Come and Go...

In some recent reading I came across these words from Mike Breen, "Jesus frames His ministry on two words: COME and GO. Everything starts with come and ends with go." Finding myself challenged today to really focus on both the "coming" and "going". I want to come and find rest, come and be strengthened, come and be filled. I want to go and serve, go and make disciples! I want to make Jesus' rhythms of coming and going the natural rhythms of my life. Come: Colossians 1:9 "For this reason we also, since the day we heard of it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding." Go: Colossians 4:5-6 "Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one."

Words that make life worth living...

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!

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?

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!

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!

"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!

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!

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!

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.

a question for you...

is God calling you to action or just asking you for a favor?

summer's almost gone...

Well... here I sit late on a Saturday night and I'm thinking where has the summer gone...? Three of my kids have already started back to school due to the year-round calendar. My kids are growing up fast... but I'm extremely proud of them!

Luke will be a sophomore at Garner High School this year. When I say he's growing up ... it is both physically and spiritually. He's within less than an inch of my height now and looks as if he'll keep on growing. He's turning into a pretty good basketball player... he's working really hard on his skills...it's kind of fun to watch him work for his dream! He just recently finished driver's ed and is now driving whenever Angela and I have the courage to get out on the road with him. He's also working this summer... just a few days a week... learning some responsibility and making a little money! Watching him grow spiritually though is what I'm most proud of... he's reading his Bible, writing some good thoughts on Twitter and Facebook, asking good questions. I think God is going to do something special with him... I am excited just to be a part of it!

Hope is in the 8th grade now... she's one of the big girls on campus. She's growing up too quick for Daddy! She is becoming a really, really pretty young lady. I'm nervous about all the boys that will soon coming knocking on the door for her... know what I mean? Hey... she's doing some pretty intense and impressive math too... algebra I think they call it. Her math book has way more words than numbers...lots of word problems... and they're not easy... trust me! I'm having to help her work through creating equations to work from... really having to dust off the old math skills! She's working hard though... and I'm really proud of her.

Noah is in middle school now... 6th grade... I can't believe my little Noah-boy is growing up so quick. His personality is really starting to come out ...and he's not near as quite as he has been. He's off to a good start... now getting ready for fall baseball season. He reminds me a lot of myself in so many ways!

Nate is the lone Thompson kid left at Timber Drive Elementary... I'm sure the teachers there wonder if this kid is really from the same family. He's so different than all three of the others were at his age. He's very outgoing... not afraid of anything! He too is getting ready for the fall baseball season... it's the sport he loves most! He's a really special kid... can't wait to see what he becomes!

Well... as summer comes quickly to another end... I'm thinking about how fast my kids are growning up... and I am very thankful. Thank you Lord for making them into what you want them to be... it is going to be fun to watch!

surrender...

As I continue to read "The Me I Want To Be"...

I find myself challenged to surrender. The writer says, "There is no way for a human being to come to God that does not involve surrender." Surrender doesn't mean to be passive... it doesn't mean you just accept circumstances... it doesn't mean you stop thinking, asking questions, using your mind. Surrender is not just an easy way for weak people. What surrender is... is an exciting acknowledgment that there is a God and I'm not him. He has bigger purpose and he is wiser.

"Jesus does not come to rearrange the outside of our life the way we want. He comes to rearrange the inside of our life the way God wants."

"Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it." Matthew 10:39

I need to surrender... I need to yield... I need to obey... I need to do what he says... I need to go where he leads!

the me I want to be...

"The Me I Want To Be... Becoming God's Best Version of You" is the book I have read and almost completed while on vacation. Great book ... I would recommend the read!

One of the sections has me doing some thinking... so I thought I'd offer you the points from the book pertaining to adversity and let you ponder them as well... thoughts about embracing adversity...

John Ortberg writes... "God isn't at work producing the circumstances you want; God is at work in bad circumstances producing the you He wants."

...rising to a challenge reveals abilities otherwise hidden within you (and beyond you!) that would have remained dormant...

...adversity can deepen relationships...

...adversity can change your priorities about what really matters...

...adversity points us to hope beyond ourselves...

The chance to trust God when trusting isn't easy is wide open. There are some certain truths that remain unchanged: God remains sovereign, grace beats sin, prayers get heard, the Bible endures, heaven's mercies spring up new every morning, the cross still testifies to the power of sacrificial love, the tomb is still empty, and the kingdom that Jesus announced is still expanding without needing to be bailed out by human efforts.

