Protect me Jesus
Parents of a young boy in Norwalk, CA, thought they did, but not quite. While babysitting for "friends," 20 year-old Jeremy Gallegos allegedly went on a crime spree, including liquor store robbery, while holding his friends' young child in his arms.
Well, crime spree might be too strong a term, but Gallegos certainly was arrested and booked on suspicion of robbery and child endangerment. While snuggling the child with one arm, Gallegos (allegedly) used the other to rob a man at gunpoint in the parking lot of a Norwalk store. Gallegos (allegedly) stole the victim's wallet and some alcohol -- just in case the little guy got thirsty.
The victim was not harmed.
All's well that ends well for the child and his family. But Detective Moore noted that although the boy is back with his parents, "they're not happy." No kidding. Next time, they might consider asking Grandma to babysit.
This story got me thinking …do we use the Christ Child for our own purposes?
The question is simple, why a relationship with Him is important in the first place? The truth is we love to use Jesus! We have a relationship with Him only for a means to an end. That end could be heaven or it could be peace on earth, or it could be a new yacht.
Second question? How do we know Jesus in the first place. We know Him because He came to us. However, He didn’t come and enter into our world to brag about his perfect life, with his virgin birth, and his wise actions/ways. He didn’t come to know the twelve and the thousands that followed so that they could all overthrow the leaders of their time. Jesus did come in order to establish a relationship with humankind. He was in the beginning with God and came that we might have life to the full. He came to relate to us and be in relationship with us. What was his reason?…Love! A love so boundless that his own death and resurrection would become the redemptive work for such a dark and broken world. Jesus has a relationship with people. Jesus doesn’t have these relationships so that they will follow him or so they will live for him or so that they will thank him. He has these relationships because they are his creation and He is Love! He doesn’t use us for his message, his message to us is His love!
Third question? Can we change the way we treat Jesus? Can we change the way we preach Jesus? Can we change the way we approach Jesus?
Our relationship with Jesus is designed to change us. When we become honest with ourselves and with Jesus we will be changed through our relationship with him. Our relationship will go from using Jesus to get what we want (physically or spiritually) to knowing him and understanding His love for us. Our prayers will change from constant petition to ceaseless conversation. Our disappointment will change from abandonment to lament. Our perspective will change from selfish desire to divine consideration. Our purpose will change from attraction to transformation. It is a process and journey and we gladly share in it together. Let’s dive in to relationship with God, Jesus, Spirit for simply knowing them.
Have a great Day
David
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
The Four Best Gifts You Can Give This Christmas
I was reading the writings of a fellow pastor ... here is some of his thoughts
What is the one Christmas gift you’ve gotten that stands out above the rest? Why is it special? What about it makes you smile?
Usually, gifts we love are not treasured because of monetary value but the thoughtfulness that inspired them. Especially in light of the current economic state, let’s take a moment to pause and think about what goes into the making of a good gift. After all, we give gifts at Christmas because we are celebrating God’s good gift to us—the sending of His Son.
Distilling the season down to its essence, we find the best gifts are ultimately not about doing, but about being. As we approach gift-giving this season, let’s look to the nature of God as seen in the story of Christmas and keep those qualities in the forefront of our thoughts. Five of those characteristics are creativity, commitment, courage, care and quietness.
Gift #1: Creativity
For two millennia, people have wondered why the Messiah was born to a teenager, in a dirty stable, in dusty town, in the middle of nowhere. Add some outcasts (shepherds), foreigners (wisemen) and singing aliens (angels) and you’ve got the makings of a very strange plot! It’s a tale chock-full of intrigue, scandal, special effects, corrupt government and narrow escapes. Only a highly creative Person could have come up with all that!
Thinking creatively is as natural as breathing for some people and as painful as tooth extraction for others. In order to apply creativity to Christmas, I’m not suggesting you pull out some amazing artistic feat for every person on your list. But why not branch out and think of at least one creative gift you could give this holiday?
This is one of those areas where it’s the thought that counts. For example, one year I had just finished reading a psalm and wanted to respond in a creative way. I got out some watercolors and started painting. I have no artistic training (unless you count one class in high school) and had no idea what I was doing. Still, a scene emerged—a snowy hill with a bare tree, a dark sky with scattered stars.
Creativity takes many shapes and forms. One friend of mine received a very memorable Christmas gift from his grandmother. She had gone through all of her boxes of photos and created albums for each of her grandchildren, hand-selecting the pictures she thought would be special to each one.
There are also poems and original songs—the creativity in those pages astounds me. My favorite picture is toward the back. It’s a watercolor of Jesus on the cross, with the words “The price that was enough” written across it. It’s a wonderful heritage she left for us. Although Gramma passed away years ago, she is still very much with us at Christmastime.
Gift #2: Commitment
Whether looking at society, our families or even our church communities, we can see that commitment does not come easily to people. Have you ever wondered if commitment comes easily to God? I would hazard a guess and say no, not when you look at the kind of people he’s committing himself to!
When the virgin’s egg and the Holy Spirit met, God’s commitment to people reached a whole new level. In the different seasons of life, we are also given multiple opportunities to recommit or renege.
Christmas is a perfect time to get on board with what God is doing in our lives and to leave our fears in the dust. Whatever we are called to do— whether as large as a marriage proposal or as small as returning a library book— there is joy to be had in the giving.
Gift #3: Courage
Courage might not be the first word that springs to mind when thinking of Christmas. Yet, certainly there was great courage involved not only for Jesus to come to Earth, but also for the Father to send Him. God’s sacrifice was motivated by love but made possible by courage.
During the holidays, perhaps more than any other time, people can feel deep undercurrents of sadness, loss and loneliness. These painful feelings are in direct contrast with the carols ringing out, proclaiming a season of peace, joy and goodwill. The truth is, during the holidays, people are often in dire need of encouragement.
This Christmas, let’s look around and truly see people. Perhaps we’ll be given the chance to simply hug someone who needs it—the kind of embrace where we wrap our arms tightly around the person and let her cry out her tears until her smile is found again.
Gift #4: Quietness
I grew up attending The Church On The Way in Van Nuys, Calif., with Pastor Jack and Anna Hayford. Many of my memories of Christmas as a child are wrapped up in the way it was celebrated there. From twinkling white lights in every tree to the annual jazz concert, from family night stringing popcorn and watching movies to the staff Christmas parties that were rumored to be hilarious—Christmas was enjoyed!
There was a reason for the exuberance. Cognizant of the fact that there are always people in church with painful memories of Christmas, Pastor Jack and Anna felt it was one of their jobs to get people to realize that Christmas does not have to be ruined by their past. The happiness, joy and celebration of it can be regained—not because of the decorations but because of Jesus. And so, every Christmas, they would go all out.
Because I grew up at their church, and because I was a friend of their daughter (and because I may have TP’d their house a time or two,) Anna remains an influential person in my life. Knowing she has always been a very busy woman, I wanted to talk with her about this concept of being in the midst of all the doing that seems to go along with Christmas.
As we talked, one thing she said struck me as very profound: “I can go all day or I can go all evening, but I cannot go all day and all evening. A certain amount of quiet time has always been really important for me. I need to have some ‘drawing aside’ time.”
To allow for quiet time, Anna has learned to plan well and delegate. Whether it’s having teams of women help with decorating or hiring students to run errands, she has learned to roll with the punches and has found out that people are willing to help.
One day, her granddaughter Emma spotted a pile of gifts on the kitchen table waiting to be wrapped. She said, “Grandma, you have a lot of gifts to wrap. I can wrap gifts very well, and I’m a little short on cash.”
So began their special tradition. Emma comes each year to wrap gifts and earn some pocket money. Anna made up little business cards that say, “Wrapped by Emma,” which are tucked in with each package. I heard this story and thought to myself, “Ah, now here is the wisdom of a woman who gets it.” In the middle of all her responsibilities, she found a creative way to spend quiet time with her granddaughter.
She and Pastor Jack also find ways to have quiet time. They try not to travel much in December, and many times they end the day simply by sitting near the Christmas tree, enjoying the lights and worship music, and not even saying a word.
This Christmas, let’s not forget to be quiet. The birth of Jesus was an understated event in an out-of-the-way place. God is ever calling us into those quiet, secret places, just to be with Him. If indeed we want to become people not wrapped up in doing but instead focused on being, how can that be accomplished except that we set apart some time for drawing aside?
It is not realistic to expect every gift this Christmas to be life-impacting to the recipient. But if we keep in mind that God gave of Himself, how would it influence the way in which we go about giving gifts this season? Rather than leaving the resolutions for New Year’s, why not invite the Lord to work through the season of Christmas to shape our character, causing our lives to be a good gift to the people around us.
Have a Great Day
David
I was reading the writings of a fellow pastor ... here is some of his thoughts
What is the one Christmas gift you’ve gotten that stands out above the rest? Why is it special? What about it makes you smile?
Usually, gifts we love are not treasured because of monetary value but the thoughtfulness that inspired them. Especially in light of the current economic state, let’s take a moment to pause and think about what goes into the making of a good gift. After all, we give gifts at Christmas because we are celebrating God’s good gift to us—the sending of His Son.
Distilling the season down to its essence, we find the best gifts are ultimately not about doing, but about being. As we approach gift-giving this season, let’s look to the nature of God as seen in the story of Christmas and keep those qualities in the forefront of our thoughts. Five of those characteristics are creativity, commitment, courage, care and quietness.
Gift #1: Creativity
For two millennia, people have wondered why the Messiah was born to a teenager, in a dirty stable, in dusty town, in the middle of nowhere. Add some outcasts (shepherds), foreigners (wisemen) and singing aliens (angels) and you’ve got the makings of a very strange plot! It’s a tale chock-full of intrigue, scandal, special effects, corrupt government and narrow escapes. Only a highly creative Person could have come up with all that!
Thinking creatively is as natural as breathing for some people and as painful as tooth extraction for others. In order to apply creativity to Christmas, I’m not suggesting you pull out some amazing artistic feat for every person on your list. But why not branch out and think of at least one creative gift you could give this holiday?
This is one of those areas where it’s the thought that counts. For example, one year I had just finished reading a psalm and wanted to respond in a creative way. I got out some watercolors and started painting. I have no artistic training (unless you count one class in high school) and had no idea what I was doing. Still, a scene emerged—a snowy hill with a bare tree, a dark sky with scattered stars.
Creativity takes many shapes and forms. One friend of mine received a very memorable Christmas gift from his grandmother. She had gone through all of her boxes of photos and created albums for each of her grandchildren, hand-selecting the pictures she thought would be special to each one.
There are also poems and original songs—the creativity in those pages astounds me. My favorite picture is toward the back. It’s a watercolor of Jesus on the cross, with the words “The price that was enough” written across it. It’s a wonderful heritage she left for us. Although Gramma passed away years ago, she is still very much with us at Christmastime.
Gift #2: Commitment
Whether looking at society, our families or even our church communities, we can see that commitment does not come easily to people. Have you ever wondered if commitment comes easily to God? I would hazard a guess and say no, not when you look at the kind of people he’s committing himself to!
When the virgin’s egg and the Holy Spirit met, God’s commitment to people reached a whole new level. In the different seasons of life, we are also given multiple opportunities to recommit or renege.
Christmas is a perfect time to get on board with what God is doing in our lives and to leave our fears in the dust. Whatever we are called to do— whether as large as a marriage proposal or as small as returning a library book— there is joy to be had in the giving.
Gift #3: Courage
Courage might not be the first word that springs to mind when thinking of Christmas. Yet, certainly there was great courage involved not only for Jesus to come to Earth, but also for the Father to send Him. God’s sacrifice was motivated by love but made possible by courage.
During the holidays, perhaps more than any other time, people can feel deep undercurrents of sadness, loss and loneliness. These painful feelings are in direct contrast with the carols ringing out, proclaiming a season of peace, joy and goodwill. The truth is, during the holidays, people are often in dire need of encouragement.
