so we've hit the time where Luke, my oldest son, has his first girlfriend... or at least first serious girlfriend...
it's his first year of high school, he's on the JV basketball team, she's a cheerleader... you know the drill... he's lovestruck!
the challenge... trying to figure out how to set appropriate boundaries and expectations for him... where he feels free to be himself and doesn't feel like we're against him... at least he is talking to me about it!
well... parenting always brings new challenges... guess this is just another one of them!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
a big question...?
I'm having a catch-up session this morning on some of my blogging since the weather conditions did not allow us to have church this morning. I thought it would be a good time for me to sort of think through and write about some of the things I've been reading...
One of the books I've just finished is called "Under The Overpass." It is the story of two friends taking a challenge to spend some time living on the streets... to experience what is it like to live the life on those in need that we so easily neglect. The stories of their experiences are a light that leads to great challenges for us... making the needs of others personal at some level...
In the end the book boils things down to this big question for us... a reality-ratlling question...
"What would I do during my day or in my life for God if I wasn't concerned with what I wear, what I eat, where I sleep, what I own, what people think of me, or what discomforts I face?"
One of the books I've just finished is called "Under The Overpass." It is the story of two friends taking a challenge to spend some time living on the streets... to experience what is it like to live the life on those in need that we so easily neglect. The stories of their experiences are a light that leads to great challenges for us... making the needs of others personal at some level...
In the end the book boils things down to this big question for us... a reality-ratlling question...
"What would I do during my day or in my life for God if I wasn't concerned with what I wear, what I eat, where I sleep, what I own, what people think of me, or what discomforts I face?"
speechless? amazed? humbled?
still thinking about what it means to walk humbly with my God...
R.C. Sproul wrote, "Men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their significance, until they have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God."
R.C. Sproul wrote, "Men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their significance, until they have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God."
sales and marathons are aerobic...
You and your customers are in a marathon...
Marathon runners steadily burn a supply of oxygen and energy - it is an aerobic sport. Sprinting is different - it is anaerobic. Sprinters don't use oxygen... but they stop after 100 meters.
In sales ... take care to undercommit and overdeliver as much as possible. In striving to meet customer expectations be diligent in setting expectations that you can consistently exceed. Be willing to share some of the risk with your customers.
You're in a marathon if you're in sales - so work hard, but don't expect yourself to perform unnatural acts or miracles. Instead of relying on extraordinary effort - rely on extraordinary planning and discipline - your marathon style training leads to extraordinary execution - and lots of profit.
Marathon runners steadily burn a supply of oxygen and energy - it is an aerobic sport. Sprinting is different - it is anaerobic. Sprinters don't use oxygen... but they stop after 100 meters.
In sales ... take care to undercommit and overdeliver as much as possible. In striving to meet customer expectations be diligent in setting expectations that you can consistently exceed. Be willing to share some of the risk with your customers.
You're in a marathon if you're in sales - so work hard, but don't expect yourself to perform unnatural acts or miracles. Instead of relying on extraordinary effort - rely on extraordinary planning and discipline - your marathon style training leads to extraordinary execution - and lots of profit.
how many loaves do you have?
Another book I have been reading is "The Hole in Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns. It was suggested by our pastor Jon McClarnon. The entire book has been gripping but Chapter 24 has renewed something in me. It is entitled "How Many Loaves Do You Have?" It obviously leads you through the story of Jesus and the disciples together feeding a large crowd with just a couple of fish and a few loaves of bread.
Jesus used this event to change the way we think about underwhelming resources in the face of overwhelming challenges. The disciples (as we often do) saw a large problem, yet Christ looked at the exact same situation and saw an opportunity and had compassion. The disciples (as we often do) saw only an overwhelming predicament ... a problem to big... almost impossible to solve. Here's the shift in mindset... Jesus did not withdraw due to the size of the problem. He didn't ask about the magnitude or strategy or even feasibility. He didn't ask what it would take to solve the problem, but rather how much they had to offer.
The challenge... in the face of overwhelming problems Christ does not ask us to do the impossible.. He simply asks us to bring Him what we have. There is great joy when we see our little bit become a lot in His hands...
so... how many loaves do you have?
Jesus used this event to change the way we think about underwhelming resources in the face of overwhelming challenges. The disciples (as we often do) saw a large problem, yet Christ looked at the exact same situation and saw an opportunity and had compassion. The disciples (as we often do) saw only an overwhelming predicament ... a problem to big... almost impossible to solve. Here's the shift in mindset... Jesus did not withdraw due to the size of the problem. He didn't ask about the magnitude or strategy or even feasibility. He didn't ask what it would take to solve the problem, but rather how much they had to offer.
The challenge... in the face of overwhelming problems Christ does not ask us to do the impossible.. He simply asks us to bring Him what we have. There is great joy when we see our little bit become a lot in His hands...
so... how many loaves do you have?
losing my religion...
At True North Church we have been going through a series entitled "Losing My Religion"... I have enjoyed the challenges that I've encountered and have been inspired to follow Christ more passionately...
The foundation of the series has been this verse from Micah 6:8... "He has shown you, O man, what is good and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"
The first couple of weeks concentrated on acting justly and loving mercy. Jon shared the first two weeks and then left for several days in Kenya. While he was gone we had a special guest, Greg Flowers, from With Love From Jesus. Greg was a perfect person to talk about loving mercy because that is how he lives his life and how he ministers and reaches out to our community. I was motivated even more to see the hopeless and needy in our community and find a way to make it personal. We will usually respond when things become personal. How can you make the needs, the emptiness, the loneliness of others personal to you?
