in any particular order, nor is it a priority format. Some of the things on the list were confirmations of what I knew already, some of them are things that I hadn’t thought of before and some of them are literally God inspired.

My list is not some deep list and some of them you may wonder why they are on my list. I don’t really have an answer to that, other than, it’s my list and these things stood out to me. I’m very honest on this list, so I hope it doesn’t challenge your theology. Lastly, I didn’t start the year with any number in mind, I just documented those Ah Ha moments. So if it’s too long, I don’t apologize. I wrote them down in hopes that they would be a blessing to someone at some point. I hope they are to you.

Because of the length of the list, I’ll break this post into two parts. I hope that helps in your reading. Finally – enjoy!

The things that I’ve learned this past year are:

1. I’m really more blessed than I’ve been living up to.
2. My wife and children are very important to me (but I’ve not made them idols…)
3. My children know who I am, not because of my titles or anointing, but because of how I show them who “Daddie” is. (I misspelled it on purpose, because that’s how my children pronounce it).
4. Sometimes the best meal of the day is a simple bowl of cereal and peace in your home.
5. I’ve grown to appreciate family meal time.
6. You are more powerful when you can control your mouth, even when you have an opinion.
7. It’s a dangerous thing to be a person without real people in your life that are empowered to give you the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
8. When people don’t think about what they’re going to say, when you’re really listening, they say some stupid stuff.
9. Some of my best sermons don’t get recorded on CD or DVD or even on paper.
10. There are times that I don’t feel like preaching or being a preacher.
11. It’s even more dangerous to be ignorant of your own reality.
12. God’s greatest desire is to have ALL of me, nothing more and nothing less.
13. The Holy Spirit gets disrespected when we reduce Him to a feeling and not live in how he flows daily.
14. Serving people and helping them in moments of bewilderment is totally gratifying and worth every sacrifice!
15. God’s got even greater plans for me. I’ve received confirmation after confirmation on this (not just through Prophet(s), but through His Word and our relationship together).
16. The Integrity of my name is more important than any trophy or plaque I could ever receive.
17. Some of the best preachers in the world are what others would call “no-names” (I’ve heard some sermons this year by people who nobody knows, but would put anyone flat on their face!)
18. The way that you do something is just as important as what you’re doing.
19. You can’t rationalize with a demon.
20. Breaking out in random songs just feels good.
21. The habit of being able to read and enjoy a book without looking for a sermon is so fulfilling.
22. Sometimes I don’t feel like being around people.
23. Sometimes it is freeing to ride with the music real loud.
24. Some people are just really mean.
25. A pedicure is more about having healthy feet than anything.
26. Kids left unchanged in a diaper for longer than usually can potentially be disastrous for everyone around…whew…(it might take days for the smell to leave…don’t do it!)
27. I love my E-Reader, but sometimes I just want a book in my hand.
28. I didn’t realize how funny I am.
29. Everyone has a testimony if you listen to them.
30. Being addicted to anything is dangerous.

I pray that you’ve been encouraged, challenged, inspired. I hope the list has made you smile, maybe even laugh, and go hmmm…whatever it is, I hope you’ve been blessed by it.

Before you leave (log off), leave a comment or thought and let me know your thoughts. Was there a favorite one here for you? Which one stood out to you?

Thanks for visiting. There's more to come. Click here for Part 2...

Never Follow A Leader Who...

2010-08-17T10:16:00.002-04:00

I always enjoy the insights that Perry Noble provides on his blog. Today's Blog is no exception!

After reading, I had a few Selah(!) moments...

I hope you enjoy it as well.

http://www.perrynoble.com/2010/08/17/never-follow-a-leader-who/

The Beloit Mindset List

2010-08-17T10:11:00.000-04:00

Beloit College annually develops a list of interesting things about the current group of students that are entering college.

It's always an interesting list and gives great food for thought.

You can visit them here: http://www.beloit.edu/mindset/

Enjoy!

Speaking in Tongues Medical Study proves Holy Spirit praying

2010-08-14T16:52:00.001-04:00

This is a very interesting study. What are your thoughts?