This Christmas, let’s look around and truly see people. Perhaps we’ll be given the chance to simply hug someone who needs it—the kind of embrace where we wrap our arms tightly around the person and let her cry out her tears until her smile is found again.
Gift #4: Quietness
I grew up attending The Church On The Way in Van Nuys, Calif., with Pastor Jack and Anna Hayford. Many of my memories of Christmas as a child are wrapped up in the way it was celebrated there. From twinkling white lights in every tree to the annual jazz concert, from family night stringing popcorn and watching movies to the staff Christmas parties that were rumored to be hilarious—Christmas was enjoyed!
There was a reason for the exuberance. Cognizant of the fact that there are always people in church with painful memories of Christmas, Pastor Jack and Anna felt it was one of their jobs to get people to realize that Christmas does not have to be ruined by their past. The happiness, joy and celebration of it can be regained—not because of the decorations but because of Jesus. And so, every Christmas, they would go all out.
Because I grew up at their church, and because I was a friend of their daughter (and because I may have TP’d their house a time or two,) Anna remains an influential person in my life. Knowing she has always been a very busy woman, I wanted to talk with her about this concept of being in the midst of all the doing that seems to go along with Christmas.
As we talked, one thing she said struck me as very profound: “I can go all day or I can go all evening, but I cannot go all day and all evening. A certain amount of quiet time has always been really important for me. I need to have some ‘drawing aside’ time.”
To allow for quiet time, Anna has learned to plan well and delegate. Whether it’s having teams of women help with decorating or hiring students to run errands, she has learned to roll with the punches and has found out that people are willing to help.
One day, her granddaughter Emma spotted a pile of gifts on the kitchen table waiting to be wrapped. She said, “Grandma, you have a lot of gifts to wrap. I can wrap gifts very well, and I’m a little short on cash.”
So began their special tradition. Emma comes each year to wrap gifts and earn some pocket money. Anna made up little business cards that say, “Wrapped by Emma,” which are tucked in with each package. I heard this story and thought to myself, “Ah, now here is the wisdom of a woman who gets it.” In the middle of all her responsibilities, she found a creative way to spend quiet time with her granddaughter.
She and Pastor Jack also find ways to have quiet time. They try not to travel much in December, and many times they end the day simply by sitting near the Christmas tree, enjoying the lights and worship music, and not even saying a word.
This Christmas, let’s not forget to be quiet. The birth of Jesus was an understated event in an out-of-the-way place. God is ever calling us into those quiet, secret places, just to be with Him. If indeed we want to become people not wrapped up in doing but instead focused on being, how can that be accomplished except that we set apart some time for drawing aside?
It is not realistic to expect every gift this Christmas to be life-impacting to the recipient. But if we keep in mind that God gave of Himself, how would it influence the way in which we go about giving gifts this season? Rather than leaving the resolutions for New Year’s, why not invite the Lord to work through the season of Christmas to shape our character, causing our lives to be a good gift to the people around us.
Have a Great Day
David
Monday, November 16, 2009
Young Leaders
I was reading a blog from Steve Tibbert ... and he challenges us to consider to bring up young leaders.
This is what he says ...
It’s not just wise football managers who invest in youth training. As a church leader spotting gifts and potential in young people and providing them with opportunities to grow in serving is a good investment. Give them input and on occasions give them their head! I have good reason to advocate this approach as I benefited from it myself.
The pastor of my home church began to invest in me when I was 20. By the age of 21 I was sitting in Elder’s meetings and was arrogant and opinionated. But all I learned then bore fruit in later situations as I had been exposed to the practice of leadership in previous years.
My plea is that leaders give responsibility at an early age. If you have young people that show potential then encourage them to aspire to the next level of leadership and provide learning and training opportunities that will stretch but not overwhelm them.
Good things to think about
Have a great day
David
I was reading a blog from Steve Tibbert ... and he challenges us to consider to bring up young leaders.
This is what he says ...
It’s not just wise football managers who invest in youth training. As a church leader spotting gifts and potential in young people and providing them with opportunities to grow in serving is a good investment. Give them input and on occasions give them their head! I have good reason to advocate this approach as I benefited from it myself.
The pastor of my home church began to invest in me when I was 20. By the age of 21 I was sitting in Elder’s meetings and was arrogant and opinionated. But all I learned then bore fruit in later situations as I had been exposed to the practice of leadership in previous years.
My plea is that leaders give responsibility at an early age. If you have young people that show potential then encourage them to aspire to the next level of leadership and provide learning and training opportunities that will stretch but not overwhelm them.
Good things to think about
Have a great day
David
Monday, October 19, 2009
Integrity
Came across a blog on leadership that had these great challenging words .. I offer them to you for your consideration.
What is integrity? And why is it important for leaders? The word “integrity” comes from the word “integer” - remember those whole numbers in math? To have integrity means to be whole.
When we are whole leaders, we practice what we preach. Leaders whose inner and external lives are consistent have a greater impact, whatever their arena. This applies to our physical, emotional and spiritual lives. A leader who eats decently has energy to get through the day. A leader who is emotionally aware recognizes the range of emotions in himself and can express them appropriately. A leader who preaches the value of spiritual life knows she needs to have one herself.
When we are whole leaders, we have clear boundaries. We know what we will and won’t do. We are able to say a clear “yes” and “no” to obligations. We are less vulnerable to being manipulated. We are not hypersensitive to criticism, because we know it’s not necessarily about us. All this is much easier said than done, of course. Just the other day I took on a new responsibility I had said I wouldn’t do. Perhaps none of us are completely whole.
I was reminded recently about an applied mathematician I met once. I wrote about this years ago, and I think it’s worth saying again. He explained to me that while people usually think things break suddenly, that is not necessarily true. When something breaks, it is part of a process: microcracks begin, and then join together to make macrocracks, and ultimately a fracture occurs. This is more likely to happen under stress (for example, heat), which reduces the flexibility of structural materials.
At times of heightened anxiety (read, now), we are more vulnerable to “stress fractures” in our integrity - whether it’s making an ethical compromise, neglecting time to rest or pray, or saying yes to yet one more unnecessary obligation or difficult individual. Watch out for signs of cracks in your own life and leadership. Notice the decisions you are making every day so they can support wholeness on every level.
People are different than structures, because we can heal. Most of us have been broken in some ways, small and large. And when we are paying attention to ourselves, we are more likely to catch the small fractures so they don’t become a huge collapse in our integrity.
Here are some questions to consider as you assess your own wholeness as a leader:
1. When is the last time I spent time alone to reflect on my life?
2. Am I doing anything to support my physical health?
3. What am I telling people to do that I don’t do myself?
4. Do I do what I say I will do?
5. Am I too available? Or not available enough?
Have a Great Day
David
Came across a blog on leadership that had these great challenging words .. I offer them to you for your consideration.
What is integrity? And why is it important for leaders? The word “integrity” comes from the word “integer” - remember those whole numbers in math? To have integrity means to be whole.
When we are whole leaders, we practice what we preach. Leaders whose inner and external lives are consistent have a greater impact, whatever their arena. This applies to our physical, emotional and spiritual lives. A leader who eats decently has energy to get through the day. A leader who is emotionally aware recognizes the range of emotions in himself and can express them appropriately. A leader who preaches the value of spiritual life knows she needs to have one herself.
When we are whole leaders, we have clear boundaries. We know what we will and won’t do. We are able to say a clear “yes” and “no” to obligations. We are less vulnerable to being manipulated. We are not hypersensitive to criticism, because we know it’s not necessarily about us. All this is much easier said than done, of course. Just the other day I took on a new responsibility I had said I wouldn’t do. Perhaps none of us are completely whole.
I was reminded recently about an applied mathematician I met once. I wrote about this years ago, and I think it’s worth saying again. He explained to me that while people usually think things break suddenly, that is not necessarily true. When something breaks, it is part of a process: microcracks begin, and then join together to make macrocracks, and ultimately a fracture occurs. This is more likely to happen under stress (for example, heat), which reduces the flexibility of structural materials.
At times of heightened anxiety (read, now), we are more vulnerable to “stress fractures” in our integrity - whether it’s making an ethical compromise, neglecting time to rest or pray, or saying yes to yet one more unnecessary obligation or difficult individual. Watch out for signs of cracks in your own life and leadership. Notice the decisions you are making every day so they can support wholeness on every level.
People are different than structures, because we can heal. Most of us have been broken in some ways, small and large. And when we are paying attention to ourselves, we are more likely to catch the small fractures so they don’t become a huge collapse in our integrity.
Here are some questions to consider as you assess your own wholeness as a leader:
1. When is the last time I spent time alone to reflect on my life?
2. Am I doing anything to support my physical health?
3. What am I telling people to do that I don’t do myself?
4. Do I do what I say I will do?
5. Am I too available? Or not available enough?
Have a Great Day
David
Monday, October 12, 2009
Ten Rules of Dating
A few weeks ago, a very wonderful man asked my daughter to spend the rest of their lives together ... thinking back where it all started, I remember coming these funny following rules of dating ... Enjoy
Rule One: If you pull into my driveway and honk you'd better be delivering a package, because you're sure not picking anyone up.
Rule Two: You do not touch my daughter in front of me. You may glance at her, so long as you do not peer at anything below her neck. If you cannot keep your eyes or hands off of my daughter's body, I will remove them.
Rule Three: I am aware that it is considered fashionable for boys of your age to wear their trousers so loosely that they appear to be falling off their hips. Please don't take this as an insult, but you and all of your friends are complete idiots. Still, I want to be fair and open minded about this issue, so I propose this compromise: You may come to the door with your underwear showing and your pants ten sizes to big, and I will not object. However, in order to ensure that your clothes do not, in fact come off during the course of you date with my daughter, I will take my electric nail gun and fasten your trousers securely in place to your waist.
Rule Four: I'm sure you've been told that in today's world, sex without utilizing a "Barrier method" of some kind can kill you. Let me elaborate; when it comes to sex, I am the barrier, and I WILL kill you.
Rule Five: It is usually understood that in order for us to get to know each other, we should talk about sports, politics, and other issues of the day. Please do not do this. The only information I require from you is an indication of when you expect to have my daughter safely back at my house, and the only word I need from you on this subject is: "early".
Rule Six: I have no doubt you are a popular fellow, with many opportunities to date other girls. This is fine with me as long as it is okay with my daughter. Otherwise, once you have gone out with my little girl, you will continue to date no one but her until she is finished with you. If you make her cry, I will make you cry.
Rule Seven: As you stand in my front hallway, waiting for my daughter to appear, and more than an hour goes by, do not sigh and fidget. If you want to be on time for the movie, you should not be dating. My daughter is putting on her makeup, a process than can take longer than painting the Golden Gate Bridge. Instead of just standing there, why don't you do something useful, like change the oil in my car?
Rule Eight: The following places are not appropriate for a date with my daughter: Places where there are beds, sofas, or anything softer than a wooden stool. Places where there is darkness. Places where there is dancing, holding hands, or happiness. Places where the ambient temperature is warm enough to induce my daughter to wear shorts, tank tops, midriff T-shirts, or anything other than overalls, a sweater, and a goose down parka -- zipped up to her throat. Movies with a strong romantic or sexual theme are to be avoided; movies which feature chain saws are okay. Hockey games are okay. Old folks homes are better.
Rule Nine: Do not lie to me. I may appear to be a potbellied, balding, middle-aged, dim-witted has-been. But on issues relating to my daughter, I am the all-knowing, merciless god of your universe. If I ask you where you are going and with whom, you have one chance to tell me the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I have a shotgun, a shovel, and five acres behind the house. Do not trifle with me.
Rule Ten: Be afraid. Be very afraid. It takes very little for me to mistake the sound of your car in the driveway for a chopper coming in over a rice paddy near Hanoi. When the Agent Orange starts acting up, the voices in my head frequently tell me to clean the guns as I wait for you to bring my daughter home. As soon as you pull into the driveway you should exit the car with both hands in plain sight. Speak the perimeter password, announce in a clear voice that you have brought my daughter home safely and early, then return to your car -- there is no need for you to come inside. The camouflaged face at the window will be mine.
