Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Progress

As I mentioned in the first post on this new blog, my quiet times had been severely lacking at the beginning of this year and I desired to get back on track with them. Since that day one month ago, things have drastically improved. For the first couple weeks it was a slow process with gradual improvement. Then, about a week and a half ago, on Friday the 19th to be exact, I went out to lunch with one of my closest friends and brothers in Christ, Josh Puckett. We had a long and very encouraging talk. As he told me about how he had come to see the value and gain the motivation for a personal quiet time, I gained a new since of motivation. Since that day my time with the Lord has been extremely focused and frequent. To God be the glory! Thank you God for using Josh to encourage me.

Over the next few posts, I want to share some of the notes I've jotted down in my times in the Word. I've been reading through Paul's letters, and also following a daily subscription to Park Community Church's (Chicago) "8 Minutes with God" Daily Devotionals (You can subscribe on Park's website.)


We'll start today with some stuff I found as I read through Philippians (My last post came from a specific finding in this letter.):

  • In chapter one there is a huge focus on unity within the church. Something our churches definitely need to be reminded of. "one spirit, one mind, striving side by side"
  • Also in Chapter 1, we are granted permission to suffer. Let me repeat that... we're GRANTED PERMISSION TO SUFFER!!!
  • Chapter two continues to talk about church unity. "same mind, same love, full accord"
  • We are told to be selfless, "Look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." While this is very true, and we are commanded to make others "more valuable than ourselves", God still does not want us to neglect our own interests.
  • With unity still as the theme, Paul says that we are to fill each others weaknesses in service with in the church. We are to work together to get everything accomplished!
  • The things that the world counts gain and that Paul had counted gain flew directly in the face of what gain for the cost of Christ is. So I asked myself, "Are my desires and goals I'm working toward flying in the face of the worlds definition of success?" That's tough...
  • On top of the command to do good, Chapter 4 tells us to talk about good things and dwell on them.
  • Not only did Paul say he could be poor and hungry because Christ strengthened him, he said he could be rich and abound because of the same thing. In order for anything to be done successfully it must be done with Christ.
  • Paul was happy to receive gifts because of what that meant about the heart of the giver.

Thanks for reading! Your $0.02?

Friday, March 19, 2010

Death Wish?

I read through Philippians this morning. I didn't even get through the first chapter before I was hit with something huge. In verses 23 and 24 of chapter 1, Paul says this:
"I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account."
Sure, hundreds of times through high school I sang the words "better is one day in Your courts, better is one day in Your house, better is one day in Your courts than thousands elsewhere," but never once did I truly wish my time on this earth was over so that I could go to be with my Savior in heaven. I still haven't truly had that thought. There are times that life deals me 2-7 off-suit and I have the thought that it would be easier if Jesus just came back, but never in my heart of hearts have I truly been ready to go. How does one get a faith like that of Paul? One that says, "I wish I could go now, I wish I could be with my Lord, but I will stay only to do His work." I want that faith.

Monday, March 15, 2010

A New Hobby

I've recently taken up Photography as a hobby so I thought I'd share a few pictures with you. All my pictures are available on my Photostream. Here's three of my favorites...



I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas. Just leave a comment here on the blog, on the picture on flickr, or shoot me an email!

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

More from Unleash

The second main session at Unleash was more focused toward pastors but, Perry Noble still brought out some good points that apply to all of us:

1. Be careful of the crowd. Those that deify will also crucify.

2. When Satan wants to stop a movement he goes after the leader.

3. Three things leaders should be aware of: Distractions, Deception, Discouragement.

4. Listen to your coaches not your critics.

5. As a leader, your "followers" don't serve you, they serve with you.

Those are just a few quick things. I'd love to hear your thoughts on these too! The main session should be posted online at newspring.cc eventually, I'm just not sure when. Thanks for reading!