Preparing For A New School Year

2010-08-10T22:16:00.000-04:00

If you’re like me and my family you are gearing up for a new school year. This time of the year is like that time on the airplane when the pilot has announced that you’re about to land soon at your destination. Your mind is running a mile a minute, your adrenaline starts pumping, you start feeling a little edgy about being the first one up and to your carry-on luggage (for you real competitive folks!), and also about on-ground logistics and getting settled. So much to do and think about.

Nonetheless, you’ve got to get ready. School supplies to purchase, morning routine decisions to make, calendars to plug in, new teachers and staff to meet and adjust to, prepping the kids themselves for the new year (this is probably the most emotional part…), the list goes on and on…

I figured I’d offer a few helpful suggestions for properly preparing for the school year as it quickly approaches.

1. Talk it over. If you’re married, have some time for you and your spouse to communicate in advance about major decisions for this year (i.e. – what school to attend, bus or car rider, lunch options, etc.) If you wait to the last minute on these decisions, the environment will be so emotionally charged that you’ll probably end up making a hurried decision without contemplating the work and cost that are involved. Which over the long run, we know only spells trouble.

2. Field Trips! Have a field trip to the school. If your child is about to attend a new school, it is best that you take some time during the summer to go and personally visit the school with your child. It is also highly likely that many Administrators will be present and not as opposed to interruptions to their day. This is also an awesome way to ‘impress’ the folks that will spend a huge amount of time with your child for 180 (or more) days. This affords you the opportunity to sort of learn the campus, facilities, and other nuances of a new place. Remember for your child this can be an overwhelming BIG place. You’ll want to put yourself in their shoes and remember that they’ve got all kinds of fears right now too.

3. Buy early. I know many of you are in such a place where you have so much money that you don’t have to balance your checkbook on a regular basis, but for people that do, it’ll be really wise for you to really plan ahead. In our family, we normally begin purchasing school supplies in April and May. Huh? Yep, its off-season. Buying school supplies in August is like buying roses on Valentine’s Day. We just don’t do it! If you did the Field Trip to the school, you should have gotten a Supplies list for your child’s grade. The more you plan ahead, the better of you are. Plus, you’ll get a chance to bypass all of the crowds.

4. Let your child choose. Do you remember having to wear clothes and shoes that you just hated? That is every child’s new school year’s nightmare! Although, when a parent is buying and choosing it is bound to happen, but what small amount of decision and choice you can allow your child to make, do that. It could be to select one pair of shoes out of the three that you may purchase. It could be to select their backpack (or other bag or choice) or the style of #2 pencils that they are required to have. Whatever it may be, give them an option of being apart of the process. Not only does this help them adjust to the new school year and take ownership for their ‘stuff’, it helps your relationship, builds trust, and teaches them the powerful lessons in decision making and narrowing choices.

5. Stay committed for the whole year. No normal person would allow their child to be born, bring them home as newborns and then just leave them to raise themselves. That’s essentially what happens if you get your child started for the first few days and then leave them to their own for the rest of the year. Help your child have a solid education for the entire year by keeping the hammer down for the entire year.

6. Get ready emotional and mentally. Some parents have the opportunity to take vacations prior to the school year starting. If you are not in that place where you can, then be creative about getting yourself mentally and emotionally prepared for all that the new school year brings.

7. Have fun! This is the most important. Remember that your child is a child. And although education is serious business, no fun is…just no fun! During this school year, tap into your child’s imagination and interests. Make the year fun by hitting the books hard and then also playing hard. You may have to be intentional and schedule some time to do some fun stuff (so you don’t leave it to chance…).

This is the greatest time of your kids’ life and an opportunity for you to establish your legacy as a parent. As you have already figured out (I know I have), that they grow up so fast. Let’s make the most of it.

Do you have other things that you do to prepare for the year?

My First Blog - Sort of...

2010-08-09T20:47:00.000-04:00

I guess this is my first official blog on a blogging site. Yeah me! I've blogged in other places before, wrote articles in other places before, and had my random thoughts published...but I've finally decided to start my own blog.

From what I'm told as long as I'm consistent, I should be in good shape. If you're reading this, please offer me encouragement on my blogging. In this area, I need all the motivation I can get!