Have a Great Day
David
A few weeks ago, a very wonderful man asked my daughter to spend the rest of their lives together ... thinking back where it all started, I remember coming these funny following rules of dating ... Enjoy
Rule One: If you pull into my driveway and honk you'd better be delivering a package, because you're sure not picking anyone up.
Rule Two: You do not touch my daughter in front of me. You may glance at her, so long as you do not peer at anything below her neck. If you cannot keep your eyes or hands off of my daughter's body, I will remove them.
Rule Three: I am aware that it is considered fashionable for boys of your age to wear their trousers so loosely that they appear to be falling off their hips. Please don't take this as an insult, but you and all of your friends are complete idiots. Still, I want to be fair and open minded about this issue, so I propose this compromise: You may come to the door with your underwear showing and your pants ten sizes to big, and I will not object. However, in order to ensure that your clothes do not, in fact come off during the course of you date with my daughter, I will take my electric nail gun and fasten your trousers securely in place to your waist.
Rule Four: I'm sure you've been told that in today's world, sex without utilizing a "Barrier method" of some kind can kill you. Let me elaborate; when it comes to sex, I am the barrier, and I WILL kill you.
Rule Five: It is usually understood that in order for us to get to know each other, we should talk about sports, politics, and other issues of the day. Please do not do this. The only information I require from you is an indication of when you expect to have my daughter safely back at my house, and the only word I need from you on this subject is: "early".
Rule Six: I have no doubt you are a popular fellow, with many opportunities to date other girls. This is fine with me as long as it is okay with my daughter. Otherwise, once you have gone out with my little girl, you will continue to date no one but her until she is finished with you. If you make her cry, I will make you cry.
Rule Seven: As you stand in my front hallway, waiting for my daughter to appear, and more than an hour goes by, do not sigh and fidget. If you want to be on time for the movie, you should not be dating. My daughter is putting on her makeup, a process than can take longer than painting the Golden Gate Bridge. Instead of just standing there, why don't you do something useful, like change the oil in my car?
Rule Eight: The following places are not appropriate for a date with my daughter: Places where there are beds, sofas, or anything softer than a wooden stool. Places where there is darkness. Places where there is dancing, holding hands, or happiness. Places where the ambient temperature is warm enough to induce my daughter to wear shorts, tank tops, midriff T-shirts, or anything other than overalls, a sweater, and a goose down parka -- zipped up to her throat. Movies with a strong romantic or sexual theme are to be avoided; movies which feature chain saws are okay. Hockey games are okay. Old folks homes are better.
Rule Nine: Do not lie to me. I may appear to be a potbellied, balding, middle-aged, dim-witted has-been. But on issues relating to my daughter, I am the all-knowing, merciless god of your universe. If I ask you where you are going and with whom, you have one chance to tell me the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I have a shotgun, a shovel, and five acres behind the house. Do not trifle with me.
Rule Ten: Be afraid. Be very afraid. It takes very little for me to mistake the sound of your car in the driveway for a chopper coming in over a rice paddy near Hanoi. When the Agent Orange starts acting up, the voices in my head frequently tell me to clean the guns as I wait for you to bring my daughter home. As soon as you pull into the driveway you should exit the car with both hands in plain sight. Speak the perimeter password, announce in a clear voice that you have brought my daughter home safely and early, then return to your car -- there is no need for you to come inside. The camouflaged face at the window will be mine.
Have a Great Day
David
Thursday, October 08, 2009
Singing and Cents
A few years ago, our Pastor of leads in the area of worship approached me with an Idea about combining worship and helping our local nonprofits out. Out of that conversation ... our ALM (a little bit more) concerts were born. In a few weeks, we will be doing our eighth concert. This time around, we are helping out Good news health clinic. The following is a article written about the clinic.
Good News Health Clinic
A couple weeks ago, Clyde Olar, 24, a Romanian immigrant, was fixing a wall outside his home, using a tile saw to cut a stone so it would fit into the structure.
That’s when a piece of rock flew off the stone and struck him in his left eye, which swelled up, according to his American-born wife, Priscilla, 20.
Although the husband and wife are employed, they don’t have health insurance and delayed having Clyde’s eye checked due to lack of money.
However, a relative referred them to the Good News Community Health Center in Rockwood, which treats folks without health insurance.
Patients pay $10 per visit, a fee they also can pay through community service — volunteering at a food cupboard, for example — if they don’t have the money.
Clyde had his eye checked out at Good News and was referred to an eye specialist, the couple says. As they sat in the clinic after their visit, with their 9-month-old daughter, Giselle, the couple noted their gratitude to Dr. Robert “Bob” C. Sayson, the clinic’s director.
“He’s just such a great guy,” Priscilla says. “He’s a man of God.”
Caution to the wind
Sayson, known as “Dr. Bob” to his patients, is humbled by any praise.
“I should really say this is the Lord’s clinic, not mine,” he says, noting he and his wife, Alice, decided to live on their savings and devote their lives to the poor back in 2007 when Good News opened.
“If we take care of God’s poor, won’t he take care of us?” he says, noting the nonprofit clinic relies on donations and more than 40 volunteers to exist.
Sayson brings a wealth of experience to his position. The Filipino native has medical experience in his homeland as well as China, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Ghana, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, and practiced internal medicine in Gresham from 1991 to 2006 before opening Good News in 2007.
Sayson notes his experiences working with the poor abroad, as well as with Compassion Rockwood, an annual health-care outreach event supported by many East County churches and organizations, inspired him to establish Good News.
Although the center is faith-based — its emblem shows the cross of Jesus between those of the two thieves crucified with him — its staff treats “Muslims, Jews, Buddhists and Pagans” as well as Christians and nonbelievers, the doctor says with a smile.
“We always respect people of other faiths,” he says, noting the clinic’s patients include the homeless, the unemployed and the working poor.
Body and soul
Kristine (who asked that her last name not be used) has just finished up another appointment with the staff at Good News, and notes she’s recovering from addiction to cocaine.
She’s needs medication to deal with such ailments as severe migraines and anxiety and has seen other doctors over the years, but prefers Sayson because he doesn’t just prescribe medication — he spends time talking to her about her life.
“He’s just so gentle, and he doesn’t judge, and he’s just really easy to talk to,” she says. “We got to talk about where I was, what I’m going through, what I need — and I got a flu shot, all for $10!” Sayson carefully prescribes medication, she adds, noting addicts like her can actually wind up falling back into substance abuse if their doctors aren’t diligent about monitoring their use of prescription drugs.
“This is a healthy relationship for me,” she says with a smile.
Before, after
Talk to the folks who volunteer at the center, and they repeatedly note the deep sense of satisfaction they get from seeing homeless people regain their sense of dignity, the poor their sense of security and the anxious their sense of peace.
Barb Carlson, who attends Sayson’s church, Good Shepherd Community in Boring, spends time at the clinic walking patients through the steps they need to take to improve their health — losing weight, quitting smoking, that kind of thing. She is always moved by the financial plight of the patients.
“The tremendous cost of medical bills would make it literally impossible for them to get the help they need without this place being here,” she says.
She adds she delights in making the drive to volunteer here each week.
“This is probably the most loving, supportive environment that I have been in,” she says. “It’s pleasant to be here. It doesn’t feel like work.”
Jerilyn Rathke, nurse volunteer coordinator, enjoys seeing lives transformed and recalls one former patient who was homeless and looked it when he came into the center his first time. Weeks later, she ran into him at a local store.
“I could not believe how healthy looking he was,” she says. “He just looked so happy.”
“I wish we could take before-after pictures,” Leah Anderson, one of the center’s office managers, adds. “Because it’s so amazing how people’s lives change — not just their appearance, but everything about them.”
Good News Community Health Center, 18000 S.E. Stark St. / 503-489-0567 / goodnewschc.org
So, come and join us help another great place out and worship our lord.
Date: October 16
Time: 7:30 pm
Place 27132 SE Stark Street Troutdale Oregon 97060
Have a Great day
A few years ago, our Pastor of leads in the area of worship approached me with an Idea about combining worship and helping our local nonprofits out. Out of that conversation ... our ALM (a little bit more) concerts were born. In a few weeks, we will be doing our eighth concert. This time around, we are helping out Good news health clinic. The following is a article written about the clinic.
Good News Health Clinic
A couple weeks ago, Clyde Olar, 24, a Romanian immigrant, was fixing a wall outside his home, using a tile saw to cut a stone so it would fit into the structure.
That’s when a piece of rock flew off the stone and struck him in his left eye, which swelled up, according to his American-born wife, Priscilla, 20.
Although the husband and wife are employed, they don’t have health insurance and delayed having Clyde’s eye checked due to lack of money.
However, a relative referred them to the Good News Community Health Center in Rockwood, which treats folks without health insurance.
Patients pay $10 per visit, a fee they also can pay through community service — volunteering at a food cupboard, for example — if they don’t have the money.
Clyde had his eye checked out at Good News and was referred to an eye specialist, the couple says. As they sat in the clinic after their visit, with their 9-month-old daughter, Giselle, the couple noted their gratitude to Dr. Robert “Bob” C. Sayson, the clinic’s director.
“He’s just such a great guy,” Priscilla says. “He’s a man of God.”
Caution to the wind
Sayson, known as “Dr. Bob” to his patients, is humbled by any praise.
“I should really say this is the Lord’s clinic, not mine,” he says, noting he and his wife, Alice, decided to live on their savings and devote their lives to the poor back in 2007 when Good News opened.
“If we take care of God’s poor, won’t he take care of us?” he says, noting the nonprofit clinic relies on donations and more than 40 volunteers to exist.
Sayson brings a wealth of experience to his position. The Filipino native has medical experience in his homeland as well as China, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Ghana, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, and practiced internal medicine in Gresham from 1991 to 2006 before opening Good News in 2007.
Sayson notes his experiences working with the poor abroad, as well as with Compassion Rockwood, an annual health-care outreach event supported by many East County churches and organizations, inspired him to establish Good News.
Although the center is faith-based — its emblem shows the cross of Jesus between those of the two thieves crucified with him — its staff treats “Muslims, Jews, Buddhists and Pagans” as well as Christians and nonbelievers, the doctor says with a smile.
“We always respect people of other faiths,” he says, noting the clinic’s patients include the homeless, the unemployed and the working poor.
Body and soul
Kristine (who asked that her last name not be used) has just finished up another appointment with the staff at Good News, and notes she’s recovering from addiction to cocaine.
She’s needs medication to deal with such ailments as severe migraines and anxiety and has seen other doctors over the years, but prefers Sayson because he doesn’t just prescribe medication — he spends time talking to her about her life.
“He’s just so gentle, and he doesn’t judge, and he’s just really easy to talk to,” she says. “We got to talk about where I was, what I’m going through, what I need — and I got a flu shot, all for $10!” Sayson carefully prescribes medication, she adds, noting addicts like her can actually wind up falling back into substance abuse if their doctors aren’t diligent about monitoring their use of prescription drugs.
“This is a healthy relationship for me,” she says with a smile.
Before, after
Talk to the folks who volunteer at the center, and they repeatedly note the deep sense of satisfaction they get from seeing homeless people regain their sense of dignity, the poor their sense of security and the anxious their sense of peace.
Barb Carlson, who attends Sayson’s church, Good Shepherd Community in Boring, spends time at the clinic walking patients through the steps they need to take to improve their health — losing weight, quitting smoking, that kind of thing. She is always moved by the financial plight of the patients.
“The tremendous cost of medical bills would make it literally impossible for them to get the help they need without this place being here,” she says.
She adds she delights in making the drive to volunteer here each week.
“This is probably the most loving, supportive environment that I have been in,” she says. “It’s pleasant to be here. It doesn’t feel like work.”
Jerilyn Rathke, nurse volunteer coordinator, enjoys seeing lives transformed and recalls one former patient who was homeless and looked it when he came into the center his first time. Weeks later, she ran into him at a local store.