God is still in the business of redemption... specializing in producing something very, very good at out something that may not look or feel so good...

...maybe we should embrace adversity a bit more...

other stand-out provebs...

Prov 21:21 ... "He who follows righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness, and honor."

Prov 24:3-4 ... "Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches."

Prov 15:6 ... "In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but in the revenue of the wicked is trouble."

Prov 4:20-27 ... "My son, give attention to my word; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil."

Prov 10:22 ... "The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow to it."

a good name...

Proverbs 22:1... "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches; loving favor rather than silver and gold."

While sitting on the beach under the big tent I set up I have been doing a little reading. One of my goals while on vacation as to reread the book of Proverbs and make some mental notes. This verse is one that for some reason really stood out to me. The verse is indicative of our lives being mostly about decision making... and this decision being one of great importance.

So imagine your own a game show and your given the option to receive something from behind door 1 or door 2... you know that "a good name" is behind door 1 but you have the choice to give it up for the potential behind door 2... what choice do you make?

I'm sure that at many times I have forfeited door 1 for the gamble of door 2, but after living life and experiencing so many joys and sorrows, accomplishments and failures... I think a good name and loving favor sound pretty good!

another school year...

I had the joy of sitting in on an awards ceremony today at North Garner Middle School. Hope received awards today for year-long honor roll. I'm so proud of her!

It's hard to believe another school year has come to an end. Noah is actually graduating tomorrow from elementary school and will be moving up to middle school. I can't believe how fast they grow up. Nate will be the only one remaining in elementary school. Although he'll be the only one I can assure you they will know he is there!

Luke had a great year for his freshman year at Garner High School. He's a great student and is becoming a great young man! I'm so proud of him too!

I've got to say... being a dad is one of the greatest things in the world! I love my kids!

thoughts from books I've been reading...

Proverbs 29:18 ... "where there is no revelation the people cast off restraint; but happy is he who keeps the law."

"The Me I Want To Be" by John Ortberg ...
Spiritual growth is hand-crafted, no mass-produced... God does not do one-size-fits-all.
The main measure of your devotion to God is not your devotional life. It is simply your life.

"Primal" by Mark Batterson...
The heart of Christianity is primal compassion.
The soul of Christianity is primal wonder.
The mind of Christianity is primal curiosity.
The strength of Christianity is primal energy.

honor your mother...

Just pausing each of you as I am myself to honor your mother...

I took time to send some flowers today to my mom and my mother-in-law. I am so thankful for their influence in my life and in my family. Both ladies love the Lord and it is evident in how they care for and pray for their families. Love both of you!

And my wife... I really admire her and I really love her. I'm so amazed at the mother she has become. Her kids love her and respect her... and even though it may sometimes seem otherwise they actually listen to her wisdom. Love you lots honey!

so...Happy Mother's Day!

the final three laws of stratospheric success...

I wrapped up the book I've been reading this week... actually last Monday I took a day off with Angela and we sat by the ocean at Wrightsville Beach... sat on the sand in the quiet only hearing the crashing waves and swirls of wind... reread the entire book again along with some other reading... what a great refreshing morning! I blogged a few weeks ago about the first two laws... the law of value and the law of compensation.

Here's the final three laws -

the law of influence: "your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other people's interests first." Here's a question... what creates influence? Most responders would say money, position, accomplishments... but that's backwards... those things don't create influence - influence creates them. So the way to influence is not to keep score, but rather place other people's interest first... then your interests will always be taken care of.

the law of authenticity: "the most valuable gift you have to offer is yourself." No matter what your training, no matter what your skills, no matter what area you're in, you are your most important commodity. This is one for you to think about it... what of yourself do you have to offer?

the law of receptivity: "the key to effective giving is to stay open to receiving." So the secrets to success... to gaining, to having, is to give and give and give. the secret to getting is giving... and the secret to giving is making yourself open to receive.

AAU STATE POOL PLAY

Good times today down in Charlotte... played first game of pool play today which determines our bracket seeding next weekend... so the goal is to win your pool and set your team up with a high seed in the brackets... Team came out really strong and had the team from Charlotte on their heels... the Charlotte team fought back hard - they were pretty scrappy... they eventually cut the lead down to 4 but Luke came off the bench and hit a timely 3-pointer to push the lead back out and we never looked back...
Great job team!