Friday Fun Facts

In: Random

10 Jul 2009

Here is a new Friday blog segment filled with useless (but interesting) information…

fridayfunfacts

  • The are six fictional characters that have stars on Hollywood’s “Walk of Fame.”
  • A little under one quarter of the people in the world are vegetarians.
  • Only one out of every three people wash their hands when leaving a public bathroom.
  • It is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.
  • In the United States, the most frequent month for a tornado to occur is in May.
  • In Florida, it is illegal to sing in a public place while wearing a swimsuit.
  • Kite flying is a professional sport in Thailand.
  • In Austin, Texas, it is illegal to carry wire cutters in your pocket.
  • 45% of Americans don’t know that the sun is a star.
  • 96% of people put the peanut butter on first when making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
  • 75% of all raisins eaten by people in the United States are eaten at breakfast.
  • In Tennessee, it is illegal to drive while asleep.

Have a great weekend!

Wednesday Worship

In: Scripture| Video| Worship

8 Jul 2009

Imagine the flood of emotions that washed over Joshua after Moses had died and the Lord commissions him to lead His people.

Joshua 1:1-9

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea [a] on the west. 5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

6 “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

I am so thankful that as His children, we are never alone!

Dealing with the Dreaded “C” Word

In: Leadership| Life| Random| Scripture

7 Jul 2009

Do Father and son shoutingyou enjoy the “C” word?  “C’ standing for conflict, in this instance, is often time dreaded by many people.  I have met many who will go out of their way to avoid conflict no matter the cost.  I confess I am a recorvering avoidance of conflict posterchild.  Over the course of the past year, God has continued to develop me in becoming a more effective shepherd of God’s people.  One of the most identifiable areas deals with handling conflict.  In fact, I am discovering that by avoiding conflict often times it not only delays the inevitable but it also inflates the problem.

So how can we handle conflict in a healthy manner?  Here are a few lessons I am learning…

  • The underlying cause of most conflicts is selfishness. (James 4:1)
  • In the midst of a conflicting situation, it’s okay to be angry.  (Ephesians 4:26)
  • Take time to reflect on the situation… think before you speak. (James 1:19-20)
  • Confront people privately in person. (Matthew 18:15-17)  I emphasize the privately in person part in our day and age of text messages and emails it is easy to attempt to resolve conflict privately but NOT in person.  Confrontation is for the purpose of resolution not further confusion that is often times created by impersonal emails and/or text messages.
  • When conflict becomes public then it is necessary to deal with it publicly.  Unity has to be in view at all times.  Whether this is in a church or family or marriage or office environment or wherever.

Conflict is unavoidable… it happens in any environment.  I would even argue (lol) that conflict is healthy because conflict often times challenges the status quo and produces necessary change.

So how about you?  Is confrontation easy or a challenge for you?

Are you willing to be open to God’s will for your life?

In: Book Review| Life| Scripture

6 Jul 2009

Currently, openhandone of the books I am reading is The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns (World Vision).  God is really challenging me in several areas through it.  Early on in the book Mr. Stearns shares God’s pursuit of him to become the President of World Vision.  One of the questions that someone asked him was this… “Are you willing to be open to God’s will for your life?”

That is a GREAT question, don’t you think?  Before we answer it too quickly, let us consider the implications.  For those of us who profess to be followers of Christ (myself included), we are quick to respond, “Absolutely!  I’m available Lord.”

No doubt, being open to God’s will for our lives creates an abundance of opportunities to be useful to His plan of redemption throughout the world.  But what if His will for my life leads me to move… or sell my home… or change jobs or even careers… What if the life I have pursued and in some ways have built is not the life God desires?  For many of us, the response is not so immediate.  Don’t get me wrong, I want to be open… but before I profess my openness I want to make sure I am personally prepared for the journey.

“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 your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV)

In meditating on these two familiar verses today.  As a result, God is challenging me with several questions that I am asking myself before I answer the question, “Am I willing to be open to God’s will for my life?”

  • Am I fully devoted to the Lord in this moment?  “Trust in the Lord…”
  • Is my heart divided by something today?  Is there something I desire more than His presence and His will in my life in this moment?  “…with all your heart…”
  • Am I disillusioned by my own ideas or expectations?  Do I want God to work in a specific way?  I must be careful not to be clouded by my own expectations in regards to how God will work.  “…do not lean on your own understanding.”
  • Are my decisions informed more by God and His Word or my own insight? “…in all your ways acknowledge Him…”
  • Am I prepared for His direction no matter where it might lead?  “…and He will make your paths straight.”

How about you?  What is your greatest challenge in answering the question, “Are you willing to be open to God’s will for your life?”  I would love the privelege of praying for you!

The Week in Review

In: Links| Random

4 Jul 2009

Here are think links/articles I found interesting this week.  Enjoy July 4th.  Read Galatians 5 today!