“I could not believe how healthy looking he was,” she says. “He just looked so happy.”
“I wish we could take before-after pictures,” Leah Anderson, one of the center’s office managers, adds. “Because it’s so amazing how people’s lives change — not just their appearance, but everything about them.”
Good News Community Health Center, 18000 S.E. Stark St. / 503-489-0567 / goodnewschc.org
So, come and join us help another great place out and worship our lord.
Date: October 16
Time: 7:30 pm
Place 27132 SE Stark Street Troutdale Oregon 97060
Have a Great day
Monday, September 28, 2009
Failing Forward
Here is an excerpt I found that John Maxwell wrote about failure
Failing Forward
by Dr. John C. Maxwell
Vincent Van Gogh failed as an art dealer, flunked his entrance exam to theology school, and was fired by the church after an ill-fated attempt at missionary work. In fact, during his life, he seldom experienced anything other than failure as an artist. Although a single painting by Van Gogh would fetch in excess of $100 million today, in his lifetime Van Gogh sold only one painting, four months prior to his death.
Before developing his theory of relativity, Albert Einstein encountered academic failure. One headmaster expelled Einstein from school and another teacher predicted that he would never amount to anything. Einstein even failed his entrance exam into college.
Prior to dazzling the world with his athletic skill, Michael Jordan was cut from his sophomore basketball team. Even though he captured six championships, during his professional career, Jordan missed over 12,000 shots, lost nearly 400 games, and failed to make more than 25 would-be game-winning baskets.
Failure didn’t stop Vincent Van Gogh from painting, Albert Einstein from theorizing, or Michael Jordan from playing basketball, but it has paralyzed countless leaders and prevented them from reaching their potential.
No one remembers any of these people for their failures. Their legacies were defined by their successes because of their failures.
Why are we so afraid that people are going to remember our failures?
I didn’t know most of these facts until I read them in the article Maxwell wrote. We as a culture have shied away from failure and even when we teach kids in school we don’t teach them about all the failures some of these people had. We love to glorify everything and make it sound better. But success does not come as easy as everyone makes it sound in the books. Success comes from learning from failures.
Don’t let failure stop you from moving on. Look back and learn from it, that is what failing forward is all about.
Have a great day
David
Here is an excerpt I found that John Maxwell wrote about failure
Failing Forward
by Dr. John C. Maxwell
Vincent Van Gogh failed as an art dealer, flunked his entrance exam to theology school, and was fired by the church after an ill-fated attempt at missionary work. In fact, during his life, he seldom experienced anything other than failure as an artist. Although a single painting by Van Gogh would fetch in excess of $100 million today, in his lifetime Van Gogh sold only one painting, four months prior to his death.
Before developing his theory of relativity, Albert Einstein encountered academic failure. One headmaster expelled Einstein from school and another teacher predicted that he would never amount to anything. Einstein even failed his entrance exam into college.
Prior to dazzling the world with his athletic skill, Michael Jordan was cut from his sophomore basketball team. Even though he captured six championships, during his professional career, Jordan missed over 12,000 shots, lost nearly 400 games, and failed to make more than 25 would-be game-winning baskets.
Failure didn’t stop Vincent Van Gogh from painting, Albert Einstein from theorizing, or Michael Jordan from playing basketball, but it has paralyzed countless leaders and prevented them from reaching their potential.
No one remembers any of these people for their failures. Their legacies were defined by their successes because of their failures.
Why are we so afraid that people are going to remember our failures?
I didn’t know most of these facts until I read them in the article Maxwell wrote. We as a culture have shied away from failure and even when we teach kids in school we don’t teach them about all the failures some of these people had. We love to glorify everything and make it sound better. But success does not come as easy as everyone makes it sound in the books. Success comes from learning from failures.
Don’t let failure stop you from moving on. Look back and learn from it, that is what failing forward is all about.
Have a great day
David
Monday, September 21, 2009
10 Qualities a leader must have!
A leader with vision has a clear, vivid picture of where to go, as well as a firm grasp on what success looks like and how to achieve it. But it’s not enough to have a vision; leaders must also share it and act upon it. Jack Welch, former chairman and CEO of General Electric Co., said, "Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision and relentlessly drive it to completion."
A leader must be able to communicate his or her vision in terms that cause followers to buy into it. He or she must communicate clearly and passionately, as passion is contagious.
A good leader must have the discipline to work toward his or her vision single-mindedly, as well as to direct his or her actions and those of the team toward the goal. Action is the mark of a leader. A leader does not suffer “analysis paralysis” but is always doing something in pursuit of the vision, inspiring others to do the same.
Integrity is the integration of outward actions and inner values. A person of integrity is the same on the outside and on the inside. Such an individual can be trusted because he or she never veers from inner values, even when it might be expeditious to do so. A leader must have the trust of followers and therefore must display integrity.
Honest dealings, predictable reactions, well-controlled emotions, and an absence of tantrums and harsh outbursts are all signs of integrity. A leader who is centered in integrity will be more approachable by followers.
Dedication means spending whatever time or energy is necessary to accomplish the task at hand. A leader inspires dedication by example, doing whatever it takes to complete the next step toward the vision. By setting an excellent example, leaders can show followers that there are no nine-to-five jobs on the team, only opportunities to achieve something great.
Magnanimity means giving credit where it is due. A magnanimous leader ensures that credit for successes is spread as widely as possible throughout the company. Conversely, a good leader takes personal responsibility for failures. This sort of reverse magnanimity helps other people feel good about themselves and draws the team closer together. To spread the fame and take the blame is a hallmark of effective leadership.
Leaders with humility recognize that they are no better or worse than other members of the team. A humble leader is not self-effacing but rather tries to elevate everyone. Leaders with humility also understand that their status does not make them a god. Mahatma Gandhi is a role model for Indian leaders, and he pursued a “follower-centric” leadership role.
Openness means being able to listen to new ideas, even if they do not conform to the usual way of thinking. Good leaders are able to suspend judgment while listening to others’ ideas, as well as accept new ways of doing things that someone else thought of. Openness builds mutual respect and trust between leaders and followers, and it also keeps the team well supplied with new ideas that can further its vision.
Creativity is the ability to think differently, to get outside of the box that constrains solutions. Creativity gives leaders the ability to see things that others have not seen and thus lead followers in new directions. The most important question that a leader can ask is, “What if … ?” Possibly the worst thing a leader can say is, “I know this is a dumb question ... ”
Fairness means dealing with others consistently and justly. A leader must check all the facts and hear everyone out before passing judgment. He or she must avoid leaping to conclusions based on incomplete evidence. When people feel they that are being treated fairly, they reward a leader with loyalty and dedication.
Assertiveness is not the same as aggressiveness. Rather, it is the ability to clearly state what one expects so that there will be no misunderstandings. A leader must be assertive to get the desired results. Along with assertiveness comes the responsibility to clearly understand what followers expect from their leader.
A sense of humor is vital to relieve tension and boredom, as well as to defuse hostility. Effective leaders know how to use humor to energize followers. Humor is a form of power that provides some control over the work environment. And simply put, humor fosters good camaraderie.
Lead well today!
Have a great day
David
A leader with vision has a clear, vivid picture of where to go, as well as a firm grasp on what success looks like and how to achieve it. But it’s not enough to have a vision; leaders must also share it and act upon it. Jack Welch, former chairman and CEO of General Electric Co., said, "Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision and relentlessly drive it to completion."
A leader must be able to communicate his or her vision in terms that cause followers to buy into it. He or she must communicate clearly and passionately, as passion is contagious.
A good leader must have the discipline to work toward his or her vision single-mindedly, as well as to direct his or her actions and those of the team toward the goal. Action is the mark of a leader. A leader does not suffer “analysis paralysis” but is always doing something in pursuit of the vision, inspiring others to do the same.
Integrity is the integration of outward actions and inner values. A person of integrity is the same on the outside and on the inside. Such an individual can be trusted because he or she never veers from inner values, even when it might be expeditious to do so. A leader must have the trust of followers and therefore must display integrity.
Honest dealings, predictable reactions, well-controlled emotions, and an absence of tantrums and harsh outbursts are all signs of integrity. A leader who is centered in integrity will be more approachable by followers.
Dedication means spending whatever time or energy is necessary to accomplish the task at hand. A leader inspires dedication by example, doing whatever it takes to complete the next step toward the vision. By setting an excellent example, leaders can show followers that there are no nine-to-five jobs on the team, only opportunities to achieve something great.
Magnanimity means giving credit where it is due. A magnanimous leader ensures that credit for successes is spread as widely as possible throughout the company. Conversely, a good leader takes personal responsibility for failures. This sort of reverse magnanimity helps other people feel good about themselves and draws the team closer together. To spread the fame and take the blame is a hallmark of effective leadership.
Leaders with humility recognize that they are no better or worse than other members of the team. A humble leader is not self-effacing but rather tries to elevate everyone. Leaders with humility also understand that their status does not make them a god. Mahatma Gandhi is a role model for Indian leaders, and he pursued a “follower-centric” leadership role.
Openness means being able to listen to new ideas, even if they do not conform to the usual way of thinking. Good leaders are able to suspend judgment while listening to others’ ideas, as well as accept new ways of doing things that someone else thought of. Openness builds mutual respect and trust between leaders and followers, and it also keeps the team well supplied with new ideas that can further its vision.
Creativity is the ability to think differently, to get outside of the box that constrains solutions. Creativity gives leaders the ability to see things that others have not seen and thus lead followers in new directions. The most important question that a leader can ask is, “What if … ?” Possibly the worst thing a leader can say is, “I know this is a dumb question ... ”
Fairness means dealing with others consistently and justly. A leader must check all the facts and hear everyone out before passing judgment. He or she must avoid leaping to conclusions based on incomplete evidence. When people feel they that are being treated fairly, they reward a leader with loyalty and dedication.
Assertiveness is not the same as aggressiveness. Rather, it is the ability to clearly state what one expects so that there will be no misunderstandings. A leader must be assertive to get the desired results. Along with assertiveness comes the responsibility to clearly understand what followers expect from their leader.
A sense of humor is vital to relieve tension and boredom, as well as to defuse hostility. Effective leaders know how to use humor to energize followers. Humor is a form of power that provides some control over the work environment. And simply put, humor fosters good camaraderie.
Lead well today!
Have a great day
David
Monday, September 14, 2009
Good Words...
Here is some really good thoughts from a blog I read often ...
Good teachers don't just give answers. They force students to discover things for themselves. The word education means "to draw out." Based on the way we teach in schools and churches, you'd think it meant "to cram in."
Some things cannot be taught. They can only be revealed. And that's the difference between ideas and core convictions. Truth has to be owned. And the way we own it isn't via someone telling us about it. That's second-hand knowledge. We have to experience it for ourselves. That's why sermons aren't sufficient. They have to lead to self-discovery. Few things are as powerful as a personally discovered truth that is revealed by the Holy Spirit. It reminds me of the incident in Samaria where the woman at the well tells her friends and family about Jesus. Remember what they said? "We no longer believe because of what you said. Now we have heard for ourselves."
Here's a simple thought. And I think leaders and parents will identify with it. You can tell someone what they did wrong a thousand times. And there is a time and place for that. But when you tell someone what they did wrong they often become defensive. Here's a great question that is non-threatening. And it leads to self-evaluation and self-discovery: what would you do differently? That puts the ball in their court. And it's the key to spiritual growth. You want to mature spiritually? It requires unconditional commitment to honest evaluation. You have to be more concerned about who you're becoming than being right. It's a raw humility that wants to be challenged and confronted.
Have a Great Day
David
Here is some really good thoughts from a blog I read often ...
Good teachers don't just give answers. They force students to discover things for themselves. The word education means "to draw out." Based on the way we teach in schools and churches, you'd think it meant "to cram in."