Monday, March 8, 2010

Unleash

This past Thursday myself and Josh Burns got to spend the day with some of the leadership and volunteers from Crosspoint at a conference called Unleash and NewSpring Church. The conference was focused around church leadership and church planning. I learned a lot of valuable information... planning, tech stuff, just a wealth of information about how a growing and healthy church should look.

Here's a couple points from the first main session with NewSpring's lead pastor Perry Noble:

1. Could it be that the real reason older generations are hostile toward younger generations is because the younger generation is doing something the older generation didn't have the guts to do?

2. We want people to enjoy our services... What if God wants to offend them?

3. The church has to be comfortable with the lost acting like the lost.

4. "Parents, grandparents, if you would be willing to give your life for your kids to know Christ, why are you not willing to give up your music style?"

5. Are we asking God to build our church or are we seeking to build his Church?

6. There's not a strategy that will grow your church other than this: "Listen to God. Do what he says."

7. We need to be dependent on the supernatural over the strategy.

8. Why try to get back to the Acts 2 way of doing things? That was just the beginning! God wants to grow his church!

9. If you can fully explain what's going on in your church, God probably isn't involved.

That's a lot to ponder on, and that's just the first session. I'll post more from the second session later. I'd love to hear thoughts on the points above!

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

The World is Shrinking

I was reading a blog that one of my good friends is involved in. The post was essentially talking about keys to starting a successful business. Networking (the kind where you know a lot of people and have a big address book, not the kind with wires and the internet) was one of the key elements this writer focused on. This got me thinking about how lately it seems you hear more and more about the importance of networking, not only in business, but in life in general. It is important to know people, and better yet, to know people who can help you and who you can work with.

The world is shrinking. I think this is a perfect example of that. It used to be if you were working on a project, say, in Nebraska, knowing someone in New York who could help you complete the project typically wouldn't do much good because of the communication limitations between the two places. These days however, with the technology we have, many projects can be conducted between cities around the world in no time at all. For example, a movie studio in LA may need a shot in downtown Paris. They contact a studio in Paris, that studio shoots the shot and via the internet they can have the footage back in LA within hours. Amazing. It pays to know people.

I say all this, well not really to make any point. I was just thinking about it. But, I will say this, I don't want to encourage you to make relationships only for the sake of business or only for what you can get out of them. However, don't let opportunities slip you by. Every relationship you have can work for your benefit in the future. The guy you met at Starbucks yesterday may be the key to finishing your next project, or to a promotion, or to your next job!

Monday, March 1, 2010

Hi

I've been somewhat distracted thus far this year, and for the past week or so I've been feeling somewhat under the weather. That has resulted in laziness which has led to getting a little bit behind in several things. I decided about a half hour ago that it was time to get back on the horse, to get things organized and to start getting focused again. Part of that, I decided, would be starting a new blog and being much less of a stranger with it... So here we are... I don't expect to say anything all that special on here. Just to jot down thoughts, ideas, and happenings of my days. So, for today...

My quite times have been lacking in both frequency and depth for the good part of these first two months of 2010, and that is going to change.

I need to clean my closet.

I've recently taken up the hobby of photography, and I love it. You can check out my flickr photostream here. I'm not officially starting it yet, but I'd like to get to the point in the near future that I feel comfortable enough to start the 365 project.

I'm heading to NewSpring Church in Greenville, South Carolina this Wednesday and Thursday for their Unleash conference.

I get to play with Jason, Matt, and Dan at the Mad Hatter on April 2nd for a TWLOHA benefit concert. You should come join us.

Spring Break is next week. I'm looking forward to that. I just hope I feel better and it gets warmer. I'd like to spend a lot of time taking pictures.

I got my first pair of prescription glasses on Friday due to eye fatigue and headaches. I don't really mind them. I don't have to wear them all the time though.

I think that's all I got for now... I plan on most posts being shorter than this with just quick updates as to what's going on. I love you all. Talk to ya soon.


P.S. I probably won't proofread these things so sorry for any typos...