  • Top Ten renditions of the Star-Spangled Banner (click here)
  • Independence Day Videos – EdStetzer.com (click here)
  • A Little Education, A Little Advice regarding Pastor Search Committees (click here)
  • Disciplining Children:  To Spank or Not to Spank (click here)
  • When Harsh Words Are Kind (click here)
  • Fast Company: 100 Most Creative People in Business (click here)
  • Thomas Nelson Publishers Corporate Blogging Guidelines (click here)

Rain Down ~ Wednesday Worship

In: Scripture| Video| Worship

1 Jul 2009

If you happen to live along the Gulf Coast of Florida, you are well aware of the torrential rains we have received today.  God reminded of His words through the prophet, Isaiah,…

I form light and create darkness,
I make well-being and create calamity,
I am the LORD, who does all these things.

“Shower, O heavens, from above,
and let the clouds rain down righteousness;
let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit;
let the earth cause them both to sprout;
I the LORD have created it…” (Isaiah 45:7-8 ESV)

May it be so in our day!  Here’s a great song produced by Hillsong.  Every once in a while I confess I enjoy a little Gospel music as well.  Take a listen and worship Jesus on this Wednesday!

Half…

In: Family| Leadership| Life| Random| Spiritual Growth

30 Jun 2009

Today half_fullis the last day of June.  Have you thought about it?  I know, most folks haven’t really given it a second thought.  It struck me today that with the end of the day today we are halfway through 2009.  This afternoon I spent a few moments journaling and reflecting on the following questions.

  • How’s the year going?
  • What victories have I experienced?
  • What mistakes have I made?
  • What lessons have I learned?
  • What adjustments do I need to make as a pastor/leader in order to be more effective the second-half of 2009?
  • How’s my relationship with Jesus?  What’s the next step in my spiritual growth?
  • Have I been faithful to share the gospel with those God has provided?
  • How’s my family?  What’s the next step in developing and deepening our family?

As you reflect on the first-half of 2009, what stands out to you?

How does social media & the Kingdom work?

In: Evangelism| Social Media

29 Jun 2009

Yesterday, I had a friend share a recent Pickles comic strip that brought a laugh to one of our team meetings.

Pickles

The conversation that followed centered around the challenges of reaching every generation with the gospel and various ways to be faithful to this commission and effective as well.  In a recent Fast Company article, Tru Pettigrew reiterates that an emerging trend in reaching multi-cultural youth is to expand online efforts to go mobile.  Although I strive to stay as informed as possible about emerging technologies, I do not consider myself an early adopter – but I’m trying.  Last night, I met with a couple via Skype to discuss their wedding ceremony that I will be performing in August back in Texas.  That was definitely a first!  I realize there are those who might be skeptical, however, it wasn’t an awkward at all.social-media-points52

As a matter of fact, it really has me thinking this morning about different ways to make an impact for God’s Kingdom through social media.

What are your thoughts?

How have you found social media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Tokbox) effective in reaching people with the gospel?

What are the pitfalls of such an approach?

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Reflecting Upon Life

In: Family| Life| Random

26 Jun 2009

This demo_tombstoneweek has been a powerful reminder of the brevity of life. I know that two celebrities, Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett, passed away this week.  Anyone who has a television has most likely been unable to sidestep this news.  It’s always interesting to listen to the spin the media places on celebrity deaths.  For example, this morning Matt Lauer on the Today Show quickly and visibly changed the subject when someone brought up the controversy that surrounded his personal life.  One journalist (not sure of his name) commenting on Farrah Fawcett’s long-term relationship with Ryan O’Neal said that they were “soulmates” and that their bond was “deeper than that of a husband and wife.” (For the record, that doesn’t even make sense…)

I am incredibly sympathetic toward the family and friends who have lost someone they love dearly in these two celebrities.  It is just interesting how media often times justifies past behaviors of those who have passed away.  Actually, I guess it’s not just the media… we have a tendency to do the same.  Maybe it’s an effort to cope with the loss… maybe it’s a desire to honor those who have passed…

I had the honor of assisting with the funeral of Nova’s Grandfather on Tuesday.  What a tremendous testimony of life!  Over sixty members of the family from all across the country gathered at Winter Park Church to attend.  He was a kind and loving man.  He will indeed be missed.  That’s what impressed me most about this past week… having the opportunity to hear stories of other family members of fond memories with Don Stutzman.

So here’s the question of the day:  What would you want spoken of you as family and friends reflect upon your life?

Wednesday Worship

In: Video| Worship

24 Jun 2009

The past week has been a whirlwind for our family with the passing of my wife’s grandfather.  I have been reminded over the past few days of the brevity of life, the value of family, and the offering of worship that God deserves.  If you’re not familiar with Paul Baloche, he is a tremendous musician and author of many great songs of worship.  The Wednesday Worship post today features one of my favorites…  Blessings!

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    The Hole in Our Gospel: What does God expect of Us? The Answer that Changed my Life and Might Just Change the World
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