Some things cannot be taught. They can only be revealed. And that's the difference between ideas and core convictions. Truth has to be owned. And the way we own it isn't via someone telling us about it. That's second-hand knowledge. We have to experience it for ourselves. That's why sermons aren't sufficient. They have to lead to self-discovery. Few things are as powerful as a personally discovered truth that is revealed by the Holy Spirit. It reminds me of the incident in Samaria where the woman at the well tells her friends and family about Jesus. Remember what they said? "We no longer believe because of what you said. Now we have heard for ourselves."
Here's a simple thought. And I think leaders and parents will identify with it. You can tell someone what they did wrong a thousand times. And there is a time and place for that. But when you tell someone what they did wrong they often become defensive. Here's a great question that is non-threatening. And it leads to self-evaluation and self-discovery: what would you do differently? That puts the ball in their court. And it's the key to spiritual growth. You want to mature spiritually? It requires unconditional commitment to honest evaluation. You have to be more concerned about who you're becoming than being right. It's a raw humility that wants to be challenged and confronted.
Have a Great Day
David
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
16 Signs That A Leader Has Lost His Mind
Found this great list ... I think some day's I'm working on 1/2 a brain.
#1 – He refuses to admit his mistakes.
#2 – He begins to blame the problems on people or circumstances rather than actually seeking out what the problem might be.
#3 – He refuses to listen to the team assembled around him.
#4 – He fights every idea that isn’t his own, thinking his originality is what must keep the church afloat.
#5 – He refuses to face reality.
#6 – He is unwilling to make the necessary changes because it would be highly unpopular.
#7 – He tries to listen to what everyone has to say about every situation.
#8 – He begins to believe that God’s favor on his life is because of how good he is rather than because of how good God is!
#9 – He believes that he can’t learn anything from churches that are smaller than his. (This would be arrogance!)
#10 – He abuses his staff to accomplish his agenda rather than leading them to accomplish God’s.
#11 – He fears asking for commitment because of how people may perceive him.
#12 – He becomes obsessed with the way things are rather than how they should be.
#13 – He views himself as an expert.
#14 – He tries to motivate with fear rather than vision.
#15 – He doesn’t seek fresh revelation from God and often goes back to what has been done instead of seeking direction for what has never been done.
#16 – He stops taking risks and becomes obsessed with playing it safe.
Something to think about
Have a Great day
David
Found this great list ... I think some day's I'm working on 1/2 a brain.
#1 – He refuses to admit his mistakes.
#2 – He begins to blame the problems on people or circumstances rather than actually seeking out what the problem might be.
#3 – He refuses to listen to the team assembled around him.
#4 – He fights every idea that isn’t his own, thinking his originality is what must keep the church afloat.
#5 – He refuses to face reality.
#6 – He is unwilling to make the necessary changes because it would be highly unpopular.
#7 – He tries to listen to what everyone has to say about every situation.
#8 – He begins to believe that God’s favor on his life is because of how good he is rather than because of how good God is!
#9 – He believes that he can’t learn anything from churches that are smaller than his. (This would be arrogance!)
#10 – He abuses his staff to accomplish his agenda rather than leading them to accomplish God’s.
#11 – He fears asking for commitment because of how people may perceive him.
#12 – He becomes obsessed with the way things are rather than how they should be.
#13 – He views himself as an expert.
#14 – He tries to motivate with fear rather than vision.
#15 – He doesn’t seek fresh revelation from God and often goes back to what has been done instead of seeking direction for what has never been done.
#16 – He stops taking risks and becomes obsessed with playing it safe.
Something to think about
Have a Great day
David
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Numbered!
A friend posted this devotion ... good stuff.
OUTNUMBERED
As with most lessons from the Lord, this one began with a simple Bible text that caught my attention; I found myself meditating on (i.e., thinking often about) one of dozens of incidents when God tells His kids not to be intimidated by the enemy’s superior size or numbers. He says, “Do not be shocked, nor fear them” (Deuteronomy 1:29), and though they are more numerous, just keep remembering who is on your side (Deuteronomy 20:1‐4).
That sounds like the pep talk I used to give the U‐10 soccer team I coached the season we had two incredible, no‐one‐is‐better players (No, I didn’t recruit them). As a coach, I knew my players would do better if they worried less about how impressive the other teams appeared. I wanted to spare my kids anxiety and fear—besides, having coached a long time, I knew we really would win every game that season.
It’s easy to read such words from the Lord in a legalistic, prove‐you’re‐really‐a‐good‐Christian manner, imagining His voice tinged with disgust at the pathetic team He has to work with. God isn’t angry when He tells us not to be unnerved by the odds. He’s simply reminding us that He has what it takes—even (especially) when we don’t.
Do I have what it takes? I almost always need more resources than I have in hand. As a pastor I feel constantly undersupplied (time, money, volunteers), and in want of more…everything! As an individual believer I worry about not having enough (right) words to share my faith, not having enough money to cover college tuition for my kids, not enough people in my Bible study, etc.
Unknowingly, the pursuit of “excellence” in my church and in my life can end up being little more than a desire to have good enough goods, numerous enough resources, to even the odds. I want to be able to count what I have—and conclude that my chances for winning are good. Actually, I want enough of whatever to assure victory…on my own.
UNNUMBERED
When Jesus encouraged us to count the cost, He did so partly by telling a story of a king whose army was outnumbered. The point of the story is not for us to be sure we have enough soldiers to match the enemy’s numbers. Rather, unless we realize that the numbers will almost always be against us, we’ll be tempted to size up the size of our army, and surrender before the Unnumbered One can fight for us.
I’d be content if God would at least show up on the troop roster—even in disguise and under an alias—and assemble, unnoticed to all, where I could see Him wink at me periodically. But He’s never there! He’s invisible.
That’s one of the great things about an invisible God. Granted, we cannot see Him or count Him among the ranks/resources supporting us. But neither could Goliath or Pharaoh see Him, until it’s too late. That realization is helping me become eager for battle when the obvious odds are against me.
God can’t be counted—but He can always be counted on.
Have a great day
David
A friend posted this devotion ... good stuff.
OUTNUMBERED
As with most lessons from the Lord, this one began with a simple Bible text that caught my attention; I found myself meditating on (i.e., thinking often about) one of dozens of incidents when God tells His kids not to be intimidated by the enemy’s superior size or numbers. He says, “Do not be shocked, nor fear them” (Deuteronomy 1:29), and though they are more numerous, just keep remembering who is on your side (Deuteronomy 20:1‐4).
That sounds like the pep talk I used to give the U‐10 soccer team I coached the season we had two incredible, no‐one‐is‐better players (No, I didn’t recruit them). As a coach, I knew my players would do better if they worried less about how impressive the other teams appeared. I wanted to spare my kids anxiety and fear—besides, having coached a long time, I knew we really would win every game that season.
It’s easy to read such words from the Lord in a legalistic, prove‐you’re‐really‐a‐good‐Christian manner, imagining His voice tinged with disgust at the pathetic team He has to work with. God isn’t angry when He tells us not to be unnerved by the odds. He’s simply reminding us that He has what it takes—even (especially) when we don’t.
Do I have what it takes? I almost always need more resources than I have in hand. As a pastor I feel constantly undersupplied (time, money, volunteers), and in want of more…everything! As an individual believer I worry about not having enough (right) words to share my faith, not having enough money to cover college tuition for my kids, not enough people in my Bible study, etc.
Unknowingly, the pursuit of “excellence” in my church and in my life can end up being little more than a desire to have good enough goods, numerous enough resources, to even the odds. I want to be able to count what I have—and conclude that my chances for winning are good. Actually, I want enough of whatever to assure victory…on my own.
UNNUMBERED
When Jesus encouraged us to count the cost, He did so partly by telling a story of a king whose army was outnumbered. The point of the story is not for us to be sure we have enough soldiers to match the enemy’s numbers. Rather, unless we realize that the numbers will almost always be against us, we’ll be tempted to size up the size of our army, and surrender before the Unnumbered One can fight for us.
I’d be content if God would at least show up on the troop roster—even in disguise and under an alias—and assemble, unnoticed to all, where I could see Him wink at me periodically. But He’s never there! He’s invisible.
That’s one of the great things about an invisible God. Granted, we cannot see Him or count Him among the ranks/resources supporting us. But neither could Goliath or Pharaoh see Him, until it’s too late. That realization is helping me become eager for battle when the obvious odds are against me.
God can’t be counted—but He can always be counted on.
Have a great day
David
Monday, August 24, 2009
Think about it
Just read this from another blogger .... something to think about ...
As pastors, we have a tendency to burden our people with excessive expectations. The average Joe church member can't possibly do everything you say they should do. Don't believe me? See if this list defines some of your expectations of the Christians who attend your church...
- Attend church service weekly.
- Volunteer during another service
- Attend Bible study or Sunday school or midweek service (whatever brand your church offers).
- Serve in a ministry that helps the poor and needy.
- If you are a leader (and we know who you are), then we'll have a few more meetings to attend, contacts to make, events to organize and teams to rally.
- Attend periodic special events hosted by the church.
- Be a great husband or wife and invest time in your marriage.
- Oh, and make sure you are involved in mens' or womens' ministry.
- Get in a small group and meet regularly.
- If you are a man, you must be in a mens' small group for accountability.
- If you are married, you probably should also be in a couples group if you care about your spouse.
- Read your Bible every day. Anything less than 30 minutes is probably not enough.
- Be a good citizen. Vote and get involved in your community.
- Give ten percent of every penny that you make. And give to the special offerings. And give to the kids going on the missions trip. And give to the building fund.
- Go on a missions trip. Been on a local trip? Overseas is your next step.
- Invest in relationships in your neighborhood and at your workplace. - . Invite people to church. Every week. The purpose of that, of course, is so you can get them to church so they can do all the above.
This list wears me out just reading it...and I'm a pastor! Just think what it does to normal people in our church. They keep trying and trying, doing and attending, but then life catches up and they feel like they can't ever keep up with our expectations. They feel deflated.
Because on top of everything we expect, everyone else in their life also has expectations of them. They have sports events to attend and in-laws to keep happy and PTA events to organize. They have complicated family relationships to navigate, second jobs to find so they can put braces on the kids and keep food on the table. And many of them are involved in really good endeavors building into their communities or helping the under-resourced.
Sometimes I think we need to get a clue. We need a wake-up call. Some people are saying (or thinking), "Hey Church...we're just not that into you. You are teaching us some great things and we are growing in our love of Jesus. But we can't possibly do everything you are asking...give us a break!"
In a culture that is ever more complex and insanely busy, if we really want to help we will find ways to help them integrate a walk with Jesus in the context of their lives. We will ease up on our expectation of attendance and activity--and instead focus on spiritual outcomes. WARNING: This is VERY difficult to do because it is so hard to measure--and church leaders LOVE to measure stuff (me included!).
If you know of a church hitting a homerun in this area, I'd love to hear about it!
Have a great Day
David
Just read this from another blogger .... something to think about ...
As pastors, we have a tendency to burden our people with excessive expectations. The average Joe church member can't possibly do everything you say they should do. Don't believe me? See if this list defines some of your expectations of the Christians who attend your church...
- Attend church service weekly.
- Volunteer during another service
- Attend Bible study or Sunday school or midweek service (whatever brand your church offers).
- Serve in a ministry that helps the poor and needy.
- If you are a leader (and we know who you are), then we'll have a few more meetings to attend, contacts to make, events to organize and teams to rally.
- Attend periodic special events hosted by the church.
- Be a great husband or wife and invest time in your marriage.
- Oh, and make sure you are involved in mens' or womens' ministry.
- Get in a small group and meet regularly.
- If you are a man, you must be in a mens' small group for accountability.
- If you are married, you probably should also be in a couples group if you care about your spouse.
- Read your Bible every day. Anything less than 30 minutes is probably not enough.
- Be a good citizen. Vote and get involved in your community.
- Give ten percent of every penny that you make. And give to the special offerings. And give to the kids going on the missions trip. And give to the building fund.
- Go on a missions trip. Been on a local trip? Overseas is your next step.
- Invest in relationships in your neighborhood and at your workplace. - . Invite people to church. Every week. The purpose of that, of course, is so you can get them to church so they can do all the above.
