I am currently out of town on a business trip...
My 16 year old son sends me a text late last night... it reads...
"Hey, just outside shooting some...just wanted to say thanks for everything you do. I have 2 friends moving away this week because their parents don't want them. You pretty much do anything for me. Thanks for everything you've taught me like basketball and about God. You've helped make me who I am. I can't believe what it's like to not have parents that want you. I love you Dad! Hope you have a good night."
I read ... I cried... I read again... I thank God for the privilege I have to father four great kids! The influence I have on them I pray is governed by Christ's love and grace!
THANKS FOR MAKING MY DAY LUKE! WORDS LIKE THESE MAKE LIFE WORTH LIVING! I LOVE YOU SON!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Fan or Follower?
I'm reading the new book entitled "Not A Fan", and I am finding myself challenged with this question... "am I a fan of Jesus or am I a Christ follower?"... in other words... is it Jesus I want or am I more interested in what He can do for me?
Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life." Is Jesus enough to satisfy or am I hungry for something more. I continue to realize daily that following Jesus is not always appealing, comfortable, or convenient.
A fan yells and cheers... nothing more is really expected or required... a fan has no sacrifice to make... his passion can easily wane with success and failures. A fan is simpley an enthusiastic admirer.
"Enthusiastic Admirer" is not an option in really following Jesus. To follow Jesus leads to a life painted with pain and sacrifice at some level. Do we know all about Jesus... or do we really know him?
As I think through my current experience along the journey of following Christ... what is happening at my church... the message of grace that has inspired me to give grace to others... as I think about raising four kids... as I strive to run a business with integrity and character... am I demonstrating the life of a fan or the life of a follower?
Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life." Is Jesus enough to satisfy or am I hungry for something more. I continue to realize daily that following Jesus is not always appealing, comfortable, or convenient.
A fan yells and cheers... nothing more is really expected or required... a fan has no sacrifice to make... his passion can easily wane with success and failures. A fan is simpley an enthusiastic admirer.
"Enthusiastic Admirer" is not an option in really following Jesus. To follow Jesus leads to a life painted with pain and sacrifice at some level. Do we know all about Jesus... or do we really know him?
As I think through my current experience along the journey of following Christ... what is happening at my church... the message of grace that has inspired me to give grace to others... as I think about raising four kids... as I strive to run a business with integrity and character... am I demonstrating the life of a fan or the life of a follower?
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Sun Stand Still
I prayed some "sun stand still" prayers tonight over my kids. My one word for the year is "pray" and I've been doing some different things each day to find more times and ways to pray. I had been planning to have some more time with my family to pray and just decided this afternoon that I was going to make it happen tonight. It was a really powerful experience for me to pray out loud the "sun stand still" prayers I've been praying all month... where my kids could actually hear the prayers and respond. Each one had something special to share with me afterward... Luke even wanted to get the copy of the book "Sun Stand Still" I just finished reading.
I would encourage the read ... it is a really good book! It challenges us to pray with audacious faith... to agree with God that he has called us to a larger purpose that will bring Him glory.
I'm believing and praying God will change the world through my kids... using their talents, their giftings, their generosity, their personalities, their leadership... only He can do it!
Join with me... pray ridiculously - pray imaginatively - pray unstoppably - pray forcefully!
I would encourage the read ... it is a really good book! It challenges us to pray with audacious faith... to agree with God that he has called us to a larger purpose that will bring Him glory.
I'm believing and praying God will change the world through my kids... using their talents, their giftings, their generosity, their personalities, their leadership... only He can do it!
Join with me... pray ridiculously - pray imaginatively - pray unstoppably - pray forcefully!
heart always follows money...
Today at True North Church we continued the "God's" series by taking a look at money truth #2... "heart always follows money". In other words... so goes your money, so goes your attention. We will always give attention to wherever we've invested something.
So this afternoon I took the challenge from this morning... and now I give it you... take a look at your checkbook or debit card receipts... you'll quickly see where your heart is... it will give you good idea of the things you really care about. Second challenge is to answer these questions:
1. Which bothers your more... to somehow discover there is no God or to realize there's no money in the bank?
2. Does the fear of not having enough interfere with your ability to be generous?
Hard questions about a fundamental truths... everything belongs to God, and my heart always follows my money...
Think about it!
So this afternoon I took the challenge from this morning... and now I give it you... take a look at your checkbook or debit card receipts... you'll quickly see where your heart is... it will give you good idea of the things you really care about. Second challenge is to answer these questions:
1. Which bothers your more... to somehow discover there is no God or to realize there's no money in the bank?
2. Does the fear of not having enough interfere with your ability to be generous?
Hard questions about a fundamental truths... everything belongs to God, and my heart always follows my money...
Think about it!
"God's" Sticky Notes
This past week we were challenged at True North Church to participate in an exercise. We were given a package of post-it notes, and the exercise was to place sticky notes throughout your home, office, cars, etc with the word "God's" written on it... to serve as a reminder that everything belongs to God. As I began the exercise I became really clear to me how much God has given to me and has allowed me to enjoy. One young lady that was visiting said... "wow! God has a lot of stuff!" That is definitely one thing to recognize... I really do have a lot of stuff that I could actually do without if it came right down to it. The other thing I realized was the awesome task at hand ... that God has given me so much to be a good manager of... plenty from which to share His generosity. It causes me to think a little different about the stuff I have... it's not really mine... it's His... so now I am thinking more about how I can use my truck... my wallet... my debit card... my house... my life (there's a "God's sticky note on the mirror)... all for His purposes!