I'm looking forward to the last portion of the verse... to walk humbly with our God. As simple as acting justly and loving mercy sounds it can be a bit challenging and complicated. I think it all comes together when we learn to walk humbly with our God... when we lose our religion and become dependent and recognizing of our relationship with Christ.
A book(Every Man, God's Man) I've read in the past and have recently pulled back out says it this way...
"At its very core, humility is found in men who recognize the gap between us and God. No matter how smart we are, He is smarter - infinitely smarter. No matter how many accomplishments we have to our credit, He created the universe. No matter how forgiving, generous, or loving we can be to others, He possesses all of those qualities in endless measures. Coming face to face with God should lead a man into the only appropriate attitude: humility.
One of my prayers this cold Sunday morning... God, teach me even more to walk humbly before You and before others... Make my attitude one of constant humility.
The foundation of the series has been this verse from Micah 6:8... "He has shown you, O man, what is good and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"
The first couple of weeks concentrated on acting justly and loving mercy. Jon shared the first two weeks and then left for several days in Kenya. While he was gone we had a special guest, Greg Flowers, from With Love From Jesus. Greg was a perfect person to talk about loving mercy because that is how he lives his life and how he ministers and reaches out to our community. I was motivated even more to see the hopeless and needy in our community and find a way to make it personal. We will usually respond when things become personal. How can you make the needs, the emptiness, the loneliness of others personal to you?
I'm looking forward to the last portion of the verse... to walk humbly with our God. As simple as acting justly and loving mercy sounds it can be a bit challenging and complicated. I think it all comes together when we learn to walk humbly with our God... when we lose our religion and become dependent and recognizing of our relationship with Christ.
A book(Every Man, God's Man) I've read in the past and have recently pulled back out says it this way...
"At its very core, humility is found in men who recognize the gap between us and God. No matter how smart we are, He is smarter - infinitely smarter. No matter how many accomplishments we have to our credit, He created the universe. No matter how forgiving, generous, or loving we can be to others, He possesses all of those qualities in endless measures. Coming face to face with God should lead a man into the only appropriate attitude: humility.
One of my prayers this cold Sunday morning... God, teach me even more to walk humbly before You and before others... Make my attitude one of constant humility.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
nate the great...
Around our home we affectionately call our youngest son "Nate-dog"... but today we have to call him Nate-the-great...
Yesterday he played his first basketball game of the season. He is only 8 years old but in his game was unstoppable. He finished with 32 points! Can you believe it? Let's see if he can keep it up.
Great job Nate!
Yesterday he played his first basketball game of the season. He is only 8 years old but in his game was unstoppable. He finished with 32 points! Can you believe it? Let's see if he can keep it up.
Great job Nate!
looking forward to 2010...
I feel this great excitement about what the new year 2010 will hold for me. I really appreciated the message I heard this morning at True North Church... "Seasons of the Soul"...
Ecclesiates 3:1 ... "To everything there is a season. A time for every purpose under heaven." It was suggested this morning that often times our spiritual lives can be described as the physical seasons of the year. Fall - a season of transition ... maybe some things coming to an end. Winter - a season of death - you want to be alone, but there is probably no other time when you have a greater need to experience community. Spring - a season of hope, renewal - you see a light at the end of your experience, hope is produced. Summer - a season of harvest, a season of abundance - may be the easiest season to miss because we feel so self-sufficient... really need to find ways to be thankful for His abundance blessing.
These were great thoughts for me to consider as I prepare for so many things in the new year 2010. I'm thinking we'll probably experience elements of every season as we follow Christ in this new year. I look at Angela and my kids and can recognize the seasons they are experiencing. The acknowledgment of the cycles of the season gave me great hope this morning for 2010 for myself, for Angela, and for my kids. I am looking forward to experiencing this hope that leads to abundance in this new year no matter what seasons we have to go through to discover it.
I am praying for my family and for each of you that we will recognize the love of Christ in each season we experience ... his love through comfort, peace, provision, hope and blessing. I am expecting 2010 to be a great year for my health, my business, my church, and my effort to follow Jesus passionately.
Ecclesiates 3:1 ... "To everything there is a season. A time for every purpose under heaven." It was suggested this morning that often times our spiritual lives can be described as the physical seasons of the year. Fall - a season of transition ... maybe some things coming to an end. Winter - a season of death - you want to be alone, but there is probably no other time when you have a greater need to experience community. Spring - a season of hope, renewal - you see a light at the end of your experience, hope is produced. Summer - a season of harvest, a season of abundance - may be the easiest season to miss because we feel so self-sufficient... really need to find ways to be thankful for His abundance blessing.
These were great thoughts for me to consider as I prepare for so many things in the new year 2010. I'm thinking we'll probably experience elements of every season as we follow Christ in this new year. I look at Angela and my kids and can recognize the seasons they are experiencing. The acknowledgment of the cycles of the season gave me great hope this morning for 2010 for myself, for Angela, and for my kids. I am looking forward to experiencing this hope that leads to abundance in this new year no matter what seasons we have to go through to discover it.
I am praying for my family and for each of you that we will recognize the love of Christ in each season we experience ... his love through comfort, peace, provision, hope and blessing. I am expecting 2010 to be a great year for my health, my business, my church, and my effort to follow Jesus passionately.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)