This list wears me out just reading it...and I'm a pastor! Just think what it does to normal people in our church. They keep trying and trying, doing and attending, but then life catches up and they feel like they can't ever keep up with our expectations. They feel deflated.
Because on top of everything we expect, everyone else in their life also has expectations of them. They have sports events to attend and in-laws to keep happy and PTA events to organize. They have complicated family relationships to navigate, second jobs to find so they can put braces on the kids and keep food on the table. And many of them are involved in really good endeavors building into their communities or helping the under-resourced.
Sometimes I think we need to get a clue. We need a wake-up call. Some people are saying (or thinking), "Hey Church...we're just not that into you. You are teaching us some great things and we are growing in our love of Jesus. But we can't possibly do everything you are asking...give us a break!"
In a culture that is ever more complex and insanely busy, if we really want to help we will find ways to help them integrate a walk with Jesus in the context of their lives. We will ease up on our expectation of attendance and activity--and instead focus on spiritual outcomes. WARNING: This is VERY difficult to do because it is so hard to measure--and church leaders LOVE to measure stuff (me included!).
If you know of a church hitting a homerun in this area, I'd love to hear about it!
Have a great Day
David
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Somthing to think About
I read this blog entry from one of the other blog sites I read often ... something to think about.
I have been asking myself a question a lot lately, “What are my priorities costing me?” Or, said another way, “What are my excuses costing me?” My choices are most likely determined by my priorities. There are plenty of ideas about life that I have floating around in my head, but I usually don’t like the sacrifice that they cost me. For instance, I love the idea of living a deep life full of rich relationships and adventure. But, I often find myself settling for TV and shallow conversations with those I love. I can say whatever I want, but depth is not a priority. In this case I will make excuses that justify how I am living or what I am or am not doing, but these excuses come with a cost. It is a strange form of self-betrayal. Some of things I say I genuinely want to do…I simply don’t do. I betray the Spirit of the Lord within me. He has given me these new longings and affections. I also betray myself. But, in another way I completely satisfy myself…my laziness, my procrastination or my own selfish desires (Romans 7:21-25). It gets messy when I think about it.
So, what are your excuses costing you? Health? Spiritual vitality? Relationships? Your marriage? Don’t fool yourself…you are really great at justifying why you are the way you are. You can also garner a whole list of allies who will agree with you and feed life into your excuses, but you are still missing the point (Proverbs 12:15). There is a cost involved, and we usually understand it on the back end of a poor decision, fractured relationship, health issues or a life full of regret.
It is God’s good grace toward me that He is pressing this question on me. I want to run it through every area of my life. I really do want to drink deeply and steward this life well. I want to walk faithfully and fully with Christ. I want to love my wife like Christ loves the Church; commend the works of the Lord to my children and invest in my overall health now…not when I am out of excuses. It will take action over intention. These will all take sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2). Nothing could be more worth it.
Have a Great Day
David
I read this blog entry from one of the other blog sites I read often ... something to think about.
I have been asking myself a question a lot lately, “What are my priorities costing me?” Or, said another way, “What are my excuses costing me?” My choices are most likely determined by my priorities. There are plenty of ideas about life that I have floating around in my head, but I usually don’t like the sacrifice that they cost me. For instance, I love the idea of living a deep life full of rich relationships and adventure. But, I often find myself settling for TV and shallow conversations with those I love. I can say whatever I want, but depth is not a priority. In this case I will make excuses that justify how I am living or what I am or am not doing, but these excuses come with a cost. It is a strange form of self-betrayal. Some of things I say I genuinely want to do…I simply don’t do. I betray the Spirit of the Lord within me. He has given me these new longings and affections. I also betray myself. But, in another way I completely satisfy myself…my laziness, my procrastination or my own selfish desires (Romans 7:21-25). It gets messy when I think about it.
So, what are your excuses costing you? Health? Spiritual vitality? Relationships? Your marriage? Don’t fool yourself…you are really great at justifying why you are the way you are. You can also garner a whole list of allies who will agree with you and feed life into your excuses, but you are still missing the point (Proverbs 12:15). There is a cost involved, and we usually understand it on the back end of a poor decision, fractured relationship, health issues or a life full of regret.
It is God’s good grace toward me that He is pressing this question on me. I want to run it through every area of my life. I really do want to drink deeply and steward this life well. I want to walk faithfully and fully with Christ. I want to love my wife like Christ loves the Church; commend the works of the Lord to my children and invest in my overall health now…not when I am out of excuses. It will take action over intention. These will all take sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2). Nothing could be more worth it.
Have a Great Day
David
Monday, August 03, 2009
Think about This
Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Application questions:
1. Are you easy to correct? How would a close friend, spouse or parent answer this question?
2. How do you typically respond to receiving instruction or correction—appreciative? Begrudging acceptance? Indifferent? Impatient? Defensive? Dismissive?
3. The bible sayst, “The heart of a fool can always find an excuse for ignoring correction.” What excuses do you make for discounting correction and instruction? What do these responses reveal about your heart?
4. Increasing foolishness turns away from those who bring instruction or correction. Are there ways that you are isolating yourself from those who are bringing correction to you? What would change look like?
5. What are one or two practical ways you can grow in pursuing and loving instruction and correction?
Have a great Day
Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Application questions:
1. Are you easy to correct? How would a close friend, spouse or parent answer this question?
2. How do you typically respond to receiving instruction or correction—appreciative? Begrudging acceptance? Indifferent? Impatient? Defensive? Dismissive?
3. The bible sayst, “The heart of a fool can always find an excuse for ignoring correction.” What excuses do you make for discounting correction and instruction? What do these responses reveal about your heart?
4. Increasing foolishness turns away from those who bring instruction or correction. Are there ways that you are isolating yourself from those who are bringing correction to you? What would change look like?
5. What are one or two practical ways you can grow in pursuing and loving instruction and correction?
Have a great Day
Friday, July 17, 2009
Random thoughts
What is my purpose in life? How can I make a difference?
There’s a difference between skill and calling. Just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean that’s what you’re supposed to be doing. Sometimes that’s just to get to the next level
Too often we put our expectations on top of God’s vision for us. When those expectations aren’t achieved, we think God has let us down…or that we never really heard God to begin with.
If I were in a car accident today, who would I call?
If I won the lottery today, who would I tell? Who would care about either?
I’m ‘middle-aged’, which means if I’ve lived 1/2 my life, has it mattered? What would come of the next 1/2.
Hugs from your kids, especially teens, can make any day better.
It’s awesome to see your kids grow and becoming incredible young adults…it’s also bittersweet, because you know you’ll too soon be alone.
Do I really ‘hear’ God, or is it wishful thinking?
If I have to lose to make someone else win, I’m ok with that…but I want to see someone else win. I want to know it’s worth it.
I wish I was independently wealthy…so I could give it away every day.
Sometimes I believe that I can do anything. Yet other times I think I’ve got nothing good to bring.”
Reaching the lost’ should not be a catchphrase, it should be a lifestyle…it’s messy and tough and embarrassing and risky and you might be seen ‘with the wrong crowd’ in the ‘wrong places’. If you’re not willing to live with that, then don’t talk like you are.
It’s tempting to take the easy road, but only if you’re willing to put up with that nagging, non-stop, keeps you up at night feeling that you could be doing so much more. I don’t want to live that way!
Life is short. Life happens too fast. Every minute we waste is a minute we’ll never get back. I don’t want to waste any more time!
Have a Great Day
David
What is my purpose in life? How can I make a difference?
There’s a difference between skill and calling. Just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean that’s what you’re supposed to be doing. Sometimes that’s just to get to the next level
Too often we put our expectations on top of God’s vision for us. When those expectations aren’t achieved, we think God has let us down…or that we never really heard God to begin with.
If I were in a car accident today, who would I call?
If I won the lottery today, who would I tell? Who would care about either?
I’m ‘middle-aged’, which means if I’ve lived 1/2 my life, has it mattered? What would come of the next 1/2.
Hugs from your kids, especially teens, can make any day better.
It’s awesome to see your kids grow and becoming incredible young adults…it’s also bittersweet, because you know you’ll too soon be alone.
Do I really ‘hear’ God, or is it wishful thinking?
If I have to lose to make someone else win, I’m ok with that…but I want to see someone else win. I want to know it’s worth it.
I wish I was independently wealthy…so I could give it away every day.
Sometimes I believe that I can do anything. Yet other times I think I’ve got nothing good to bring.”
Reaching the lost’ should not be a catchphrase, it should be a lifestyle…it’s messy and tough and embarrassing and risky and you might be seen ‘with the wrong crowd’ in the ‘wrong places’. If you’re not willing to live with that, then don’t talk like you are.
It’s tempting to take the easy road, but only if you’re willing to put up with that nagging, non-stop, keeps you up at night feeling that you could be doing so much more. I don’t want to live that way!
Life is short. Life happens too fast. Every minute we waste is a minute we’ll never get back. I don’t want to waste any more time!
Have a Great Day
David
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
How much can you love?
“Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don’t know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!”~Anne Frank
Anne Frank, was a great women of faith who after hiding for over 2 years was captured by the Nazis and later died in a concentration camp. What a true statement! Too often we’re stopped by our fears, others’ expectations, or our lack of believing that God could actually use us in incredible ways. What’s stopping you? If you don’t step out, trust, and risk breaking through the ceiling, you’ll never know what might be!! Believe it and like Nike…Just do it! Do it today!!
Have a great day
David
Monday, June 22, 2009
Twitter Knows
I have stayed way from many of the popular social networks ... but with twitter, I have decided to give it a try. There are pro's and con's about twitter, but here is a few things I do know now that I tweet.
I do know this -
I've read more articles linked from Twitter the past few months than I have followed links from blog
I've stayed connected - even a little bit - with people from other churches that I've met at conferences and other venues.
I've laughed with more of my real friends via Twitter than I could have face to face in any given day. I've just not had proximity to enjoy the lives of so many in one single day.
I've prayed for people who would never have gotten to me, if not for me seeing their 76 word tweet request.
I've been more aware of perspectives from the marketplace, entertainment, liberals, conservatives, church, education, and cultural trends than I have been merely watching the news or reading Google links.
Just saying a little about tweet.
Have a great day
David
I have stayed way from many of the popular social networks ... but with twitter, I have decided to give it a try. There are pro's and con's about twitter, but here is a few things I do know now that I tweet.
I do know this -
I've read more articles linked from Twitter the past few months than I have followed links from blog
I've stayed connected - even a little bit - with people from other churches that I've met at conferences and other venues.
I've laughed with more of my real friends via Twitter than I could have face to face in any given day. I've just not had proximity to enjoy the lives of so many in one single day.
I've prayed for people who would never have gotten to me, if not for me seeing their 76 word tweet request.
I've been more aware of perspectives from the marketplace, entertainment, liberals, conservatives, church, education, and cultural trends than I have been merely watching the news or reading Google links.
Just saying a little about tweet.
Have a great day
David
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Jonah a Hero?
Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the Jewish year. We read the book of Jonah on Yom Kippur because just as the Ninevites fasted, Jews fast on this holy day. However, the greatest lesson of the book of Jonah is the possibility of change. When we face our wrongdoings and ask forgiveness on Yom Kippur, we discover that like the Ninevites and even like Jonah, we can all change direction in our lives.
With God, there are no hopeless cases. No one is so bad that they are hopeless. No one is so bad that they can’t change. No one is so bad that God doesn’t love him or her and want to help them change. With God, all things are possible, right?
What can we learn about God from the Book of Jonah?
God is Sovereign…His plan cannot be derailed by disobedience
God is patient…He gives second chances
God is omnipresent…you can’t hide from Him
God is the Creator…Jonah 1:9
God responds to our prayers…Jonah 2:2
God is relenting…He can change his mind.