I dare you to take some sticky notes and do this exercise with your stuff! It just might change the way you think!
I dare you to take some sticky notes and do this exercise with your stuff! It just might change the way you think!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
God's
I really enjoyed the opening message of our new series this morning at True North Church. The series is entitled "God's" and it is a series on finances. We were introduced to several myths about money and then some corresponding truths about money as well. If you're interested check out the podcast at www.mytruenorth.org...
The first of three truths... "God is the owner of everything." As I sat and listened this morning I found myself extremely grateful that I learned that truth several years ago. When I realized the hard lesson that I don't own my money but rather I'm just a steward things really began to change for me financially. It's not like one day I had this realization and then the next day I was making lots of money. It was more that there was a peace about knowing the God was in control... He is the owner of everything... and He would take care of me if I would be a good steward. That peace has since transferred into confidence and courage with my finances. God has really blessed me and my family and my business!
Thank you Lord for allowing me to learn that challenging lesson! Thank you for taking care of me!
The first of three truths... "God is the owner of everything." As I sat and listened this morning I found myself extremely grateful that I learned that truth several years ago. When I realized the hard lesson that I don't own my money but rather I'm just a steward things really began to change for me financially. It's not like one day I had this realization and then the next day I was making lots of money. It was more that there was a peace about knowing the God was in control... He is the owner of everything... and He would take care of me if I would be a good steward. That peace has since transferred into confidence and courage with my finances. God has really blessed me and my family and my business!
Thank you Lord for allowing me to learn that challenging lesson! Thank you for taking care of me!
my one thing...
We've been encouraged at True North Church during the first part of this new year to evaluate the person we think God wants us to be... and then really try to focus in and determine maybe one thing God wants to do in us during this year. We studied the words of Paul in Phil 3:10... "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection..."
We have been challenged to think about these things... 1. Know God, 2. Experience His power, 3. Grow in holiness.
After thinking forward into the new year and evaluating who I think God wants me to become in 2011 I began to focus in on a few words that I thought might motivate me throughout the year. We were challenged to narrow everything down to one thing (if possible) rather than make a bunch of useless resolutions that we'll never stick to. Many folks have jumped on this idea of one thing and some of the words for the year are "grow", "learn", "now", "give", "confidence", "discipline", "power" and the list goes on.
For me, there are several things I believe God wants to push me and challenge me with this year. Those challenges include persevering and taking care of myself, taking passionate risks for Him, practicing righteousness more and more... but the one word that stands out to me for this year is "pray". I believe God wants me to activate my faith a bit more this year by being aggressive to pray when I know I need to. I want to pray about things rather than talk about things... I want to pray about things rather than think about things... I want to pray about things rather than complain about things this year.
I want to be courageous and pray ridiculous prayers believing God for the miraculous in everyday life. If God can part the seas... if He can make the sun stand still... he certainly can help me run my business effectively... he can certainly help me lose the necessary pounds to live a better life... he can certainly help overcome temptation and live righteously... can't He?
So, pray for me as I pursue changing my life this year and dedicate myself to PRAY... and make prayer a natural, normal part of my life.
We were encouraged to post it... make my one thing for 2011 known... so there it is... my one thing - PRAY!
We have been challenged to think about these things... 1. Know God, 2. Experience His power, 3. Grow in holiness.
After thinking forward into the new year and evaluating who I think God wants me to become in 2011 I began to focus in on a few words that I thought might motivate me throughout the year. We were challenged to narrow everything down to one thing (if possible) rather than make a bunch of useless resolutions that we'll never stick to. Many folks have jumped on this idea of one thing and some of the words for the year are "grow", "learn", "now", "give", "confidence", "discipline", "power" and the list goes on.
For me, there are several things I believe God wants to push me and challenge me with this year. Those challenges include persevering and taking care of myself, taking passionate risks for Him, practicing righteousness more and more... but the one word that stands out to me for this year is "pray". I believe God wants me to activate my faith a bit more this year by being aggressive to pray when I know I need to. I want to pray about things rather than talk about things... I want to pray about things rather than think about things... I want to pray about things rather than complain about things this year.
I want to be courageous and pray ridiculous prayers believing God for the miraculous in everyday life. If God can part the seas... if He can make the sun stand still... he certainly can help me run my business effectively... he can certainly help me lose the necessary pounds to live a better life... he can certainly help overcome temptation and live righteously... can't He?
So, pray for me as I pursue changing my life this year and dedicate myself to PRAY... and make prayer a natural, normal part of my life.
We were encouraged to post it... make my one thing for 2011 known... so there it is... my one thing - PRAY!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
A Personal Challenge for 2011
In 2011 I want to be of value... right now where I am... not waiting for where I hope to one day be. I want to be of value at home with my family... I want to be of value to my wife... I want to be of value to my friends... my church... my work... my team!
Here's a verse I've decided to use to challenge myself this year: Romans 12:11-12... "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep spiritual fervor serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."
I was inspired by some reading today to be of value right where you are. It's okay for me to dream about tomorrow and the things I hope for, as long as I give energy, passion, and prayer to what I am doing today.
Here's a verse I've decided to use to challenge myself this year: Romans 12:11-12... "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep spiritual fervor serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."
I was inspired by some reading today to be of value right where you are. It's okay for me to dream about tomorrow and the things I hope for, as long as I give energy, passion, and prayer to what I am doing today.
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