God is salvation…Jonah 2:9
God is gracious…4:2
God is merciful…4:2
God is slow to anger…4:2
Have a Great Day
David
Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the Jewish year. We read the book of Jonah on Yom Kippur because just as the Ninevites fasted, Jews fast on this holy day. However, the greatest lesson of the book of Jonah is the possibility of change. When we face our wrongdoings and ask forgiveness on Yom Kippur, we discover that like the Ninevites and even like Jonah, we can all change direction in our lives.
With God, there are no hopeless cases. No one is so bad that they are hopeless. No one is so bad that they can’t change. No one is so bad that God doesn’t love him or her and want to help them change. With God, all things are possible, right?
What can we learn about God from the Book of Jonah?
God is Sovereign…His plan cannot be derailed by disobedience
God is patient…He gives second chances
God is omnipresent…you can’t hide from Him
God is the Creator…Jonah 1:9
God responds to our prayers…Jonah 2:2
God is relenting…He can change his mind.
God is salvation…Jonah 2:9
God is gracious…4:2
God is merciful…4:2
God is slow to anger…4:2
Have a Great Day
David
Monday, June 08, 2009
I'm Bored
I always told my kids when they were growing up that the word "boring" is something you create and not something that happens to you.
I proceeded to tell them that boredom is a state of mind. I think a "boring" situation tells me more about the bored person than the situation. I have determined not to be bored. I can always find something to be interested in even in a not-so-exciting situation. It is a matter of attitude.
Many people get bored with church, the Bible, and even God. I wonder if the problem is that we are boring, not any of these. I wonder if God gets bored with us: our prayers, our life, our attitude.
I read this week an interesting thought on boredom. The author wrote that we are made in God's image. God is creative. When we are bored, it is because we are not being creative. Perhaps, that is the attitude I mentioned above. When you are tempted to be bored, be creative about the situation. Make it interesting even if you can only do it in your mind. Being creative will keep the word that does not exist from entering your vocabulary and life.
Have a great day
David
Monday, June 01, 2009
InfoOut
Have you ever thought of doing this?
Don't check email
Don't forward your emails to your phone
Don't check any office voice mail
Don't blog
Don't read anyone else's blogs
Don't facebook or myspace
Don't Twitter
Try doing this for three days. some times you need to unplug and refresh for health and sanity. I'm not saying anyone of you are over the edge (although I did have a good friend look at me and tell me, "The life has drained out of your face"), but we all need to unplug from the intense life we lead. It's time to disconnect.
Sure, it means you will miss some opportunities. You will miss some calls and emails that needed action. But it also means that you will be in a better frame of mind to serve and lead. I have a brighter outlook for the future and more margin in my emotional tank.
Do you have someone in your life who can look you in the eyes and say, "Dude--you need a break!"?
Do you realize that you can't wait for someone else to tell you take a break. You are responsible for your health--no one else.
Do you know what fills your tank emotionally, physically and spiritually?
Think about it.
Have a great day
David
Have you ever thought of doing this?
Don't check email
Don't forward your emails to your phone
Don't check any office voice mail
Don't blog
Don't read anyone else's blogs
Don't facebook or myspace
Don't Twitter
Try doing this for three days. some times you need to unplug and refresh for health and sanity. I'm not saying anyone of you are over the edge (although I did have a good friend look at me and tell me, "The life has drained out of your face"), but we all need to unplug from the intense life we lead. It's time to disconnect.
Sure, it means you will miss some opportunities. You will miss some calls and emails that needed action. But it also means that you will be in a better frame of mind to serve and lead. I have a brighter outlook for the future and more margin in my emotional tank.
Do you have someone in your life who can look you in the eyes and say, "Dude--you need a break!"?
Do you realize that you can't wait for someone else to tell you take a break. You are responsible for your health--no one else.
Do you know what fills your tank emotionally, physically and spiritually?
Think about it.
Have a great day
David
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
He Knew us before we Knew Him
This last weeking, the message from one our our pastors was simply that God did know us before we knew Him. He was also working on our behalf before as well. Alyssa Hood of All4Him wrote the words of this song.
BEFORE GOD
Alyssa Ashley Hood
All4Him
Looking back on who is used to be
A desperate soul on life’s stormy sea
Tossed about with every raging wind
I found no peace, within
Just a broken heart
Torn and battered
I didn’t know what really mattered
Lost in my sin
That was before I knew him
Chorus
Before God
I didn’t know what it meant to be for real
Before God
I was so blind, but praise God now I see
Every sin was washed away
By the power of his blood
Now I stand amazed
Before God
All He is
Is all I’ll ever need
In him alone do I feel complete
And everyday I need Him even more
How did I live before
Without His love and peace to guide me
An emptiness was deep inside me
I could never fill
That was before
I knew Him
Before god
Amazing grace was just a song I would sing
Before God
But now I know, I really know what it means
Every sin was washed away
By the power of His blood
Now I stand amazed
Before God
Now I stand amazed
Before God
Be encouraged
David
This last weeking, the message from one our our pastors was simply that God did know us before we knew Him. He was also working on our behalf before as well. Alyssa Hood of All4Him wrote the words of this song.
BEFORE GOD
Alyssa Ashley Hood
All4Him
Looking back on who is used to be
A desperate soul on life’s stormy sea
Tossed about with every raging wind
I found no peace, within
Just a broken heart
Torn and battered
I didn’t know what really mattered
Lost in my sin
That was before I knew him
Chorus
Before God
I didn’t know what it meant to be for real
Before God
I was so blind, but praise God now I see
Every sin was washed away
By the power of his blood
Now I stand amazed
Before God
All He is
Is all I’ll ever need
In him alone do I feel complete
And everyday I need Him even more
How did I live before
Without His love and peace to guide me
An emptiness was deep inside me
I could never fill
That was before
I knew Him
Before god
Amazing grace was just a song I would sing
Before God
But now I know, I really know what it means
Every sin was washed away
By the power of His blood
Now I stand amazed
Before God
Now I stand amazed
Before God
Be encouraged
David
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Cross the Line
Came across this challenge from a blog I read ... I pass it on to you!
How often do we “play it safe”? We have a dream or an idea, but come up with a hundred reasons why it could never happen. Then before we know it, years have passed and nothing has changed. We still have a dream, still have great ideas, but never acted on any of them. I don’t want to live like that! Sure, it’s risky. Yup, I might fail. I may even look like a fool. Status quo is easy and comfortable. The unknown is scary! But the rewards…the rewards can be huge!! The bigger the risk, the greater the potential for incredible impact!
I want to jump. I want to step out. I want to live life without regrets and without giving in to fear! I want to “cross the line”:
I’m gonna ride like I’ve got the cops on my tail
I’m gonna live my life like I’m out on bail
I’m gonna be out front, gonna blaze a trail
I’m gonna cross that line
Everybody freeze – don’t step over the line
Don’t stand up, they’ll shoot down the first one who tries
Try to change the world, they’ll think you’re out of your mind
Revolutions start when someone crosses the line
Came across this challenge from a blog I read ... I pass it on to you!
How often do we “play it safe”? We have a dream or an idea, but come up with a hundred reasons why it could never happen. Then before we know it, years have passed and nothing has changed. We still have a dream, still have great ideas, but never acted on any of them. I don’t want to live like that! Sure, it’s risky. Yup, I might fail. I may even look like a fool. Status quo is easy and comfortable. The unknown is scary! But the rewards…the rewards can be huge!! The bigger the risk, the greater the potential for incredible impact!
I want to jump. I want to step out. I want to live life without regrets and without giving in to fear! I want to “cross the line”:
I’m gonna ride like I’ve got the cops on my tail
I’m gonna live my life like I’m out on bail
I’m gonna be out front, gonna blaze a trail
I’m gonna cross that line
Everybody freeze – don’t step over the line
Don’t stand up, they’ll shoot down the first one who tries
Try to change the world, they’ll think you’re out of your mind
Revolutions start when someone crosses the line
Monday, May 11, 2009
Impossible Tasks
Yes, I know ... two weeks in a row .. what can I say
Impossible Tasks
Who could hope to pick up a tree?
Without a doubt it wouldn’t be me!
A tree reaching tall with branches long
That has stood against winds very strong.
The house of animals hidden inside,
One rooted deep with stately pride,
Where birds have perched to take a rest
When they returned to their annual nest.
At first glance it just couldn’t be done.
Pick up a tree? No way under the sun!
I could push and pull all day long
But nothing would move a trunk that strong.
I’d have to try and make a plan
To complete a task seemingly bigger than man.
I knew I must find a few tricks up my sleeves.
I’d conquer that tower of budding leaves.
Because it hadn’t taken me long to realize
The job was meant to be God-sized.
He would never tell me to take on a task
That meant to do more than anyone could ask.
He only requires I look to him for direction.
To follow his lead and accept His correction.
To take each new challenge one piece each new day.
To count each new blessing He hands out my way.
To break down the impossible task that’s at hand
To steps I can handle within God’s plan.
So after my saw brought that tree to the ground
I chopped it to pieces my arms fit around.
By tackling the job with a supply of God’s grace
I moved that tree with a smile on my face.
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Phil 4:13
Yes, I know ... two weeks in a row .. what can I say
Impossible Tasks
Who could hope to pick up a tree?
Without a doubt it wouldn’t be me!
A tree reaching tall with branches long
That has stood against winds very strong.
The house of animals hidden inside,
One rooted deep with stately pride,
Where birds have perched to take a rest
When they returned to their annual nest.
At first glance it just couldn’t be done.
Pick up a tree? No way under the sun!
I could push and pull all day long
But nothing would move a trunk that strong.
I’d have to try and make a plan
To complete a task seemingly bigger than man.
I knew I must find a few tricks up my sleeves.
I’d conquer that tower of budding leaves.
Because it hadn’t taken me long to realize
The job was meant to be God-sized.
He would never tell me to take on a task
That meant to do more than anyone could ask.
He only requires I look to him for direction.
To follow his lead and accept His correction.
To take each new challenge one piece each new day.
To count each new blessing He hands out my way.
To break down the impossible task that’s at hand
To steps I can handle within God’s plan.
So after my saw brought that tree to the ground
I chopped it to pieces my arms fit around.
By tackling the job with a supply of God’s grace
I moved that tree with a smile on my face.
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Phil 4:13
Monday, May 04, 2009
Therefore
One of the leaders in our family of churches wrote this poem a few days back and I pass it on to you.
One of the leaders in our family of churches wrote this poem a few days back and I pass it on to you.
How often in the dark of night doubt casts a shadow larger than
the real and present trial I am facing?
How often on the course of life I’m called by Christ to run with faith
but feel my weakness to sustain the pacing?
How often do we each endure our seeming so misunderstood
by those we seek to love and serve or care for?
And in such moments as described we’re tempted to remove ourselves
without reviewing Heaven’s message, “Therefore!”
Now “Therefore fight,” but not as ones supposing they but beat the air,
when every step you take you tread down serpents!
And “Therefore serve” as He who came “to serve and not be served,” He said;
and doing so defined our call as servants!
So “Therefore!” loved one, sing down doubt and run with patience in the race,
(so few of us have striven “unto blood.”)
And bear the yoke He’s called you to, reminded you are partnered with
The Burden Bearer—Jesus, Son of God.
In Him each promise is “Amen”; with Him you’ll find again—again,
that in your weakness His strength will suffice you.
So “Therefore stand,” strong in the fight—Lift up your eyes, behold the light
lest shadows, fears or weariness entice you.
The course you take was charted by The Planner, Who has said, “My plans
contain your future hope of My rewarding.”
So stay the course, wear the yoke; embrace the Cross, and “Therefore, child,
you’ll know the joy that’s coming in the morning!”
Have a great day
David
Monday, April 27, 2009
It Can't be FEAR
In a conversation with a friend, after revealing something preatty deap, he asked ... "What do you think is motivating that"? Well, I could think of a million other things and shared a few of them to him. Then he asked ... "Could it be fear" Wow, maybe. It was unjustified fear manifesting about a specific issue, fear of the unlikely consequences of a hypothetical situation regarding a decision not even made! So though it did not make sense logically, there it was, fear, and it was finding root in my heart and spirit.
Fear is often behind discussions or reactions, especially in what we see in the media today about the economy. As I reflected more about this, I realized that in the past few weeks I've been witnessing a LOT of fear: Fear of loss of future, finances, or relationships. The environment we live in can quickly and subtly open one’s heart to fear. And we have an active enemy all too eager to run in and generate worry, kill faith, and exchange faith and love for anything we’ll accept.
In the last couple of days, my devotions have taken me through these wonderful words in Luke 12:6-7, “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. (7) Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
I quickly found myself praying, for myself and you:
• Come Holy Spirit and show me areas, large or small, where I have allowed fear to take root and exchange faith for fear.
• Continue to use people willing to speak truth in love which will cast fear out of my life, helping me to see those sometimes-hidden areas in which faith has been derailed.
• Help me to respond in faith and knowledge of who He is, His care for me, and my value in Him.
This week, may you and I walk through His “open doors" (Rev. 3:8) that NO ONE can shut! I pray that without fear hindering, these wonderful doors of ministry will lead to greater harvest, fruitfulness and fulfillment. At the central offices this week, in the midst of a slowdown, Johnell Loop and our awesome FMI team are advancing in faith, training 35 awesome new missionaries to go to the field! Thank you Lord, for reminding me, that YOU are my “refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore your Foursquare family WILL NOT FEAR, though the earth give way…” (Psalm 46:1-2a).
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” --1 John 4:18 (NKJV)
Have a Great Day
David
Monday, March 09, 2009
What will the church be in the future?
According to an article in the Religion News Service: Booming megachurches might grab headlines, but the bigger story of American congregations is one of accelerating decline, according to David T. Olson, director of the American Church Research Project. Based on data collected from more than 200,000 churches, he projects that by 2050, only 10 percent of Americans will be in church on any given Sunday.
So... why is the American church in crisis? Olson says: The big problem is America continues to grow in terms of population, but the percentage of Americans attending church on any given weekend keeps declining. In 1990, it was 20.4 percent. In 2000, it was 18.7. In 2007, it was 17... Some other questions/answers:
Q: Why is church attendance such a critical factor to measure?
A: Part of following Jesus is being connected in an authentic, consistent way with a group of Christians so that it?s not just an individualistic act. It?s a communal relationship with accountability. So when I see that percentage going down, it lets me know that the number of people following Jesus in that way is diminishing in America.
Q: Are certain types of churches faring better than others?
A: Yes. Since 2001 especially, mainline and Catholic churches have been experiencing severe decline. They are declining much faster than they were in the 1990s. Evangelicals are still growing numerically, but that numeric growth is not keeping up with population growth.
Q: What accounts for the decline that you?re describing?
A: Churches tend to stay pretty stable. So even though the community around them may be growing or be in transition with new people coming in regularly, churches often don?t notice those things happening and are pretty happy to just stay the same. From 1990 to 2006, there were 68 million new births in America and a net gain of 23 million immigrants, but churches a lot of times are really not looking outside their doors to think about how to connect with those new Americans.
According to an article in the Religion News Service: Booming megachurches might grab headlines, but the bigger story of American congregations is one of accelerating decline, according to David T. Olson, director of the American Church Research Project. Based on data collected from more than 200,000 churches, he projects that by 2050, only 10 percent of Americans will be in church on any given Sunday.
So... why is the American church in crisis? Olson says: The big problem is America continues to grow in terms of population, but the percentage of Americans attending church on any given weekend keeps declining. In 1990, it was 20.4 percent. In 2000, it was 18.7. In 2007, it was 17... Some other questions/answers:
Q: Why is church attendance such a critical factor to measure?
A: Part of following Jesus is being connected in an authentic, consistent way with a group of Christians so that it?s not just an individualistic act. It?s a communal relationship with accountability. So when I see that percentage going down, it lets me know that the number of people following Jesus in that way is diminishing in America.
Q: Are certain types of churches faring better than others?
A: Yes. Since 2001 especially, mainline and Catholic churches have been experiencing severe decline. They are declining much faster than they were in the 1990s. Evangelicals are still growing numerically, but that numeric growth is not keeping up with population growth.
Q: What accounts for the decline that you?re describing?
A: Churches tend to stay pretty stable. So even though the community around them may be growing or be in transition with new people coming in regularly, churches often don?t notice those things happening and are pretty happy to just stay the same. From 1990 to 2006, there were 68 million new births in America and a net gain of 23 million immigrants, but churches a lot of times are really not looking outside their doors to think about how to connect with those new Americans.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Style and Principle
I have a few blogs that I like to read ... some of them say things are I agree with, others don't, but both are important for defining what I truly believe.
Here are some comments from one of those blogs.
The third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson said something very profound nearly 200 years ago:
"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock."
In matters of style, the church has to swim with the current. We must be able to communicate and relate to people (both saved and unsaved) in a language they understand. Yes, we must be relevant to the culture and communities in which they live. That is why we have cowboy churches; Asian, Hispanic, and Chinese churches; hip hop churches; churches for men; contemporary churches, and traditional churches. It is a matter of style. It is a logical conclusion that to reach certain segments of society, the church needs to speak their language or relate to their style.
As Jefferson said, in matters of style, you have to (HAVE TO) swim with the current... In matters of principle, the church must stand like a rock. In areas of doctrine, right and wrong, and sin—the church must stand firm. It cannot waiver. It must stand like a rock. The confusion comes for some when they try to make style and principle the same. They are not. A successful church is one that can navigate the sometimes ferocious waters of style, and stay anchored to the rock of principle. In fact, if a church does not navigate the style current; it risks becoming ineffective in reaching the people it is trying to reach. How’s your church doing with style and principle?
Have you ever gotten the two confused? If so, Thomas Jefferson’s quote from nearly 200 years ago may help you communicate the difference between the two in a way that people will easily understand.
Thoughts to chew on today
Have a great Day
David
I have a few blogs that I like to read ... some of them say things are I agree with, others don't, but both are important for defining what I truly believe.
Here are some comments from one of those blogs.
The third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson said something very profound nearly 200 years ago:
"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock."
In matters of style, the church has to swim with the current. We must be able to communicate and relate to people (both saved and unsaved) in a language they understand. Yes, we must be relevant to the culture and communities in which they live. That is why we have cowboy churches; Asian, Hispanic, and Chinese churches; hip hop churches; churches for men; contemporary churches, and traditional churches. It is a matter of style. It is a logical conclusion that to reach certain segments of society, the church needs to speak their language or relate to their style.
As Jefferson said, in matters of style, you have to (HAVE TO) swim with the current... In matters of principle, the church must stand like a rock. In areas of doctrine, right and wrong, and sin—the church must stand firm. It cannot waiver. It must stand like a rock. The confusion comes for some when they try to make style and principle the same. They are not. A successful church is one that can navigate the sometimes ferocious waters of style, and stay anchored to the rock of principle. In fact, if a church does not navigate the style current; it risks becoming ineffective in reaching the people it is trying to reach. How’s your church doing with style and principle?
Have you ever gotten the two confused? If so, Thomas Jefferson’s quote from nearly 200 years ago may help you communicate the difference between the two in a way that people will easily understand.
Thoughts to chew on today
Have a great Day
David
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
2008 Foursquare Report
This last Sunday we talked about everyone in the body of Christ is important. Which is very true ... they are placed there by God for a particular reason. The first reason is that you came into a living and lasting relationship with him.
Pastor Jack Hayford, president of The Foursquare Church, commented on the salvation's that were experienced in Foursquare churches outside the US churches by saying, “I praise the Lord for His faithfulness and blessing upon our churches around the globe. Rejoice with me as we celebrate the more than 2 million new souls born into the Kingdom in 2008. That is 6,768 souls saved every day--and that does not include those born again in Foursquare churches throughout the U.S.! We have already begun to experience God’s ‘plenteous redemption.’”
Here are the numbers.
In 2008 Foursquare Europe planted 17 new churches, and India, with a renewed vision for church planting, started more than 20 churches. Fiji had its first official convention and ordained 27 new pastors. God is moving in powerful ways; our prayers, along with the investments we have made in leadership development, are bearing much fruit.
Last year our overseas ministries reported the following:
Have a great day
David
This last Sunday we talked about everyone in the body of Christ is important. Which is very true ... they are placed there by God for a particular reason. The first reason is that you came into a living and lasting relationship with him.
Pastor Jack Hayford, president of The Foursquare Church, commented on the salvation's that were experienced in Foursquare churches outside the US churches by saying, “I praise the Lord for His faithfulness and blessing upon our churches around the globe. Rejoice with me as we celebrate the more than 2 million new souls born into the Kingdom in 2008. That is 6,768 souls saved every day--and that does not include those born again in Foursquare churches throughout the U.S.! We have already begun to experience God’s ‘plenteous redemption.’”
Here are the numbers.
In 2008 Foursquare Europe planted 17 new churches, and India, with a renewed vision for church planting, started more than 20 churches. Fiji had its first official convention and ordained 27 new pastors. God is moving in powerful ways; our prayers, along with the investments we have made in leadership development, are bearing much fruit.
Last year our overseas ministries reported the following:
- Salvations
2,470,219 (53% increase) - Water Baptisms
628,200 (47% increase) - Holy Spirit Baptisms
794,165 (82% increase) - Members
3,770,789 (6% increase) - Churches
57,761 (7% increase) - Ministers
63,286 (3% increase) - Bible Colleges/Inst.
1,363 (191% increase)
Have a great day
David
Monday, February 09, 2009
Faith in America
This morning, I sat down to read some of my blogs ... and I came across a survey by The Barna Group, however, indicates that people's views have changed. The study discovered that half of all adults now contend that Christianity is just one of many options that Americans choose from and that a huge majority of adults pick and choose what they believe rather than adopt a church or denomination's slate of beliefs. Still, most people say their faith is becoming increasingly important as a source of personal moral guidance...
Over 50% of people agree that Christianity is no longer the faith that Americans automatically accept as their personal faith. 64% of evangelical Christians and 60% of Hispanics embraced this position.
By an overwhelming margin - 74% to 23% - adults agreed that their religious faith was becoming even more important to them than it used to be as a source of objective and reliable moral guidance.
By a three to one margin (71% to 26%) adults noted that they are personally more likely to develop their own set of religious beliefs than to accept a comprehensive set of beliefs taught by a particular church.
What are the implications? Here’s what Barna says:
Asked to describe what the research means for American society today, researcher George Barna offered several insights.
1. The Christian faith is less of a life perspective that challenges the supremacy of individualism as it is a faith being defined through individualism. Americans are increasingly comfortable picking and choosing what they deem to be helpful and accurate theological views and have become comfortable discarding the rest of the teachings in the Bible.
2. Growing numbers of people now serve as their own theologian-in-residence. One consequence is that Americans are embracing an unpredictable and contradictory body of beliefs. Barna pointed out, as examples, that millions of people who consider themselves to be Christian now believe that the Bible is totally accurate in all of the lessons it teaches at the same time that they believe Jesus Christ sinned. Millions also contend that they will experience eternal salvation because they confessed their sins and accepted Christ as their savior, but also believe that a person can do enough good works to earn eternal salvation.
3. In the past, when most people determined their theological and moral points of view, the alternatives from which they chose were exclusively of Christian options - e.g., the Methodist point of view, the Baptist perspective, Catholic teaching, and so forth. Today, Americans are more likely to pit a variety of non-Christian options against various Christian-based views. This has resulted in an abundance of unique worldviews based on personal combinations of theology drawn from a smattering of world religions such as Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism, and Islam as well as secularism.
4. Faith, of whatever variety, is increasingly viral rather than pedagogical. With people spending less time reading the Bible, and becoming less engaged in activities that deepen their biblical literacy, faith views are more often adopted on the basis of dialogue, self-reflection, and observation than teaching. Feelings and emotions now play a significant role in the development of people's faith views - in many cases, much more significant than information-based exercises such as listening to preaching and participating in Bible study.
Things to think about.
David
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